New to sailing? Knot Sensor

Doghouse · 19-06-2006, 06:39

My Knot sensor is growing faster than my grass.

How do you handle the growth problem?

1. Do you remove the paddle wheel every time you dock?

2. Do you occationaly remove the wheel as things stop working and soak it in (...?) to remove the critters?

3. Accept the fact that it does not work and drop breadcrums every so often and measure the time it takes to pass the boat?

Vasco · 19-06-2006, 07:05

When I'm south I always remove it if I'm at anchor more than a day. Here on Lake Ontario it's not much of a problem and if it's not working I usually only have to turn it around (reverse the flow) without removing it and it seems to clear up.

Richhh · 19-06-2006, 07:23

For long term anchoring or docking I remove the paddle wheel.

When the paddle wheel is out I scrub it clean, let it dry, and apply Desitin anti-bacterial waterproof baby ass cream to it .... being careful not to get the cream on the spindle. The medicated baby ass cream contains enough low grade antibiotic to allow no formation of 'sludge' for a a week or two or until the coating erodes by actual sailing.

Meridian · 19-06-2006, 08:09

Didn't know about the baby-ass cream...will have to try it (on the paddle wheel, of course).
Assuming you're in salt water, just dunk the removed paddle in a cup o' fresh water overnight. Most of these critters (small shrimp, etc) can't live long in the fresh stuff. Then clean and re-install.
John

**GordMay** · 19-06-2006, 08:20

I’ve tried the Desitin trick, and suspect that the paddle-wheel transducer was kept yeast-free, although I couldn’t verify that for certain. My view was obscured by organic growth.

hellosailor · 20-06-2006, 16:09

Maybe the zinc in the Desitin (mainly zinc oxide) is toxic to some critters?

I personally pull the paddlewheel & leave it out when not in use, but if anyone wants to try something new I'll gladly sell you a unique magnetic pyramid paddlewheel growth preventer (patent pending) all you do is place it over the top of the paddlewheel and it places everything for twelve unches under it in a comatose state that can preserve foods for millenia and incidentally prevent the growth of all the things that normally foul your paddlewheel. Call in the next twenty minutes, and I'll supersize your pyramid AND include free shipping and handling, only $129.95 for this limited time offer.<G>

BC Mike · 20-06-2006, 18:15

Have you tried antifouling paint ? The stuff is designed to keep away critters with an occasional scrubbing. B4 every one says I am nuts read the instructions for your knot meter.
Michael

Alan Wheeler · 20-06-2006, 23:14

No your not nuts. Anti-foul is fine. Just apply it in a way so as not to gum up the paddle wheel.
I used Lanacote grease. So far it's been a year and still is working fine. But I am in a low growth area.

19-06-2006, 06:39	#1
Doghouse Registered User Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hampton Roads, va Boat: Catalina 387 - Magical Dreamer Posts: 146 Images: 1	New to sailing? Knot Sensor My Knot sensor is growing faster than my grass. How do you handle the growth problem? 1. Do you remove the paddle wheel every time you dock? 2. Do you occationaly remove the wheel as things stop working and soak it in (...?) to remove the critters? 3. Accept the fact that it does not work and drop breadcrums every so often and measure the time it takes to pass the boat?

19-06-2006, 07:05	#2
Vasco Registered User Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Toronto in summer, further south in winter. Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore" Ben393 "Breathless" Posts: 1,891 Images: 34	When I'm south I always remove it if I'm at anchor more than a day. Here on Lake Ontario it's not much of a problem and if it's not working I usually only have to turn it around (reverse the flow) without removing it and it seems to clear up. __________________ Rick I Toronto

19-06-2006, 08:09	#4
Meridian Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Currently in Whangarei, New Zealand Boat: Tayana 48 Posts: 76	Didn't know about the baby-ass cream...will have to try it (on the paddle wheel, of course). Assuming you're in salt water, just dunk the removed paddle in a cup o' fresh water overnight. Most of these critters (small shrimp, etc) can't live long in the fresh stuff. Then clean and re-install. John __________________ Live life like you mean it

19-06-2006, 08:20	#5
GordMay Administrator Site Administrator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Thunder Bay, Ontario - 48-29N x 89-20W Boat: C.L.O.D. (Cruiser Living On Dirt) Posts: 9,710 Images: 232	I’ve tried the Desitin trick, and suspect that the paddle-wheel transducer was kept yeast-free, although I couldn’t verify that for certain. My view was obscured by organic growth. __________________ Gord May ~~_/)_~~ (Gord & Maggie - "Southbound") "If you didn't have time/$ to do it right in the first place, when will you get the time/$ to fix it?"

20-06-2006, 18:15	#7
BC Mike Registered User Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Kelowna BC Boat: Tanzer 8.5m Tanzer 22 Posts: 1,029 Images: 5	Paddle wheel Have you tried antifouling paint ? The stuff is designed to keep away critters with an occasional scrubbing. B4 every one says I am nuts read the instructions for your knot meter. Michael

19-06-2006, 07:23	#3
Richhh Registered User Join Date: May 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Boat: Tayana 37, M-20/I-20 Scow Posts: 249	For long term anchoring or docking I remove the paddle wheel. When the paddle wheel is out I scrub it clean, let it dry, and apply Desitin anti-bacterial waterproof baby ass cream to it .... being careful not to get the cream on the spindle. The medicated baby ass cream contains enough low grade antibiotic to allow no formation of 'sludge' for a a week or two or until the coating erodes by actual sailing.

20-06-2006, 16:09	#6
hellosailor Registered User Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 3,325	Maybe the zinc in the Desitin (mainly zinc oxide) is toxic to some critters? I personally pull the paddlewheel & leave it out when not in use, but if anyone wants to try something new I'll gladly sell you a unique magnetic pyramid paddlewheel growth preventer (patent pending) all you do is place it over the top of the paddlewheel and it places everything for twelve unches under it in a comatose state that can preserve foods for millenia and incidentally prevent the growth of all the things that normally foul your paddlewheel. Call in the next twenty minutes, and I'll supersize your pyramid AND include free shipping and handling, only $129.95 for this limited time offer.<G>

20-06-2006, 23:14	#8
Alan Wheeler Registered User Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Marlborough Sounds. New Zealand Boat: Hartley Tahitian 45ft. Leisure Lady Posts: 8,047 Images: 102	No your not nuts. Anti-foul is fine. Just apply it in a way so as not to gum up the paddle wheel. I used Lanacote grease. So far it's been a year and still is working fine. But I am in a low growth area. __________________ Wheels For God so loved the world..........He didn't send a committee.

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