New to sailing? Knot Sensor

[Doghouse]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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.