Alternatives to propspeed.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by micknor51

After using the Velox Plus which gave an exceedingly poor result I have bitten the bullet and reverted to Propspeed. It is the the only thing thing that works in our water conditions on Lake Macquarie, NSW. A friend also used Velox Plus on his prop and was similarly unimpressed. He’s a Propspeed man now also.
Have also used another product in the past called PellerClean. That wasn’t much chop either.
I still haven’t tried sex with the prop yet, too dodgy for my liking.
A clean prop is a good prop, a barnacled one just isn’t!!

Wise man indeed. I tried the wax alternative, better than nothing, for a very short while then very regular hand cleaning of the prop.

[Jim Cate]

I still haven’t tried sex with the prop yet

When you do, be sure that you and the prop understand each other... right hand or left hand screw? Failure to do so can result in severe cross threading!

Jim

[micknor51]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

When you do, be sure that you and the prop understand each other... right hand or left hand screw? Failure to do so can result in severe cross threading!

Jim

No worries there Jim I’m not likely to ever get luvvy duvvy with the prop it’s far to cutting for my tender sensibilities no matter which way you screw it!

[Suijin]

Originally Posted by AnchorageGuy

I've not known anyone that has had much success with PropSpeed, including myself. We had a "certified" yard apply it and most of it pealed and the rest fouled. It took me forever to get a refund from the manufacturer and got nothing from the yard. Chuck

I’ve had it applied twice. The first time it lasted for over two years and never got any fouling on it at all. The second time it was applied by the same guy (and I watched him do it) and most of it peeled right off with months. I think the freshness of one or more of the components is important.

[Quadrille in JB]

Our boat is in a marina adjacent to the community sewage plant outfall where the Marine growth is very bad. Barnacle Buster grew barnacles in 4 weeks while my personally applied PropSpeed was in the water for 7 months over the summer with no growth on the prop but something that appears to be calcium deposits are on the prop nut.
The clear coat on the PS is rough on the back side of the prop but looks like new on the front side. I’m thinking of cleaning up the surface with diluted muriatic acid, roughing it up some, and recoating it with some PS clear coat.
Has anyone tried this?

[kenbo]

I roll my own. Here's my recipe.

Ingredients: Epoxy thinner, a cheap tube of clear silicone, the type that doesn't have the vinegar smell, small can of etch primer.

Clean your propeller with very fine sandpaper or emery paper.

Place silicone in a jar or other container, add epoxy thinners and stir. After a while the silicone will start melting into the epoxy thinner. You want a mixture like thick paint that applies easily.

Paint the propeller with etch primer.

Now the critical step - before the etch primer dries, and it dries quickly, you need to paint the prop with your silicone. You need the etch primer to still be wet and tacky because then the silicone and primer will bond. If you let the primer dry before you paint the silicone it won't work, or only partially work.

Works as well as any commercial product.

[Steve_C]

Originally Posted by kenbo

I roll my own. Here's my recipe.

Ingredients: Epoxy thinner, a cheap tube of clear silicone, the type that doesn't have the vinegar smell, small can of etch primer.

Clean your propeller with very fine sandpaper or emery paper.

Place silicone in a jar or other container, add epoxy thinners and stir. After a while the silicone will start melting into the epoxy thinner. You want a mixture like thick paint that applies easily.

Paint the propeller with etch primer.

Now the critical step - before the etch primer dries, and it dries quickly, you need to paint the prop with your silicone. You need the etch primer to still be wet and tacky because then the silicone and primer will bond. If you let the primer dry before you paint the silicone it won't work, or only partially work.

Works as well as any commercial product.

Sounds interesting, any specifics on the exact silicone and amounts to use?

[kenbo]

Originally Posted by Steve_C

Sounds interesting, any specifics on the exact silicone and amounts to use?

There are two basic types of clear silicone sold at home repair stores, the type with acetic acid (vinegar odor) and the type with out. You want the type with out acetic acid. Brand is not important but Dow did invent the stuff I believe.

I use a clear jar to mix, shake actually and I strive for a super saturated solution meaning there's excess silicone in the jar than the solvent can dissolve. I use a 32oz mason jar, one complete tube of silicone and fill about 3/4 full with lacquer/epoxy thinner. when most of the silicone is dissolved I add a bit more thinner but just enough so that a little bit of silicone remains undissolved.

In earlier posts people mentioned that second applications of Propspeed may fail by not adhering to the prop. Remember this is silicone and if you don't fastidiously remove the first coat, subsequent applications may not adhere.

I've used this on Nibral props and Kiwiprops, works well on both.

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Herreshoff

Hi all,

I'm wanting to paint my prop with propspeed in Sydney Australia however it can not be bought over the counter here.

It got me wondering if anyone has found a cheap alternative, perhaps something silicone based, that works well that is less expensive and can be bought over the counter and applied by oneself.

Anyone?

For anyone still reading this historic thread, propspeed is available retail in Australia now (November 2019).

Plenty on eBay and also here https://marinetradesupplies.com.au/p...eed-200ml-kit/

[osprey877]

On the recommendation of an internet source I now can’t remember, I tried Panaten diaper rash ointment. (It sticks like sh!!t). Apply liberally to the prop and shaft. Results were not nearly as good as Propspeed, but was cheaper and I never had to worry about the prop getting a painful rash 😁

[gruffa]

Originally Posted by Paperbird

I'm in the rustoleum zinc spray paint camp. Current coat is about 2 yrs old. Still clean. We've been in the Bahamas the last couple months and i really didn't expect such good results. Be sure to put several (5-8) thin coats on.

Hi Paperboard,
Did you etch prime first or do any other prep before the zinc spray?