Covering Prop Blades

[David M]

Run your prop as much as you can. It's never been a problem for me. In the life stage where barnacles first grab on to something solid, they cannot hold on very well.

Barnacles also release a type of scent into the water which encourages other barnacles to grow nearby, so once you get them chances are you will get a lot more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barnacle#Life_cycle

[Safari38LH]

Max Pro sells a spray on black paint. Pretty cheap, $20 bucks or so. Used it last summer and did not have one barnacle. The summer before the prop was encrusted with them. I used On Off to get the old barnacle foot prints off before painting.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Of course Barnacles are our freinds. and killing them causes Global Warming.

FACT.

[tager]

Barnacles make your boat faster, haven't yall seen pirates of the caribbean?

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Bash

Any thoughts from a professional diver regarding propspeed or boeshield?

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Of course not

See, you're laboring under the common misconception that hull cleaners do not want to see their clients using effective anti fouling products. Quite the opposite. AF products that work well make our job easier. You still need to have your bottom cleaned, but if I don't have to spend 10 minutes scraping barnacles off your running gear, well that's money in my pocket. I don't charge less because you use PropSpeed, which, BTW, works quite well, if not for a very long time. I have no experience with Boeshield as an anti foulant, so cannot offer an opinion on that.

[Mardav]

I have used propspeed on the power boat, and it worked great, but did not last very long. Mike, the diver, works the best.
Cheers

[D.D.]

Propspeed is very, very, very, expensive. Just a note that no one has mentioned......

[Safari38LH]

The paint I got from Max Prop that worked so well was Pettit 1792 Zinc Coat Barnacle Barrier.worked like a harm and the price was right.

[svcattales]

Originally Posted by boden36

I have been looking for a way to stop barnacle buildup on our prop blades.
Was away from the boat some months and tried a plastic garbage bag tied around the prop, but that fell to bits.
Am wondering whether an old sock over each blade might work.
Has anyone got any proven solutions following this general principle?
Regards,
Richard.

Richard, I had bad luck with garbage bags too and I believe the fish were making holes in the bag while eating the growth. After some experimenting, I found that plastic bags used for sandbags work well. The plastic is reinforced with polyester threads and that gives them great strength. I've used these bags for several months at a time and it does keep the barnacles out. I bought the bags at Lowes for 99 cents ea.

[boden36]

Thanks Greg, I had not thought of those, will give it a try with a draw string through.
Regards,
Richard.

[SailFastTri]

Pettit Prop Koat works well (and is a fraction of the cost of Propspeed). It is a two-part system, with a primer and final coat. One purchase lasts for years -- probably at least 15 or 20 applications. The fine print: It works well on the blades but not the hub or shaft, and you must use the boat at least once a week.

[bill good]

fstbttms,
These little pest have driven me up the wall!! They always win!! Is there ANY thing that works. I am even thinking of relocation out of the marina where I am as I am becoming sus on the excessive buildup on the docks adding to what appears to be increase buildup on the boat. They only that 4weeks to cause trouble on my small props. Propspeed failed on all surfaces props, hubs, shafts & Prop brackets. Also looking at the bag idea.

Regards

[senormechanico]

Originally Posted by David_Old_Jersey

Of course Barnacles are our freinds. and killing them causes Global Warming.

FACT.

We could use some of that up here in the PNW.
It's been ten to fifteen degrees BELOW normal every day this year except for about four days!
FACT.

[svcattales]

Originally Posted by boden36

Thanks Greg, I had not thought of those, will give it a try with a draw string through.
Regards,
Richard.

I used some 1/8" bungy cord around the opening of the bag. They go on and off pretty quick... a one breath dive.

[onestepcsy37]

in a word, sex wax.

rubbed it on my prop last august. boat mostly sat on a mooring in a tidal river in florida since then. normally had to dive the prop every month to scrape lots of barnacles. this time, NO barnacles! a local diver put me on to this stuff.

thankfully we're finally heading out next week....