Prop anti foul DIY

[robert sailor]

We have had good luck with Vilox prop antifouling. It is used a lot in the Med and while I was a real skeptic after looking at the prop over the months I became a believer, it does work. We are in the Caribbean now and its been 18 months since we hauled. We are getting growth now but its easy to remove.

[aodel]

Surf Wax, you can apply it underwater as well.

[Lewy Lady]

I have had reasonable success with a product called Lanolin Marine Grease. The method entails heating the prop with a heat gun (to hot to touch) give the grease a blast to melt it and smear it on. It sets quite hard and seems to stop growth on the prop. Its a cheap alternative.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by jkindredpdx

Doesn't this turn your prop into a sacrificial zinc?

No. The zinc coating acts same as a bolted/clamped zinc on,say,a bronze strut.
The zinc coating will "eat" away,due to galvanic action,until the prop is bare bronze again.I suspect this eating away is what stops marine growth-the surface just keeps sloughing off.
The zinc coating protects prop from corrosion,by acting as a sacrificial zinc.

[zboss]

Originally Posted by jkindredpdx

Doesn't this turn your prop into a sacrificial zinc?

No. The zinc is the zinc, the less noble of the two metals. I used zinc spray before and it didn't really work that well. I'm trying Hydrocoat SR now, as recommended by Pettit (no metal in the paint). Although the leading edge of the prop is losing the paint the rest of solid; its been two months and the divers have been amazed at seeing almost zero growth between cleanings, which was certainly not the case with the zinc paint.

Besides, if you put a shaft saver between your engine and your prop, you may not even need a zinc at all, as your electrical potential should be zero.

I still think that spinning your prop just for a few seconds in forward and reverse about once a week helps a lot, assuming you are not moving your boat often. I make sure I start my engine and spin about once a week.

[The Way]

I tried teflon pipe-thread compound, smeared on by hand (thick coat). When hauled 3 months later, the prop was clean. That's not a long time in the water, but it obviously did something.

Fair winds,
Jack

[wsmurdoch]

A previous thread...

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ts-136369.html

[Delmo]

Have tried a few different applications, the last being a two-pack primer then antifoul (on the advice of a slipway operator). It wasn't too bad but there has to be something better. I've read that Teflon grease is the way to go. So, at next slipping that's what I'll be trying.

[hzcruiser]

If you have some strong fabric and a sewing machine, you can try what I did just recently:

Sew a prop bag that has three lengths of velcro, one from the circumference to the center for the shaft and the other two on the circumference. Then add a webbing tab close to the shaft area and run a line through it, back to the cockpit.

That saves me one snorkel trip to take the cover off when I want to go out sailing, ususally in the morning. Once on the mooring again in the afternoon you can decide if you want to go for a swim and put the bag back on.

[Boat Boy]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

I have had no problem in buying Propspeed here in Oz. Enough for a typical yacht prop costs about 30 bucks even in this land of overpriced yottie things. Try a little shopping at boatyards that do their own application. They usually buy the stuff in kits that have enough material to do around 10 props. If you take your own containers I've found that many will sell you what you need, and despite all the BS some applicators spout, it is not difficult to apply if you read the instructions.

There is also a new player in the marketplace... name forgotten as of now... that does sell directly to DIYers. Not too much feedback yet, but it sure looks a lot like propspeed, feels like propspeed, and is applied like propspeed. Only the price is different, and to a small degree, the color.

Jim

Hi Jim & Ann, Read your post with interest re propspeed. I had my prop done at the last haulout at a cost of $230. Have you by any chance remembered the new player in the market place? Thanks Ian Lake Macquarie.

[Wotname]

Some years back I had my prop copper clad (electro-plated) at the local chrome plating works. It was effective and lasted about 12 months or so IIRC.

Never did it again as I never had the prop off long enough to get re-plated.

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by BriaF

Sick of fouled props ?
I am
My next try will be smearing with a light
coat of silastic, will it work ?
New style anti foul are rubbery to make it
hard for fouling to grip & makes it easy
to dislodge. So I will give it a try.

Has anyone else got any suggestions
Please be positive in your comments
unless you have tried it without success !
Lets see if we can find alternatives to the
likes of propspeed which works but in
My opinion is well over priced

Tried lanolin but think this promotes
growth
Tried permanent marker ink does not work
& does not last
Tried anti foul does not last

I have had cruising sailboats for 40 years
. Have tried everything. There is only one answer. Dive over and scrape it- then use 80 grit carborundum sandpaper. Forget everything else. Get to work!

[geoleo]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Bite the bullet, spend the money, Prop Speed works.

Prop speed sucks.

[lancelot9898]

I've had good luck with using a good quality hard bottom paint on my max prop here on the Chesapeake with haul outs every 2 or 3 years. About mid way through I have dived and scrapped a few barnicles, but nothing compared to other things I've tried. However, the prop must be prepped prior to applying the paint which includes a etching compound, an underwater metal primer(Petit)(2 thin coats) and then only 2 thin coats of bottom paint. When hauled out it's a chore to clean the paint off the prop and start from scratch again, but it works.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by georgetheleo

Prop speed sucks.

How then do you explain the excellent results that I and many of my cruising friends have had with propspeed? I think that you don't know what you are talking about. You may have had a bad experience with it, who knows, but that isn't proof that it "sucks".

Jim