Creatures In My Speedo Paddlewheel

[hellosailor]

We applied bottom paint on the paddlewheel, sparingly so as not to unbalance it or jam it. But the most important thing?


You simply have to REMOVE THE PADDLEWHEEL every time you secure the boat for port. Remove it, put in the plug, if you're any good at this you should take all of a quart or two (sorry, two liters, eh?) of seawater and that goes out the bilge.


Leave the plug in place, until and unless you need that speed-through-water data again.


A toothbrush and dental pick take care of whatever gets by you. Find a good French cook and add that into the bouliabase. (G)


You may still be able to buy special antifouling for depthsounders, I think it is or was a banned tin product that is very effective and very thin. That might be better than conventional bottom paint on the paddlewheel.

[exnatalia]

Before we leave the dock or an anchorage we use an old dock line looped under the boat to gently sweep the bottom of the hull moving forwards from behind the log to move (partially rotate) the paddle wheel. This disloges the critters hiding between the paddle wheel blades and we repeat the process about two more times; and the system functions again. Works every time!

[sailorboy1]

I've given up on mine. Boat has only been in the water 1 week and the dam thing is already not working.

[dcniner01]

Dr.Dave says you could also return the boat to Lake Ontario.

[Nicholson58]

We too have given up on the paddle wheel. For its cost, you can buy a hand-held GPS. We have lost two sets of RayMarine & one B&G instruments to lightning - ENOUGH. They never were accurate anyway.

[monte]

No paddle wheel = no tide and current information
Just give it a tickle as you swim past to check the anchor occasionally

[senormechanico]

In 48 degree f. water? No thanks.

[monte]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

In 48 degree f. water? No thanks.

Just think of it as good MOB or line wrapped around the prop practice
P.s. I should have said tide/current not tide or current. The paddle wheel won't actually tell you if your going up or down ... I call the sidewaysy bit current, but if believe some refer to it as tide as it can be a tidal effect/tidal stream etc

[senormechanico]

I keep my paddle wheel clean because around the PNW, tidal current info is very important.
Hopefully this: Technical Specifications | Ultra-SoniTec – Ultrasonic Antifouling will help with that and all the grass and other critters.
I got it up and running yesterday.

[Moonshine36]

Pacific NorthWest, you really need both, paddle wheel and GPS. Only way to tell if you are in or out of the local current