Prop Speed

[KIWI]

Hi All,

Prop speed, Is there anywhere you can buy it over the counter and not get ripped off buy the people who have the agency,, Or is there anything as good or better.

Here in NZ it can only be put on by who-ever has the agency they can charge what they like and take there time when the job gets done

Would be great if we could import ourselves

[Weyalan]

It is the same in Australia.
you used to be able to buy it over the counter, but now it can only be sold to a handful of licensed applicators - basically giving them a license to charge what the hell they want...

Having said that, it is very, very expensive stuff. The last guy who did our prop showed me the receipt from the place where he buys it and it was, from memory, soemthing like $400 for a 400ml kit, and he basically charged us what it cost him for materials plus a little bit of labour.

Apparently, I was told, that the reason they stopped selling it over the counter was that a lot of people were buying it and applying it incorrectly, then complaining about the product when it didn't work properly... so I hav ebeen told anyway.

[bill good]

The problem is it cost just as much to buy as have someone who is using the product daily to apply!! Once opened it may go off. I found a place where is is being applied every day & it cost $360 for 2 shafts, p brackets & 2 X12" props. It took about 3hrs.

[smj]

In the US you can buy it from West Marine. I believe the price is about $200.00, enough to do maybe four 15" props.

[David M]

It does not sound like it is worth it at all. I don't know of any commercial boats using the stuff. Spend the money on another battery for your DC system.

[MarkJ]

Cost me AUD$80 to have my prop dopne 11 months ago. The yard did a bit of a deal... I think I only paid for the paint used... and 30 seconds for it to be slashed on.

[Roy M]

Sorry, David M, you don't hang with the right crowd. Here in SoCal it is being used by commercial fishing boats, mega yachts, and those in between. It works for about a year, plus. Cuts fuel costs, increases sailing speed. New technology is tough for some to accept. Southern California must have a genetically concentrated population which samples, selects and leads other parts of the world for new stuff. Try it, you may like it. Or don't. Whatever. I just wish it lasted longer. One small kit does two props and shafts.

[David M]

Originally Posted by Roy M

Sorry, David M, you don't hang with the right crowd. Here in SoCal it is being used by commercial fishing boats, mega yachts, and those in between. It works for about a year, plus. Cuts fuel costs, increases sailing speed. New technology is tough for some to accept. Southern California must have a genetically concentrated population which samples, selects and leads other parts of the world for new stuff. Try it, you may like it. Or don't. Whatever. I just wish it lasted longer. One small kit does two props and shafts.

Dang...I really need to stop hanging with the wrong crowd..

[drinky]

It is good stuff but the success of it depends on the application. You need a smooth even coat with NO lumps or bumps like a run in the paint. If you have such a lump it is likely to peel off and it will take the rest with it. Don't run your prop in the sand or the same thing will happen. The bloke that put mine on was back every 15min to turn the prop half a turn so it couldn't run.

[Tom Spohn]

Fisheries supply in Seattle also carries the 500ml size.
Fisheries Supply

[fishwife]

And in the UK in 1000ml and 200ml packs here PROPSPEED UK - Propspeed Anti Foul Marine Paint

[tackkritty]

Everyone mentions how it only takes a couple of hours or less to apply.
It can be much longer. The prep is the time. Most running gear is neglected. If it is scraped underwater it will eventualy get a crust we call sharkskin. Sharkskin is hard to remove.
2 shafts, props, struts and rudders can take up to 12+ hours labor to properly prep and apply propspeed. Yes you can sandblast but you still have to put up containment and use a large enough blaster to be efficient, When you are done you still have to sand it with 80 grit, and clean not once but 3 times.
It does work well, but beware if you have any electrolosis happening on the metal gear. It will begin failing immediately.
I did not even include trimtabs that would be another few hours.

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, tackkritty.

[ranger58sb]

FWIW, we've had good luck with Petit's Barnacle Barrier (if you can get that there), and it doesn't have the stringent prep requirements PropSpeed has. I also understand there's a Rust-O-Leum product that's essentially the same as Barnacle Barrier...

-Chris

[Cotemar]

Prop Speed has lasted me two years. Not hard to put on. WestMarine sells it.
Has a rubbery feel when dry and nothing sticks to it for long.

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