Anodes and other things

[Observer]

I had the boat lifted this week for some steel work to be fitted and took the opportunity to check sterndrives/anodes etc. The boat has been in the water since late March (4 months) having had new engines and sterndrives.

For information of other owners, I found the following:

1. Extensive barnacle infestation all over the sterndrives including bellows and hoses. Boatscrubber had done a fair job of removing much of them during a dive two weeks ago but there had been some re-growth and I scraped off a lot in places which the diver couldn't or didn't have time to reach. The 'residue' is still there of course. Does anybody have experience of the Starbrite? barnacle remover spray? Any other suggestions for getting rid of the buggers - especially from the 'hard to get at' places

2. Prop anodes were about 60% worn so slightly overdue replacement. Easy job with the VP propeller removal tool. Think I would check again after 3 months. NB - VP retail price is £21.72 each. I paid full whack and then found <A target="_blank" HREF=http://aflcharters.co.uk>Dream Dancer

 

[DavidJ]

Thanks for anode web site, didn't know of that one. No solutions for you but I was amazed by the growth on the stern drives in just 4 months. Hardly any on the hull so conclude that International Trilux is really no good in the Med. I've got doubles on the bar but as you say there is very little erosion anyway.

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[KevB]

Starbrite banacle remover is very good, seen someone ise it on stainless props and the banacles just desolved. Volvo 290 leg ring anodes = £5.75 in Gillingham marina chandlery.

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[tcm]

Barnacle removing fluid...

The stuff is actually hydrochloric acid. In skool chemstry labs a bit of HCl and a small piece of chalk would dissolve the chalk with oozing foam - same effect. You can get the stuff in France no prob about 5 quid for 5 litres. Rinse off with water, and mind yer eyes, of course.

if can't find HCL, then descaler removes limescale/chalk and barncles/shellfish is wot that is made of. So that wd be ok too, not as vicous, brand names Viakal etc.

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[KevB]

Re: Barnacle removing fluid...

Similar to what they use to get dried cement of bricks when snagging buildings, me thinks?

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[tcm]

Re: Barnacle removing fluid...

yep, i think patio cleaner *used* to be the same thing, and brick cleaner is a mild version of the same thing. But of course, if you buy something with the application explained, always more expensive.

hence
cereal=cheap, breakfast cereal expensive
apples=cheap, eating apples expensive
HCl cheap, barnacle remover =spensive



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[oldgit]

Due to being a world renown expert on busted boat bits and being on first name terms with people at prop repair co.At displacement speeds have found that we can "lose" about 10 to 15% of prop blades without any obvious vibration and therefore maybe resultant damage to seals and bearings etc.Cannot comment on lost top end perfomance as due to old age and scottishness we only go there as special treat now and again.

<hr width=100% size=1>Stupid place to leave an island anyway......