Antifoul Propeller

[flylhp]

Hi
Has anyone got any thougts on whether it is a good idea to antifoul bronze propeller or do you lose the protection of your anode.

flylhp

 

[LORDNELSON]

You most likely will lose anode protection anyway because soon after you are back in the water the prop will be covered with a thin film of slime/little limpet things etc., so the anode will not be able to "see" the prop. At least if you use anti-foul you will have a propellor which is more efficient because it should have less growth on it than otherwise.

 

[bob_tyler]

I used Seajet 33 A/F last year. While putting it on, with a roller, I accidently got some on the end of one blade of the prop (bronze).

When I came out in the autumn most of the prop was fouled except for the bit covered with Seajet which was clean!

QED. I will antifoul the prop with Seajet this year in March, before I launch. Not being a copper based A/F I'm not bothered about electrolysis.

 

[Coppershield]

It is a good idea.

Hi,
LordNelson and Bob Tyler are correct on the idea of anti-fouling Your propeller.
a brilliant scientist by the name of Sir Humphrey davy was the inventor of using zinc anodes on ships in early 1800s unfortunately at the time the quantum mechanics was not well understood. Otherwise , I'm sure he would have chosen different ways to deal with the galvanic corrosion they were experiencing with the copper plates on ships.
Unfortunately , today , otherwise brilliant manufacturers are still using outdated techniques to combat galvanic corrosion. Subject is not very complex , but it requires different techniques for different vessels and subject is too long to discuss it here. At this time.
Getting back to Your question about antifouling Your propeller most important part of antifouling propeller are properly cleaning the propeller and etching it and then using a proper primer and quality copolymer antifouling paint.
Above process , I have been testing over nine years has been satisfactory for me. I am not sure how this will hold up on a high-speed boat my boat has 19 in. propeller and I cruise at 2500 RPMs first time when I tried this process over nine years ago after three years the propeller was 99% clean. Remaining 1% was due to the fact propeller was struck by a something in the water. evidence of a small chip on the leading edge was very clear. Second time around I tryed something slightly different and the results were about the same. And this time , the boat is still in the water. After 39 months. I plan on pulling the boat out in the next three to four months, so far everything looks good.
You don't have to buy anything from me, everything You'll need should be available in Your area if You're interested in trying this for yourself sent me a PM and I will give You an additional details.
Good luck.
Muzaffer
PS assuming from Your yacht is name You have a sailboat , 31 ft. long
but if I am wrong , and You have a high-speed motor yacht please disregard the above information.

 

[DKnight]

Re: It is a good idea.

I would also be interested in anything better than Lanolin covering the prop. before launching, would probably be O.K. for a few months but after 10 months I get quiet a lot of fouling and lose of prop efficiency

 

[youngwrinkley]

I beileve in polishing the prop- to a shine, and then applying Castrol Heavy Grease quite thickly ~1mm all over. It works very well for my 32 ft sloop at Brightlingsea, applied in May/June each year.

 

[Coppershield]

Re: It is a good idea.

Hi David,
I have just sent PM to the post originater with the information that is also interest to You as soon as I can figure out how to send the same information to You I will send it. But more than likely it's going to be tomorrow night.
Thanks .
Muzaffer