CalicoJack
Well-Known Member
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to stop the paddlewheel on my NASA log from becoming clogged with weed? Is antifouling the answer or will that end up destroying it?
Antifouling a NASA log?
- Thread starter CalicoJack
- Start date
JAYEL
Well-Known Member
Have the the same problem with the NASA log on my Trapper on the lower reaches of the Thames. I have tried everything from antifouling the paddle, to spraying it with PTFE (teflon). The only surefire way to keep it clean is to remove it after each voyage, and screw on the blanking cap. Its amazing how deft you get at this heart stopping operation, and how little water gets taken on board each time. Just dont do it on your own. Have some one handy with a wooden plug.
oceanfroggie
Well-Known Member
Sorry that will totally destroy it
alienzdive
Well-Known Member
If you trim your sails correctly and get enough speed up you should be able to remove the weed and so on through the friction of the water.
I seem never to be able to trim my sails well enough for this to happen so what I have done is connect the waste from the sink to right beside the paddle wheel. When it gets clogged I drop fish scraps through the waste. The ensuing feeding frenzy from all the fish that come around chew away at it. This seems to remove it so that it works again but needs to be dome atleast 3-4 times.
I seem never to be able to trim my sails well enough for this to happen so what I have done is connect the waste from the sink to right beside the paddle wheel. When it gets clogged I drop fish scraps through the waste. The ensuing feeding frenzy from all the fish that come around chew away at it. This seems to remove it so that it works again but needs to be dome atleast 3-4 times.
CalicoJack
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the information. So its back to creating "an interesting water feature" each time that I have to remove the paddle wheel.
pampas
Well-Known Member
Have always anti fouled impellors and never had meltdown. old wives tales. grease it also a good thing as the ******** will not stick on grease. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Swanrad2
Well-Known Member
From my experience with NASA logs, take it out and store carefully in your garage or convenient skip, it'll never bloody work anyway. Only one that stays remotely working on my boat is the old fashioned mechanical one.
Best thing for it is to lose them totally and log from GPS (sorry old folks)
Best thing for it is to lose them totally and log from GPS (sorry old folks)
steve6367
Well-Known Member
I always (carefully with a small brush) paint mine with Micron Extra - seems ok for 12 months in poole.
alienzdive
Well-Known Member
I spoke to a paint manufaturer reguarding impellors and logs in general. The possibility of ruining the log is remote. However some antifouls react with some plastics in very rare circumstances. For this reason it is impossible for them to list which anifouls not to use on which plastics, because for the boat owner the only way to find out is to do a test o
patch. Thus damaging the plastic, but more often than not no problem. However a heavy build up of antifoul can reduce the accuracy or stop an impellor from working.
Usually though the main problem is a reuction in accuracy of the speed reading if anything, although minor.
For this reason the paint company would be liable financially for any errors. For this reason they put a disclaimer on there data sheets or tin of paint.
He said unoficcialy if you do get fouling, you may be better off antifouling it. However if there is a problem they have warned you and you should have little come back on the paint companies.
patch. Thus damaging the plastic, but more often than not no problem. However a heavy build up of antifoul can reduce the accuracy or stop an impellor from working.
Usually though the main problem is a reuction in accuracy of the speed reading if anything, although minor.
For this reason the paint company would be liable financially for any errors. For this reason they put a disclaimer on there data sheets or tin of paint.
He said unoficcialy if you do get fouling, you may be better off antifouling it. However if there is a problem they have warned you and you should have little come back on the paint companies.
pvb
Well-Known Member
Antifoul it...
You can antifoul it without problems. It's easier to do this if you take the paddle-wheel out first (you might need a very small screwdriver for this). I do mine twice a year with hard antifouling (you can buy stuff like Trilux in little tins) and a small brush. Sand the inside of the housing and the paddle-wheel surfaces lightly first with fine wet-and-dry. Apply 2 thin coats. When recoating in x months time, try to remove most of old antifouling first otherwise a build-up of paint could affect accuracy.
You can antifoul it without problems. It's easier to do this if you take the paddle-wheel out first (you might need a very small screwdriver for this). I do mine twice a year with hard antifouling (you can buy stuff like Trilux in little tins) and a small brush. Sand the inside of the housing and the paddle-wheel surfaces lightly first with fine wet-and-dry. Apply 2 thin coats. When recoating in x months time, try to remove most of old antifouling first otherwise a build-up of paint could affect accuracy.
Achillesheel
Well-Known Member
Re: Antifoul it...
"Interesting water feature" not necessary. If the log doesn't work and clogging is suspected, loosen it slightly while boat is in motion, turn it through 180 degrees for a few seconds, turn it back, tighten it back up, go back up on deck and marvel at the simplicity of this solution.
"Interesting water feature" not necessary. If the log doesn't work and clogging is suspected, loosen it slightly while boat is in motion, turn it through 180 degrees for a few seconds, turn it back, tighten it back up, go back up on deck and marvel at the simplicity of this solution.
