Antifouling outdrive

gibbowolfie

gibbowolfie

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Since my boat purchase dragged on a bit I'm only just getting sorted on the bits I need to do for winter. Engine and outdrive serviced but she's got to come out again for antifoul. I'm considering antifouling the outdrive too although that's never ben donme before on this boat and not seen that many boats with it done in the marinas I've frequented however she is spending the winter in the water.

Does anyone on here regularly antifoul thier outdrive units?

Thanks Steve.
 
I never used to antifoul o/b or sterndrives but since I sit in the marina and no longer on the trailer all year then the answer will be Oh yes! just make sure you use the Trilux antifoul for outdrives and not the same stuff you put on the bottom !!
 
Steve in the past I have used Trilux from International on my stern drive, but its only a medium strength anitfouling and in the shallow, warm, waters of the Solent (full of nutrients /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif) weed and barnacles do grow on freshly painted antifouling (within 8 weeks). I complained to International and asked for advice in July. They couldn't find anything stronger but did give me a new 3L tin of Trilux as a good will measure. I use VC Offshore for the hull which is great, just can't find a good solution for the stern drive at present. Not anitfouling isn't an option as the wee beasties would really have a field day.

Pete
 
Clean off everything,including all those fiddly impossible little nooks and crannies up under the transom casting.You will will only ever have to do once and will never ever have to do it again.Mainly cos you will immediately sell the boat and buy something with shafts.
Anyway clean ALL old muck off and lightly sand to roughen surface a bit.Fill all deep gouges and scratches and then use expensive etching stuff to allow slightly less expensive undercoat to stick to old outdrive paint.Allow to dry.Lightly roughen surface and apply incredibly amazingly expensive special outdrive antifoul to leg and realise 3/4 of way through that one poxy weeny tin will not be quite enuff.
Decision time,go and buy another tin or try and spread the last dregs over remaining leg and being confident that skeg does not really need doing anyway.
Cos it will rub off first time you hit bottom.
Stand back and admire with aching back the worst paint job you have ever seen.
Worry not cos it all will disappear under water fairly soon.
Worry not,the whole sorry palaver will all be there next year just waiting for you.
 
For Wot its worth.... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif

Had my outdrive sprayed with three coats of Blakes Mille Drive paint in March 2006 ... and had barnacles and weed within 4 weeks.

Scrubbed the outdrive to remove barnacles and weed ... which also removed some of the antifoul /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Over the next few weeks ....... noticed that weed was not growing where the antifoul had been removed due to previous scrubbing. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Also noticed that mooring stern facing south ..... loads of weed growth /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif .... mooring stern facing north ... very little weed growth ... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Wish I'd never antifouled outdrive /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif
 
My advice is don't paint them. It does not help and they get more difficult to clean. I get down in the water and clean off the barnacles when they start setting (in Sweden they start building in July). Doing it once more at the end of August keeps them off until the next season.
If you want them new and shine again use "barnacle removal" from international and a high pressure wash, much easier the sanding and repainting.
 
My advice is to follow oldgits advice for preparation, but use the VP stuff in spray cans to finish off. It's expensive, but lasts all season without scrubbing. All you have to do is exceeed 20kts every now and again.

dv.
 
hmmm, seems to be quite a spread of viewpoints. Am I wrong but does it seem like those who have painted outdrives feel that they still get a whole heck of fouling anyway?

I'm unable to get down to boat so this is going to be me paying a boat yard to do. I don't really fancy paying someone to do something that doesn't really make a big difference. I'll think on....

Cheers for advice.
 
As MichaelJ says, if you can get to clean them relatively easily then I wouldn't bother anti-fouling them at all. It has never prevented a large build up of "c**p" on either of the boats we've had recently.
We won't bother next year if we can find a way of lifting the hull, at the stern, about a foot further off the bed of the estuary. Then at LW we will be able to get at all the leg and attack it with a wooden spatula. Two or three sessions a year will keep all the critters at bay.
 
While some folks anti foul to prevent build up of weed etc to maintain speed etc the reason that my drives are antifouled is purely to stop the blimming barnycules building up enough layers to scour a hole in the rubberhose thingies.
If you reckon they are not sharp enough just try rubbing a few off with your bare hands,the resulting wounds hurt like hell and take ages to heal. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
=snip=
I'm unable to get down to boat so this is going to be me paying a boat yard to do. I don't really fancy paying someone to do something that doesn't really make a big difference. I'll think on.... =snip=

[/ QUOTE ]

Boatyard price £147 + vat /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Quite w0tty. And if I still need to scrape once or more a season surely its gotta come out to get a proper job? Yes can get the worst off by raising the leg. Maybe I'll just do that this season and see how it develops. The boat hadn't been used much this season when I bought it and the Hamble had a high fouling year! I'm planning on a fair amount of use and will defo get >20kts so should keep the major amount off it no?

She has to come out soon anyway to get the hull done, some repairs to the trim tabs and the props recoated hence thinking should I do it at same time. My credit card is really screaming now though so I'll see how it goes without antifouling the out drive.

Is that a 180Deg about turn? Me? surely not;-)
 
[ QUOTE ]
the Hamble had a high fouling year! I'm planning on a fair amount of use and will defo get >20kts so should keep the major amount off it no?

[/ QUOTE ]

no

as you will have seen the main reason that people recomend not botherering is because even with AF you will still get growth, quickly in high summer, so why do it?

Personally I do it becasue it makes it easy to jet wash off or jump over in the summer with a brush. Not doing it will make it a lot harder to clear - IMHO.

The difference between a really well done job and a quite nice job will show in just a month too!
 
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