Bruntons autoprop antifoul or ?????

[purplerobbie]

Just bought a bruntons autoprop for my boat and at nearly 2k I’d like to keep it as good as possible.
So what should I put on it? Just antifoul it or is there anything else?

 

[duncan99210]

We just clean the prop on lift out. Provided it’s in frequent use, the growth isn’t too bad but if it’s parked up for a few weeks you’ll need to clean the thing before it works well (three weeks in a marina knocked 2 knots of the speed, all down to the prop being fouled.). Seem to recall someone (Tranona?) has applied Trilux to his with some success with careful application of the right primer.

 

[vyv_cox]

I have been applying Velox over Hammerite Special Metals primer to my Bruntons Autoprop for about six years now. In the Mediterranean it is very effective indeed: the photo below was taken in 2015 on lift out after nearly six months afloat, before pressure washing. I am aware that users in UK have had less success with it but this seems to be location dependent.

 

[Tranona]

I have used Trilux for several years with success, but this year I tried Hempel Mille Drive (because it is much cheaper) but real problem with barnacles, mainly on the blades. Don't know if it is a one off as this year seems bad for barnacles, but will probably try Velox next year on the blades.

 

[purplerobbie]

Someone was going on about a grease you can use that will stop he barnacles? Or a silicon?

 

[Tranona]

Someone was going on about a grease you can use that will stop he barnacles? Or a silicon?

Problem is that getting anything to stick to bronze that whizzes around at 1000 rpm in water is a challenge. grease has its adherents(!) but in my experience does not last and the silicon based products are both expensive and difficult to apply plus don't always work.

Trilux and Velox seem to be the only products that are reasonably successful although both depend on really good preparation to get the coating to adhere to the bronze.

 

[purplerobbie]

Can you use the spray trilux? What’s the best way to apply it?

 

[Daydream believer]

The MD of Bruntons ( a friend of mine) has told me not to antifoul the prop because if there are electrolosis issues the wear will go to points where there is chipping of the antifoul. On their website it says owners may antifoul the prop etc etc . The emphasis is "may". this is not to say do or do not. I do not intend to get into a debate re this !!! When launching each year my boat sits or 3-4 weeks before I go off cruising. I smear it with copious amounts of ordinary grease but do not use the engine until I leave. Because I have coppercoat I have to have the boat jetwashed mid season & the prop has a small amount of growth so i assume that the grease has had some effect. I normally just use some brick cleaner on it & change the prop anode whilst the yard is jet washing. I do not re grease & I go cruising again . At the end of the season there is more fouling, suggesting that the grease has reduced growth a little compared to no growth. I do about 250 hours motoring on top of my sailing. ( Dutch canals etc). In any event the prop is always easy to clean. At the end of the season I take it off to change the saildrive anode as that wears quickly with the autoprop in place compared to the old volvo fixed prop. It takes less than an hour to remove,clean the prop& change the anode & replace. I would estimate another 15 mins to grease the bearings in the blades. So my suggestion would be to leave the antifoul for the first season & see how it performs in your sailing area & use of the boat. The more you use the engine I would suspect the less fouling ( only a theory of course)

 

[Tranona]

Can you use the spray trilux? What’s the best way to apply it?

Yes, use that rather than the paint on. The spray can is specifically made for spraying props and other underwater gear - hence the name Prop o Drev.

Clean the prop, degrease and abrade, primer and topcoat. instructions on the can or on International website.