clean the props and go faster

[tcm]

Last year i bought scuba air tanks to allow me to clean the boat underneath.

This year, on advice from others I was told - clean the props, that's the main thing. So instead of cleaning anything else, i just cleaned the props, which were only a bit rough with a few weedy barnacles. I made the props quite shiny, and the boat does an extra 3-4 knots.

Reasonable, I suppose: the props go through a lot more water and a lot faster than the hull does. No idea how much more though. Well, the props are 850mm diameter so circumference is 3metres, 2200 rpm would mean 6600 metres per minute, altho an average over the prop of a bit less, and gear ratio is er dunno. Anyway the hull is only doing (at 30 knots) erm say 800 metres/min. Haven't really answered this question have i but anyay, prop cleaning is jolly good.

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[burgundyben]

too a point I agree.

as usual tcm a well reasoned post but within limits, I launched playtime with clean but dull props with a bit of scale, she did 30 knots, whilst lifted out for repairing a leak I polished the props with some 600 grade, made them look luverly and shiny, and boat still did 30 knots.

so keep weed and crap off propbly does make a difference as you say, but polishing beyond cleaning appeared to make no difference.

<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Also cleaned my prop last week along with the hull. It was not particularly dirty, again a few barnacles and a bit of weed, was suffering from vibration which has now gone.

I used one of these stainless type scouring pads which made easy work of it, left it nice and shiney. Presume this is the first time you've done them this year?

Satisfying job, fairly easy, grimy old prop in a few minutes looks like new again. Maybe shouldn't have posted this, expect someone in Plymouth will shove me over the side to do his props ;-((

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[peterandjeanette]

Aluminium or stainless? I'd be interested to know. Had the first good run in my F33 last week. Only 24 kts tops on way out ( to Ramsgate), but topped 29kts on way back. Self cleaning hull and props? Probably not.

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[hlb]

Na. Mucky's teaching her self to go slower and slower to catch up with you........./forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> <font color=blue>It's flog a flag day.<font color=red> Today.<font color=blue>

Haydn

 

[AJW]

Fred Drift

Gotta mate selling E type Jag.
All I know is that its Red and a hard top. Think its a V12.
Can find out more if its of interest

Cheers,
AJ

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[longjohnsilver]

Neither, it's bronze. If you have outdrives they may be almost self cleaning, have seen people go out with loads of weed and come back almost clean after just a relatively short run. Tha same doesn't apply to the hull, always seems strange that slime will come off just by wiping a sponge over the hull but all the pounding of rough water leaves it intact.

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[Deleted User YDKXO]

Log Impellor?

Could be a slightly fouled log impellor which has cleaned itself at speed. I often find that my log doesnt start showing the correct speed until the boat has run a few minutes on the plane

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[mainshiptom]

I would say this is due to the Tide, My boat does 8 against the tide and over 12 with the tide !

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[c_j]

I tried cleaning mine on Saturday with a length of chain attached to a semi-submerged mooring buoy in Swanage. The problem with this method is you require scuba equipment to release. On this occasion the cleaning method resulted in no increase in performance, but no decrease either, which was nice.

If the Swanage Pier company are responsible for mooring buoys, does that mean they are.... erm responsible?

<hr width=100% size=1>CJ
chris@stone.uk.com


<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.stone.uk.com>http://www.stone.uk.com</A>

 

[longjohnsilver]

Errr?

I'm trying hard to imagine how you tried to clean your props with a piece of chain.................................................

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