Cleaning a prop in the water advice...

[Andrew E]

Put the Go Pro underneath the boat today and found this rather messy prop...

Don't really fancy going in for a swim nor do I fancy lifting the boat just yet.

Has anybody got any clever ideas or any clever products on the market that would help me clean this?

I was thinking a hard brush or a scraper attached to a pole? Either way, looks like I'll be going for a swim.... :ambivalence:

 

[Plum]

Put the Go Pro underneath the boat today and found this rather messy prop...

Don't really fancy going in for a swim nor do I fancy lifting the boat just yet.

Has anybody got any clever ideas or any clever products on the market that would help me clean this?

I was thinking a hard brush or a scraper attached to a pole? Either way, looks like I'll be going for a swim.... :ambivalence:

I use a foam sanding block, the sort sold in DIY stores, mounted on the end of an aluminium pole. Working from a pontoon i can rotate the prop a blade at a time by pushing with the pole end and clean each face of the prop. Works well if done regularly. If left to the extent shown in your photograph you wil need more drastic measure like drying out for a tide or a swim.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[LadyInBed]

Go and dry out somewhere.

 

[johnalison]

You need a plastic tube and a source of brick cleaner. Steer the end of the tube to the prop and let the brick cleaner flow round the prop. You will need about two Olympic pools' worth of the stuff but it should work eventually.

 

[prv]

Water should still be fairly warm

I managed to do this with just a mask and snorkel (and a scraper):

to

Pete

 

[TQA]

3 or 4 inch STIFF scraper bolted to a 6 to 7 ft pole. Don snorkel gear flippers and a wetsuit if you are unfortunate enough to live in a cold country. You can get 80 to 90 % off in 20 minutes or so working from the surface. .

BTW by Caribbean standards that is not badly fouled yes you will lose some drive but not much. 8 weeks in Rodney bay or Falmouth and you will lose almost all drive as your prop will no longer be recognizable as a prop looking more lime a basket of flowers.

 

[forelle541]

I swim and use a hand scraper, easy and quick but the small shrimps on the Deben do make me itch a bit.

 

[thinwater]

What in heaven's name is wrong with a swim? If the water is cold, having a wet suit of dry suit available and knowing how to use it is a basic safety requirement, above flares and many other things. What would you do if you wrapped up a rope?

The actual water temperature has nothing to do with it. A 10 minute job.

(Yup, that's ice. I was in the water for 3 hours, testing the suit. Hence the book. My wife thought it was pretty funny.)


http://theotherchesapeake.blogspot.com/2016/09/drysuit-ocean-rodeo-soul.html

 

[jwilson]

On an older narrow-sterned boat you may if the water is clear be able to get a lot off with an improvised pole and scraper, especially as you have an underwater camera already you could attach to the pole. More difficult witth modern broad sterns.

If and when you swim, make 100% sure no-one can accidentally start the engine ......

 

[aslabend]

I fixed a wire wheel (the type you use on a drill) to a broom handle and, when the water is clear, can reach the property from a dinghy. The brush is stiff enough to dislodge the red weed and anything soft but you can't get enough force to scrub barnacles off (or damage your bronze prop?). Not a perfect solution but even a quick scrub improves prop efficiency. Drying out and a scrub with a Brillo and brick cleaner is the only sure way.

 

[Andrew E]

Right I've ordered a wetsuit hood and gloves to go with my wetsuit and I'll be jumping in this weekend. I can just about reach my prop without using a snorkel.

I might clean the rest of hull if the water is as warm as you guys are saying.

Cheers for the advice!

 

[TQA]

Right I've ordered a wetsuit hood and gloves to go with my wetsuit and I'll be jumping in this weekend. I can just about reach my prop without using a snorkel.

I might clean the rest of hull if the water is as warm as you guys are saying.

Cheers for the advice!

Like I said bolt the scraper to a broom handle and work from the surface. Use a mask and snorkel. Some people use a sucker handle to maintain position as the scrape but others like me just use flippers. Do not dive but work from the surface, tilting your head to keep the snorkel above water you can work continuously. Diving is very tiring and you are more at risk from barnacle cuts.