Cleaning Outdrives..

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z1ppy

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Zippy was lifted today and is ashore to a week or so to get some TLC....

Believe it or not, we usually sell our boats around this time in the ownership life cycle so i am very much a novice when it comes to DIY Work!! :ambivalence:

Whats the generally considered methods for cleaning the drives? they took a real hammering with barnacles last year and no doubt are very weedy, they will have been pressure washed before blocking off but i am not going to be able to start work on cleaning until at least Friday morning..

What do people recommend for cleaning up drives and props? products / methods, any help appreciated.

They drives are coming off to be serviced with new bellows but i want to try and get them cleaned up so they are looking great again.

Same for trim tabs and bow thruster tube and prop...
 
Hydrochloride acid brushed on and agitated removes " shells ".
Rinse with water , wear PPE inc a breather mask + eye protection.
Once clean use suitable primer followed by Trilux in grey .
 
On previously antifouled drives I just use a scouring pad and water then rinse off with a blunt scraper for crustier areas.
On non antifouled surfaces the barnacle circles remain visable with this method.
 
dpb said:
On previously antifouled drives I just use a scouring pad and water then rinse off with a blunt scraper for crustier areas.
On non antifouled surfaces the barnacle circles remain visable with this method.
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And over time these cause an oxidation erosion making your drive resemble a golf ball. This is where the tin of compromise comes in. I sent mine in this season to be professionally done with all the dimples etc filled in and sanded off and repainted. Cost me 1.3k and that my friend after many personal failed attempts at making them look shiny and new is exactly where my compromise ends. Next time its a thick wodge of AF, and not that rubbish Trilux the barnacles adore, in the hopes that if I build it up thick enough it might hide the acne scars.
 
dpb said:
Plastic scourer, not steel. And I dont go beyond the antifoul thats there already so don't see how what you describe can happen.
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No, the barnacle circles. They start off erosion dimpling. I have a long passionate war against the little demons. This after half a season. (I beach and do a mid season scrub and anode check)

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I simply scrap off any barnacles then use wet and dry with water and sponge, smooth out any patches. Then prime any metal areas showing then two coats of Seajet 034 (white as grey is more expensive and not generally available) which I found to be much better than trilux, far less barnacles. For props I do the same but apply Seajet 034 black, if really bad then I remove all paint and apply epoxy first.
 
z1ppy said:
Zippy was lifted today and is ashore to a week or so to get some TLC....

Believe it or not, we usually sell our boats around this time in the ownership life cycle so i am very much a novice when it comes to DIY Work!! :ambivalence:

Whats the generally considered methods for cleaning the drives? they took a real hammering with barnacles last year and no doubt are very weedy, they will have been pressure washed before blocking off but i am not going to be able to start work on cleaning until at least Friday morning..

What do people recommend for cleaning up drives and props? products / methods, any help appreciated.

They drives are coming off to be serviced with new bellows but i want to try and get them cleaned up so they are looking great again.

Same for trim tabs and bow thruster tube and prop...
Click to expand...

Just get Tom to do it
 
BruceK said:
No, the barnacle circles. They start off erosion dimpling. I have a long passionate war against the little demons. This after half a season. (I beach and do a mid season scrub and anode check)

x0bbxQN.jpg


Jesus , what are you feedin em?
i am 300 yeards away in deganwy and i get nothing,

one heavey coat of seajet AF for aluminium and bobs you uncle.
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I have used Trilux for a few years and yes the Barnacles seem to love it.... If I want to change to Seajet can I just sand and brush it over the Trilux or does the Trilux all have to come off (as if that is possible)
 
Bigplumbs said:
I have used Trilux for a few years and yes the Barnacles seem to love it.... If I want to change to Seajet can I just sand and brush it over the Trilux or does the Trilux all have to come off (as if that is possible)
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Just needs to be reasonably smooth and no loose bits.
 
This year I've tried putting on a thick layer of waterproof grease on everything above the cavitation plate. I thought I would give it a bash on the principle nothing ventured nothing gained but was sceptical in our 4 knt river currents it would stay on for long. Well I've done 170 nm on the plane this month so far and the boat has been in the water for 5 weeks with no reduction to the thickness of the grease so I'm holding hopes it will be sufficient to last until the mid season beaching where I will apply some more. Trilux is good below the cavitation plate where it gets water flow and can self ablate once on the plane. Absolutely rubbish above the cavitation plate which is out of the water at speed and cannot ablate and shed the barnacles. (In my own experience at least)
 
Bigplumbs said:
I have used Trilux for a few years and yes the Barnacles seem to love it.... If I want to change to Seajet can I just sand and brush it over the Trilux or does the Trilux all have to come off (as if that is possible)
Click to expand...

That's pretty much what I did when I changed over a few years ago, but if you expose the aluminium then add a primer first (I use hempel underwater primer).
 
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