Copper Plating on propeller

T

Taunto

New Member
Joined
15 Jun 2012
Messages
18
Location
Australia
Visit site
I have long wondered if a copper plated propeller would stop the nasty,s growing on the said unit , iv,e spent too much time Googling this subject to only find a few reference ,s over the years . I have discussed this with a close friend for many years . This week he had his prop copper plated at a cost of AU $70 (not a lot of money ) and yesterday his son dived on his boat and fitted it . The water at the moment in Husskisson N.S.W. is around 18 deg C so we expect to see some results fairly quickly if these pesky little demons are going to grow on the prop. I will keep you all posted over the next 6 months as to the progress of this experiment as i,m sure we,re not the only one,s that have pondered this subject . We have tried most of the you beaut stuff on the market from texta colour through to prop speed , if this works it will be a cheap solution to the perennial problem .
I am interested on your thoughts on this subject. Cheers Taunto.
 
It sounds like an interesting test. The effect of the copper may get reduced if there is an effective anode close by .... i.e. a zinc coating over the top ..... but it is unlikely to be significant.

What construction is the boat?
 
The boat is a Duncanson 29 solid glass , anode has been fitted but will be monitored and may be removed as the prop shaft is isolated from the engine.
 
Taunto said:
The boat is a Duncanson 29 solid glass , anode has been fitted but will be monitored and may be removed as the prop shaft is isolated from the engine.
Click to expand...

Not sure what the anode has to do with copper plating. Presumably the idea of copper plating is to try and reduce fouling. Very unlikely to work. Just think about it, if it was an easy and cheap remedy everybody would be doing it already. Think all the $70 will do is demonstrate that it does not work - as many people have found out in the past.
 
Tranona said:
Not sure what the anode has to do with copper plating. Presumably the idea of copper plating is to try and reduce fouling. Very unlikely to work. Just think about it, if it was an easy and cheap remedy everybody would be doing it already. Think all the $70 will do is demonstrate that it does not work - as many people have found out in the past.
Click to expand...

In fairness, if it were regularly rubbed down to expose copper it might work - but then it would have been equally successful if he'd just regularly polished his manganese-bronze (sic) blades.

I'm always wary of the argument that "if it were any good everyone would be doing it" - seems to be an ideal method of ensuring the human race tries nothing new...
 
Elemental copper, as with many metals in their unalloyed condition, is very soft and mechanically poor. Its erosion resistance is nowhere near that of bronzes and similar alloys typically used for propellers. Plating propellers has been tried several times and may be effective for a short time but within hours of use much of the copper is eroded away by fast flowing, aerated water.
 
I did it on my last boat. Made no difference.

PICT0929_zpsf4fbd5bb.jpg
 
Last year I used Lanolin applied with the back of a spoon and warm air blower. Seemed to have reduced the quantity and size so may have simply delayed them starting their growth by a month or so. Although this stuff sticks like something nasty to a blanket, I am sure any amount of power through the prop will soon see it worn away.

However, a review of various compounds used Hammerite Special Metal Primer as a base coat, and whereas none of the tested compounds performed too well, the Hammerite beneath seemed to fair better.
 
I tried lanocote on one propeller and a marine grease on the other. I found that lanocote lasted about 2 months and the grease maybe only 6 weeks. Obviously not all marine fouling is the same around the world and I do tend to travel in some pretty warm waters.

I still scrape mine every few weeks, but this might be relaxed as I get into croc waters further North.
 
charles_reed said:
I'm always wary of the argument that "if it were any good everyone would be doing it" - seems to be an ideal method of ensuring the human race tries nothing new...
Click to expand...

Agree, but there is no point in wasting time trying something that (as Vyv says) is technically not possible and is known not to work! Human knowledge is not advanced by making the same mistakes over and over again - perhaps hoping this time will be different.
 
Apart from the mechanical properties of copper as described by Vyv it also loses its antifouling properties when cathodically protected. If there is an anode to protect the prop it will also "protect" the copper plating and completely remove any antifouling effect.
 
superheat6k said:
However, a review of various compounds used Hammerite Special Metal Primer as a base coat, and whereas none of the tested compounds performed too well, the Hammerite beneath seemed to fair better.
Click to expand...

I tried Hammerite Special Metals Primer on a bronze P-bracket last year. The primer stayed on but much of the antifoulding failed to stick to the primer. This year's experiment on the propellor and the P-bracket is Special Metals Primer then International Primocon then antifouling. We shall see.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

G
Expected lifespan folding prop
Replies
6
Views
289
geem
geem

Share this page

Top