Copper plating propeller

B

BabaYaga

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 Dec 2008
Messages
2,509
Location
Sweden
Visit site
I mentioned in a thread in January my plans for having the blades of the feathering propeller copper plated and to skip the prop zinc anode. The main purpose being to reduce/eliminate the growth of barnacles on the blades:
Bronze prop with no anodes – what will happen?
I lifted out the other day, so thought I should report back.

From the fouling point of view the result must be described as successful. Not a single barnacle on the blades and just a few on the stainless steel hardware on the propeller hub and the protruding shaft end. The hub was not plated, but primed and spray coated with Trilux. The stainless parts though were not properly primed, only spray coated with Trilux just before lift-in, a coat that apparently has not stayed on.

IMG_3308.jpeg


For comparison, this is what the prop normally looks like at lift out in October, after 6 months in the water, starting out well polished and with zinc anode attached:

IMG_6068.jpeg


(And this sorry state despite me having snorkeled down mid season to clear them off...)

One result less successful is that some of the copper plating has peeled off near the leading edge on one of the blades. Perhaps due to inadequate preparation at the electro platers...?
 
What a good idea. What was the cost for copper plating? Is there a thickness specification for copper plating on the prop?
 
Baba Yagas' result from a polished prop is roughly what I would expect from my previous experience polishing a prop to mirror finish one winter. Waste of time on a sailing yacht: might work on a high-revving motorboat prop. The copper plating is though definitely a very interesting option if someone local could do it.

Up to now my most successful strategy has been a coarse wet and dry sanding, a coat of high-zinc primer, and two coats of good quality eroding AF, Micron or Seajet 033. Not much AF left and a slightly pitted surface after 7-8 months afloat, but no tubeworm or barnacles.
 
Stabo has also got cooper plated propeller this year following the advice on this forum and l technical info kindly posted on vyv_cox web site. The thickness of the cooper is 90 micron.

After five months in the water, 2000 miles on the log and 50 hours of the motoring in the Med I am very happy with the results. The copper layer is still shiny, there seems to be no issues with the adhesion nor any signs of the surface damage. There were no barnacles on the prop, however algae growth ( green stuff) was not entirely prevented. Light scrubbing with the kitchen sponge once per month maintains propeller in top condition.

During the winter the boat will stay in watter and I will report he results.
 
Any reason why diy copper plating wouldn’t work?
There’s loads of info on the web and sites selling the stuff you need.
I was thinking of giving it a go this winter using the ‘brush on’ method.
Obviously good prep would be vital.
 
vyv_cox said:
If you read my link, I paid £108 some years ago for 90 microns of plate. That was a 16 inch three bladed prop.
Click to expand...

It seems Lathco are still in business. I'll contact them in the week with a view to having them do the same for me....

What did they/you do to preserve the 'bore'?
 
@vyv,
would you do it again now?
It looks like an ideal solution to avoiding prop fouling and wouldn’t cost that much more than applying silic-one or propspeed.
 
There are electroplating companies everywhere. You won't have far to go to find one.

My next internet search was for a copper plating how-to. Loads of advice on diy on t'internet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top