Don't trust Prop Shield

[Daydream believer]

I fitted a new Bruntons 2 blade verifold prop at the beginning of the season.

.

Bruntons told me not to put antifoul paint on the prop
Any chips in the paint can lead to a small area exposed to electrolytic action which can unbalance the prop

I do not have a major problem with prop fouling (However, my copper coat on the hull is useless)
But i do use my boat a lot & do not just sit all season in the marina
I am sure regular use reduces fouling

 

[ccw]

I do not have a major problem with prop fouling (However, my copper coat on the hull is useless)
But i do use my boat a lot & do not just sit all season in the marina
I am sure regular use reduces fouling[/QUOTE]

Re copper coat, in my experience if left out of the water for any time then surface oxidises which affects performance. Really important to lightly sand or use scouring pads to expose fresh copper prior to launching.

 

[Daydream believer]

CCW wrote:-
Re copper coat, in my experience if left out of the water for any time then surface oxidises which affects performance. Really important to lightly sand or use scouring pads to expose fresh copper prior to launching.[/QUOTE]


Extract from coppercoats instructions
An annual wash or brush is recommended. Eventually, after many years, the surface may need to be
lightly abraded with a fine grade of “wet and dry” paper or a sanding pad to expose fresh copper

 

[ccw]

CCW wrote:-
Re copper coat, in my experience if left out of the water for any time then surface oxidises which affects performance. Really important to lightly sand or use scouring pads to expose fresh copper prior to launching.

Extract from coppercoats instructions
An annual wash or brush is recommended. Eventually, after many years, the surface may need to be
lightly abraded with a fine grade of “wet and dry” paper or a sanding pad to expose fresh copper[/QUOTE]

Yes but that is if you lift, wash off and relaunch straight away and she is kept in the water all year round.

If you leave ashore for a period and allow the surface to oxidise then in my experience you will suffer with performance and it is best to lightly rub down the surface to expose fresh copper. When people have had problems this invariably has been the cause.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Before we launched with our brand new Flex-o-fold prop a couple of years ago, I had a friend who had access to a stainless steel manufacturing facility get the prop polished to a mirror finish. A week after launch I had to have the boat lifted again because of a seacock failure (are DZR now). The prop was black!

As for the CC issue, if the water is brackish then the CC will be less effective, are you getting weed growth or animal? If you have a lot of agricultural run off where you keep the boat, then you will suffer more weed growth. Or at least that is what I have deduced after 9 years of CC use.

 

[cookjwm]

Thanks for that, did not notice that one when I googled! Might give it a try next year