AllanG
Well-Known Member
VERY surprised that you could clean it so well in only 30 minutes??!!!
New Props
- Thread starter derekbland
- Start date
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Pressure washing is done by the marina staff at Sant Carles (the MDL marina in Spain).
We then use an acid that the locals call Agua Fuerte (literal translation - "strong water")
Probably not available in the UK - we get it in the supermarkets out there!!
It isn't very safe stuff to work with - I use rubber gloves and eye protection (glasses) etc.
We have been using it for a long time but only recently worked out the best way to use it.
The trick is "not to use too much"
Metalwork only.
We decant some of the acid into an old yogurt carton and paint it on using a 2" paint brush - then keep the acid moving.
By keeping the brush wet with acid from the yogurt carton and "painting" in small circles, the barnacles just disappear.
It is like having a little angle grinder on the end of a paint brush.
I have adapted this process - I bought a few long handled (single sided) toilet brushes.
Using a similar process (dipping the toilet brushes into the acid) I can do the shafts and more stubborn areas quicker.
As I say about 30 mins and it is all done (thats after an initial pressure wash)
Usually, I get the marina guys to pressure wash the props, rudders, shafts, P brackets and trim tabs first and whilst they are pressure washing the boat, two of us "get in there" with the acid.
We usually finish at the same time the guys pressure washing.
They then give our metalwork another quick wash to remove any acid.
We then either "block off" in the boatyard or relaunch and go back to our berth.
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Yep - about that long.
Our cheap (one free pa) lift and washes don't give us time to do much more with the boat.
Usually two of us plus one guy on the pressure washer but often three of us.
It really doesn't take that long.
But you have to have the place and space. And marina staff willing to help.
Sant Carles has all that.
EDIT
There is one disadvantage with this approach.
The boat remains in the slings so the hull doesn't get cleaned where the travel hoist's straps (4 in our case) carry the hull.
Last edited:
TQ1
Member
One free lift per annum is pretty good.
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Yep - it just makes keeping a boat in the Med even cheaper that some places in the UK.
Originally, when we planned to move to to Devon, I had expected to have a boat in Torquay.
But I get so much out of having one in Sant Carles that I don't miss having one locally.
That was over 10 years ago and I still don't have that craving for a boat in Torquay.
TQ1
Member
Hopefully the English Riviera will be as hot as the Med over the next couple of weeks!
Hurricane
Well-Known Member
It is at the moment - lovely day
derekbland
Well-Known Member
N I'm orf to Tossa de Mar tomorrow - too bleedin ot!
Seastoke
Well-Known Member
don't forget props are not on the shelf its about 6 weeks I think
derekbland
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that. I must admit I had just assumed a week or two so useful for planning.
Portofino
Well-Known Member
I got the impression right or wrong , at the time of purchase of my boat that you can,t just walk into a prop shop and buy them .
Worse still they do batches ,not individual pairs .
This means the lead time could be months ie a season not a couple of weeks .
This info came out over a few beers with the broker he mentioned many a season has been ruined by owners assumption that props sit an shelf a phone call away for those size of boat .
Fortunately we have a spare pair on a rack under a bunk in the rear cabin .
How much truth is in that I don,t know ?
As said figure €4000 /6000 a pair
Seastoke
Well-Known Member
I paid last year £1500 for two on a 35 ft boat imported from the states and machined in wales
petem
Well-Known Member
An additional advantage of outdrives. I'd expect to have a new set in 24 hours, even in Spain. And there's normally sets on eBay going cheap.
Portofino
Well-Known Member
Talking sq 58 here on shafts - they will be around 60-80 cm dia and a struggle for one man to lift on .
Turned by a 12 L
Turned by a 12 L
Seastoke
Well-Known Member
pete the ebay are ones because the legs are caput
petem
Well-Known Member
Fair point!
stelican
Well-Known Member
I have a pair that have been sat in the garden as ornaments for at least the past 15 years. 26x28x4
Sishoe
Well-Known Member
I had one new, one refurbished and 2 new nuts on my Targa 64 last year, luckily the seller had to pay for it, but I believe the refurb and 2 nuts was about £500+vat and the new prop was 3K + vat
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AoMBqVrTEKbpqQU-4Qe3VdqBon84
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AoMBqVrTEKbpqQU-4Qe3VdqBon84