No Antifoul on shaft/propeller?

[muskie]

Newbie question:
If antifoul can protect the body from the mussuel growth etc...Why not we painted it on the shaft or propeller so we can have double protection (I know the zinc can protect them as well.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Evadne]

Answer is you can, unless any part is made of aluminium. Its just that (in my experience) you get just as much fouling on a polished propellor as on an antifouled one. My prop is typical for a long-keeler, about 5cms of prop shaft & a bronze bearing in front of the prop. It may be different if you've a fin-keeler with yards of stainless steel shaft or other metalwork in front of the prop, or a saildrive.
See "scabby bottoms" thread from a week or so ago, in Scuttlebutt, for other experiences and comments on antifouling (or not) in general.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[upstream]

I splogged antifouling on my prop last year, wished I hadn't bothered. There was more wildlife attached to it than I ever had, I had previously polished it. I figure if you are going to paint it, better to use a hard type and something that will stand up to the forces the prop experiences when working for a living.
From what I gather from previous topics on this site, Lanolin may be a better solution......also keeps the hands nice and soft! Sheep farmers may be able to confirm this. Mind you there's not many sheep farmers in my marina.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[StephenSails]

One of the chaps i do some work for had epoxied his prop and then abraded the epoxy for antifouling - this was to apparently stop this mega worm they get in Chi Yachtgrot Basin.

<hr width=100% size=1>http://www.yachtinguniverse.com

 

[anabel]

I haven't ever put antifouling on my prop shaft. Reason being I always have a shaft anode on same. Paint would prevent the necessary electrical connection between the two. However the exposed shaft is quite short - only about 2 inches. Recently I have being putting a hard racing antifouling paint on prop. Last 2 years no fouling on same. Is it due to the antifouling paint!? Who knows. I have a mooring in a small river where we have a lot of tiny barnacles. The water here varies between fresh (after heavy rains) to salt (after prolonged dry spell - somewhat rare in Ireland!). Then when I move to the local marina which is about 20 ml. west the place salt water & plagued with tube worms! Still no fouling on prop.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[paulplatts]

I usually fine sand the brass prop & stainless prop shaft. Then I put on a few coat of clear varnish. This seems to keep the weed & barnacles off for a fair part of the season. Barnacles finally attach themselves at the end of the season, but the varnish underneath makes then easier to remove, ready to start the process all over again.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[davidbains]

You can buy special hard antifouling in small tins for saildrives.
It does help but still most of it will be worn off the prop.
It seems to work while you're sailing but not necessarily during
a long period in a fouly harbour (such as Gouvia)

<hr width=100% size=1>