Painted Log

[Brian_B]

I'm thinking of painting my log's impellor and it's housing with a coat of hard antifoul in the hope that this will prevent occasional weed growth.
Do you think it's a good idea, will it work?

 

[dulcibella]

I've always done mine with soft antifoul, which works fine. I've not tried the hard sort.

 

[Brian_B]

I'll report back, in about six month.

 

[pvb]

Yes, and yes...

Been doing mine twice a year for ages. Works a treat. You need to take the impellor out of the housing to do it properly - might need to invest in a cheap set of "jewellers screwdrivers", which will come in handy for other fiddling jobs.

 

[Althorne]

Nasa have always recommended NOT painting thiers including the fixed tube and nut that passes thru the hull. I presume it has something to do with affecting it's turning or chemicals on the plastic having a detrimental effect?

 

[JAYEL]

I,m spraying my NASA log impellor with a dry PTFE spray, teflon to you and me, made by ROCOL, and available from electrical wholesalers, in an effort to keep the nasties of the waterworld from attaching themselves. I,m building up a number of coats before it goes back in the water in april.


Experienthia docet stultos

 

[Rob_Webb]

Likewise Navman recommend not covering their tranducers/impellers with anything and I'm far too techno-ignorant to work out a clever reason to go against this advice. Hence my technique is to use the boat so regulalry it doesn't have a chance to weed up - every weekend and 1-2 times during the week. Great excuse!

 

[gjeffery]

Because NASA told me that Sikaflex may damage the polymer of the log fitting, it is the only fitting on my boat, that is set in silicone; all the other through hull fittings are mounted in Sikaflex. Last year, I antifouled the flange of the fitting, and I now learn that this too may cause damage. I have e-mailed to NASA to ask iwhat vulnerabilities to common marine products exist. I am particularly concerned about lubricants used on the 'O' Ring.

While visiting the NASA website, I found that they have posted: "A useful article by Duncan kent on how to instal a Depth and Log Transducer (Taken from Sailing Today Aud 2002)"

This instructs that the log fitting should be set in a "Flexible Polyurethane Sealant". The illustration shows Sikaflex being used!

Now, totally confused, I am looking forward to NASA's response to my question.