Prop Gold

[alan]

I was wondering if anyone has tried the product "Prop Gold" which is manufactured by "Greencorp Marine", and is an antifouling designed for propellors and other underwater metal bits. I do not want to start a "my granny used to use black stove paint" type of war!! I was just wondering if anyone has any practical experience of this product which is (I believe) Australian. According to the manufacturers web site there are no UK distributors; but that does not necessarily mean that someone has not come across it.

Thanks for any feedback on practical experience of this product.

Alan.

 

[J Neeves]

I've tried it and it has a similar performance to Prop Speed, or - I do not think you can tell the difference!

Its application is similar to that of Prop Speed, there might be slight tweaks in application difference (which you should follow).

The difference is the price and availability.

The big issues with these treatments is that pack size is far too big for one prop and both Prop Speed and Gold suggest it cannot be stored. Consequently unless you have very large pockets the only way to use this stuff is to team up with like minded owners, share the costs and use all the product over a few weeks. However, like Sikaflex and Silicone fillers/adhesives it might be possible to store in a deep freeze - simply do not know.

The alternative is Velox, which works like a typical hard AF. I have found it as good as Prop Speed/Gold but easier to apply, you can keep the remains in your tin for the next time. Also if when you slip at the end of the season - provided the primer is sound you can simply lightly abrade and apply new top coat.

But again it comes down to cost, both lasted for me a similar length of time.

I have compared Prop Speed and Prop Gold and Prop Gold and Velox, we have a cat with 2 props.

If we leave the props untouched we get 12 months (though the last month is pushing it a bit. We have reapplied Gold and Velox and I will try wiping down quarterly to see if we get any benefit - but you need wait 12 months for the answer!

edit Finally - we need to slip every 12 months or so as that is the life we seem to get from our anodes. We have 3 bladed folding Volvo props. I know you can attach new anodes underwater but there is considerable risk in dropping something and many would not even contemplate the practice. So a 'good' 12 months for us would be nice (we keep the cat in the water 365). We are not quite getting that good 12 months, hence the idea of wiping (only with a sponge). If it works then we would lightly abrade the velox and apply a top coat and if the Prop Gold looked good we would simply leave (but these silicone finishes are soft and prone to damage - hence only wipe with a sponge. close edit

We have used Velox to good effect on the Saildrive.

Jonathan

 

[alan]

Hi Jonathan. Thanks very much for your detailed reply - exactly what I was looking for. I have tried Prop Speed before on a brand new Autoprop and was not impressed with how long it lasted (i.e. before it started to come off and let nasties grow on the prop). Usually I use (or to be exact the boatyard) a normal hard antifouling and this lasts 4 or 5 months (in Italy) before I have to go under and scrape the prop.
The boatyard I use have obtained some Prop Gold for another of their customers and as you said it is not possible to store this stuff, so they offered to do my prop as well (at no extra cost)! Anyway, they have coated the prop and the boat will be back in the water tomorrow - like you, I stay in 365/365. I will try just sponging off the prop in a couple of months when the water warms up a bit and see what it is like.
Most anti-foulings on the prop work fine ............... as long as you don't use the boat!!!

Thanks again for sharing your experience.

Alan.

 

[J Neeves]

Alan,

If the Prop Speed fell off then either it (and Prop Gold) is not compatible with your prop - seems unlikely or it was not applied properly. As your prop has now been coated its a bit tale now but preparation is the key (its a pun) to these coatings. The prop needs to be 'keyed' for the primer to adhere, I think a grade 60 abrasive paper is used. it then needs to be wiped down with acetone until the rag used for wiping is 'clean'. The prop should never be touched by hand as it leaves grease - and the coating peels off.

The big problem with props is that we use them!, which is part of the mechanism to keep them clean - but can also strip off the coating.

I'll be interested hear how you get on so maybe start a thread when you feel it ripe The idea of wiping down is to catch 'fouling' and wiper it off before it adheres. It may be I (or you) need to wipe down more frequently - its a case of trial and error.

Good Luck

Jonathan