Hurricane
Well-Known Member
Most on here will know that we've tried everything on our stern gear.
Our part of Spain has some very aggressive marine growth so we have all being trying to find a solution.
On JW, we have come "full circle"
We now do nothing.
Well - not nothing - we just don't apply any coatings.
Salesmen and enthusiastic boaters will often come up with new ideas.
But after a season in the water they all fail.
The big problem that a coatings manufacturer has to overcome is making his paint actually stick to our props.
The power that we dissipate through the water takes any paint coating off - nothing sticks.
Once someone can come up with something that sticks, they can then concentrate on finding a suitable antifoul but until then, they shouldn't waste their time developing the antifoul bit.
Now, the big problem with ALL coatings is that some of it DOES actually stick.
And the bits that stick can then be a huge problem to remove prior to re-coating a year later.
So, our solutions is - "don't put anything on" so the it is easy to remove when you DO need to get rid of it.
Over the last 4 years, we have been perfecting our technique of removing barnacle encrusted stern gear.
And this year we have confirmed the process.
In Spain,in the supermarkets we buy a product called "Agua Fuerte" which is a Hydrochloric Acid (I think - I never did Chemistry as school).
This acid "eats" anything containing calcium - barnacles etc.
We have been using it ever since the marina opened but we have only recently understood the best technique.
In the past, we just sprayed it on and the washed it off after a few minutes.
But the trick seems to be to keep the acid moving - thus keeping it active.
So, using quite a small amount of this acid (in an old plastic ice cream tub) and a 2" paint brush, we dip the brush in the acid and apply it to the underwater metalwork (props etc).
We continue agitating the acid using the paintbrush (describing small circles) seems to keep the acid activated and (just like magic) the barnacles disappear. In fact, it is like using a powerful grinder - as you rub, the barnacles disappear.
I've also enhanced the process a little by using a long loo brush.
You have to be careful, the acid is nasty stuff - you wouldn't want to get it in your eyes and any that gets into skin cuts can be very painful.
I wear eye/face protection and rubber gloves.
Using this technique this year, I was able to clean all the barnacles of the stern gear whilst the rest of the boat was being pressure washed. See here - note this pic taken after about 40 mins (me on my own).
The props in the above pic had nothing other than the above process carried out - only gentle rubbing with a paint/loo brush dipped in acid.
So, to make it even easier in subsequent years, I've been polishing the props.
No paint and highly polished surfaces make it really easy to clean - especially using the Spanish "Agua Fuerte".
Last year, I used some cheap felt pads attached to an angle grinder and metal polish blocks.
This year I did the same but with a small addition.
After mechanically polishing with the felt angle grinder, I finished by hand polishing.
I didn't have any metal polish available so I tries some "A Glaze" prep.
This is the pink stuff that looks like Windowlene.
And it really made a difference.
See here
So, maybe I'm the first person to use A Glaze on my props.
Well, actually it isn't A Glaze - just the A Glaze Prep.
And having thought of it in hindsight, maybe I should have tried finishing the job off with the actual A Glaze itself.
I could have kicked myself - I should have done it to see what happens - maybe I'' try the actual A Glaze as well next year.
Our part of Spain has some very aggressive marine growth so we have all being trying to find a solution.
On JW, we have come "full circle"
We now do nothing.
Well - not nothing - we just don't apply any coatings.
Salesmen and enthusiastic boaters will often come up with new ideas.
But after a season in the water they all fail.
The big problem that a coatings manufacturer has to overcome is making his paint actually stick to our props.
The power that we dissipate through the water takes any paint coating off - nothing sticks.
Once someone can come up with something that sticks, they can then concentrate on finding a suitable antifoul but until then, they shouldn't waste their time developing the antifoul bit.
Now, the big problem with ALL coatings is that some of it DOES actually stick.
And the bits that stick can then be a huge problem to remove prior to re-coating a year later.
So, our solutions is - "don't put anything on" so the it is easy to remove when you DO need to get rid of it.
Over the last 4 years, we have been perfecting our technique of removing barnacle encrusted stern gear.
And this year we have confirmed the process.
In Spain,in the supermarkets we buy a product called "Agua Fuerte" which is a Hydrochloric Acid (I think - I never did Chemistry as school).
This acid "eats" anything containing calcium - barnacles etc.
We have been using it ever since the marina opened but we have only recently understood the best technique.
In the past, we just sprayed it on and the washed it off after a few minutes.
But the trick seems to be to keep the acid moving - thus keeping it active.
So, using quite a small amount of this acid (in an old plastic ice cream tub) and a 2" paint brush, we dip the brush in the acid and apply it to the underwater metalwork (props etc).
We continue agitating the acid using the paintbrush (describing small circles) seems to keep the acid activated and (just like magic) the barnacles disappear. In fact, it is like using a powerful grinder - as you rub, the barnacles disappear.
I've also enhanced the process a little by using a long loo brush.
You have to be careful, the acid is nasty stuff - you wouldn't want to get it in your eyes and any that gets into skin cuts can be very painful.
I wear eye/face protection and rubber gloves.
Using this technique this year, I was able to clean all the barnacles of the stern gear whilst the rest of the boat was being pressure washed. See here - note this pic taken after about 40 mins (me on my own).
The props in the above pic had nothing other than the above process carried out - only gentle rubbing with a paint/loo brush dipped in acid.
So, to make it even easier in subsequent years, I've been polishing the props.
No paint and highly polished surfaces make it really easy to clean - especially using the Spanish "Agua Fuerte".
Last year, I used some cheap felt pads attached to an angle grinder and metal polish blocks.
This year I did the same but with a small addition.
After mechanically polishing with the felt angle grinder, I finished by hand polishing.
I didn't have any metal polish available so I tries some "A Glaze" prep.
This is the pink stuff that looks like Windowlene.
And it really made a difference.
See here
So, maybe I'm the first person to use A Glaze on my props.
Well, actually it isn't A Glaze - just the A Glaze Prep.
And having thought of it in hindsight, maybe I should have tried finishing the job off with the actual A Glaze itself.
I could have kicked myself - I should have done it to see what happens - maybe I'' try the actual A Glaze as well next year.
