Propeller anti-fouling

[ponapay]

Has anyone found an effective and enduring anti-foul for bronze propellers.

Mine seems to be a major attractor for barnacles which have a disastrous effect on drive.

 

[dsw]

you could lightly key the prop then spray some anti-foul
on but it wont stay on for ever but it does help.

 

[epervier]

another method, highly polish prop then apply lanolin,

I've no personal experience of this, but read it on the motorboat section

 

[Boomshanka]

you could lightly key the prop then spray some anti-foul
on but it wont stay on for ever but it does help.

I was told to only use anti-foul for saildrives on a prop as 'normal' anti-foul contains zinc? which may cause electrolysis problems on a prop. I'm in no way qualified to say whether that's BS so in then end I just lightly polish the prop (I've heard a good smearing of Vaseline can protect for a bit). I think the best protection is to frequently use the boat!

 

[Skysail]

Have used Propshield with good effect. There is some growth but no barnacles, and the prop is very easy to clean, with bright metal still there. The results with lanolin were generally poor.

I think a lot also depends on where the boat is kept.

 

[Iota]

I have used Seajet Peller Clean

http://www.seamarknunn.com/acatalog/Seajet.html

on a couple of boats now and found it to be very effective

 

[branko]

I was apply Lanolin this year in May ( first polish prop ,than heat it up , coat with lanolin) and after 2 months results are poor!

 

[Leighb]

This year I tried a method suggested on this forum. Highly polish then apply several coats of Owatrol.

Result abyssmal.

Not sure what to use next year.

 

[double_ender]

Use of Propshield on bronze prop Scottish W coast

I've used propshield for 3 seasons with good though not perfect results. No grassy growth or barnacles just light furry layer not affecting prop effeciency I think, which was certainly the case before using propshied when I tried everything.

One method I heard about some years ago which I have not tried is the stove blacking polish called Zeebo or similar. Its a carbon, colloidal deposit which I thought might lead to electolysis problems. Anyone heard or tried this?

Malc

 

[Andrew_Palmer]

this year I polished and sprayed mine with motorcycle chain grease which I was told will stick like S**t to a stick but have yet to see the tested results.

 

[Viking]

Ive used a new produce over here by TC Nano for props and hubs. you have to put a very thin coat, which has to dry. Its on my prop on saildrive and after 9 months so far so good.

 

[Roach1948]

Whatever you do don't but Milledrive from Blakes - complete waste of time.

 

[Topcat47]

You need to apply more than one coat. i used a heat gun after fitting the prop to ensure the second coat bonded with the first and so on.

Effective over a half season but not as good as PropGuard, which goes further than you think.

 

[gandy]

We use Lanolin, which is OK but I wouldn't say its super-duper perfect. Its also a pain in the arse to apply - supposedly easier if you warm the prop, but that's not so easy in the middle of winter.

Anyone used Vaseline and can report on the results?

 

[Gordonmc]

I have been using lanolin for about five years (sea loch swinging mooring) with positive results, re-applying every six months or so. I don't get any barnacles or mussels.
The goop, anhydrous lanolin BP was bought from a chemist and I am on the original half litre pot. I clean up the prop with a wire brush but don't polish then warm the surface with a hot air gun. Apply the lanolin with a spatula spreading it on like peanut butter on hot toast. Finish by gently warming again. You are looking for a smooth even spread which is transluscent.
It works for me but as has already been said, a lot will depend on local conditions.

 

[ponapay]

Many thanks to all for suggestions. Have tried Lanolin and agree with others, it is OK for a short period.

Will try Propshield this winter, after a good keying.

 

[srm]

The best antifouling is to use the prop frequently, if only for a few minutes at a time. Have never antifouled a prop in 35 years of owning (sailing) boats - but then I have only owned boats that I can use frequently so any growth gets washed off before it becomes permanent.

 

[bluedragon]

Yes, I've wondered about this as well, and having seen the difference a clean (vs. dirty) prop makes in motoring efficiency, I've been running the engine more often at the berth in an attempt keep the prop clean through the season. Does it help...we'll probably never know as she won't come out 'til early next year and it'll be fouled again by then.

 

[Poignard]

Owatrolon the prop - absolutely useless!

Quote:
Originally Posted by Leighb
This year I tried a method suggested on this forum. Highly polish then apply several coats of Owatrol.

Result abyssmal.

Not sure what to use next year.
____________________________________________________________
Quote:
Originally posted by Parsifal:

I have tried that this year, except that I did not polish so as to leave a good 'key' for the Owatrol, but as I re-launched late it's too early to assess the results.
______________________________________________________________

Further to the above. Whilst aground today [deliberately ] I was able to examine below the waterline. The bottom is clean but the prop is a ball of weed!

I won't be using Owatrol on the prop again.

After trying Lanalin, Owatrol, nothing and anti-foul during the last 12 years I've decided anti-fouling is the best answer [but still not very good].

 

[charles_reed]

IMHO ALL antifouls

on props are a waste of time and money.

The lanolin and grate-blacking options are the most effective because they involve polishing the prop thoroughly.

I've found a highly burnished prop (using 3M SS polishing pads) followed by 3 applications of metal polish to be the most successful - but even then only if the prop is used regularly.

Once done it's easy enough to maintain, but wet&dry is lethal to the finish.