Propellor - old question - antifoul .... or not?

[Greenwichman]

I know, I know, there are old posts on this. In recent years I have tried: shiny clean; Tri-lux anti-foul on top of primer; Tri-lux anti-foul without primer; shiny clean with a thick layer of grease. Result? The same wotteva - barnacles, weed, suckers, the lot.

Today I have just spent a happy afternoon cleaning the prop to a shiny surface. Do I leave it like that, paint it, grease it, or what? What does the team think this year?! /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Athene V30]

Last year I coated it in the same antifouling as the rest of the hull - Blakes cruising whatever - and it was fine - well as good as the rest of the boats I saw lifted!

 

[davidbains]

I use the hard antifouling availaable for outdrives and bootops.
A lot of it comes off in 6 weeks. However I once left my boat in Gouvia
for another sixweeks and the prop was almost unusable, so it is worth making the effort.

 

[sheeplove]

I hear good reports of Prop-Shield. I's a grease designed to reduce fouling on sterngear. Google it for more info.

 

[pampas]

smarm it with under-water grease.

 

[Greenwichman]

Thanks everyone. By coincidence I spotted Prop-Shield in Sailing Today (P38), so will order a jar and see what happens. Not cheap, so its either very good or the manufacturer has spotted a wonderful way to make a fortune out of sheep oil.

A mate with a boat in Gosport told me that he had asked 6 yotties and got 6 different answers. I said he was unlucky. I asked 6 in Tollesbury and got 12. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Glyka]

I never intifoul as I will certainly have to clean it underwater once in a while, and I don't want to be anywhere near the dilluted antifouling.

But, I really polish it (up to mirror level) and it is cleaned effortlessly.

 

[Rob_Webb]

Propspeed. Great stuff. We all sued it here in NZ. Gives sterngear characteristic golden yellow colour. Lasts 1-2 seasons depending on conditions and usage.

Here are two pics of it applied to my boat just before relaunch: