PTFE Coating for the propellors

[RogerRat]

I used to do exactly that, large garden refuse sack arround each outdrive after use from the bathing platform, only forgot to remove them once - cast off and no drive as we drifted across the marine, slightly embarrassed but a long time ago!

I can imagine the red faces. however, in an out-drive boat you only have to run over a plastic bag to shred it and take bits of plastic into the impellers, overheat will follow and probably need new impellers too. Good old VP, the raw water strainer comes in line after the impellers, crazy! :ambivalence:

Anyone thinking of trying this MUST remember to remove the bags for their own and other boaters' benefit. :encouragement:

RR

 

[Jonmendez]

I can imagine the red faces. however, in an out-drive boat you only have to run over a plastic bag to shred it and take bits of plastic into the impellers, overheat will follow and probably need new impellers too. Good old VP, the raw water strainer comes in line after the impellers, crazy
RR

Only one red face - me, rest of the family were too busy laughing
J

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Those aren't barnacles

You're right, H, they don't know what barnacles are

 

[longjohnsilver]

Do you tie a different coloured piece of rope around your starboard prop to remind you which side is which?

 

[benjenbav]

Do you tie a different coloured piece of rope around your starboard prop to remind you which side is which?

I thought it was Xmas wrapping.

 

[Hurricane]

If you could ensure a 100% effective barrier coat on your underwater metalwork then I guess you could copper coat on top of the barrier coat or am I missing something?

Tried all that
The biggest problem isn't finding a suitable antifoul paint.
The problem is to make it stick.
There is so much energy being dissipated that any treatment won't stick.
And I've tried all kinds of methods - two part epoxy primers - etching primers - lanolin treatments - ultrasonics - etc...
I've actually come full circle and I now think that nothing is the best treatment for props - nothing because it is easier to pressure wash barnacles off - if there's half a layer of paint that hasn't quite come off, the pressure washer doesn't remove it and you end up with half paint and half bare metal.
see here (You can see the individual layers that we used in that treatment)

As far as other metalwork is concerned:-
Shafts and P Brackets get blasted by the huge forces and paint still comes off in places.
Rudders - ours slightly "toe in" - so the inside faces and the edges loose any coating.
Trim tabs could be treated but ours are in the dark and seem to get barnacles attached to any bits sticking out - nuts/bolts, wires and motors etc
Thrusters - less energy being used so I treat these with a hard antifoul - Trilux seems to be as good as anything but I've recently used a Hempel top of the range hard racing A/F
see here (Even the Coppercoat gets growth - wherever the little ?astards can hang on)

 

[rubberduck]

Another vote for TK antifoul, are you sure you're doing it right, seem to recall JFM saying it worked for him.

 

[epervier]

All I can say, at least our barnacles are British don'tchknow, none of those Johnny foreigner types in the sunny Solent, what what??

 

[Hurricane]

Another vote for TK antifoul, are you sure you're doing it right, seem to recall JFM saying it worked for him.

Whats the right way?
I just squirted it all over - went on like WD40 would have done - (Hey thats an idea!!!)

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Do you tie a different coloured piece of rope around your starboard prop to remind you which side is which?

Yup and I've got a similar bit of rope tied on the front of the boat to remind me which is the front and which is the back. Clever, eh?

 

[jimmy_the_builder]

Yup and I've got a similar bit of rope tied on the front of the boat to remind me which is the front and which is the back. Clever, eh?

Is the bit at the front tied in a bow?

 

[rubberduck]

Whats the right way?
I just squirted it all over - went on like WD40 would have done - (Hey thats an idea!!!)

worth a try

I have the props prepared so the stuff sticks, not sure how they do it, but they look very clean before applying.
Then four coats of TK, lasts a season.
This year used two coats grey & two clear on top, just in case grey isn't as good for some reason, legs & props look like new. Will report on results.

 

[rubberduck]

Yup and I've got a similar bit of rope tied on the front of the boat to remind me which is the front and which is the back. Clever, eh?

I tried that but got the colours mixed up

 

[Cheery]

Do you tie a different coloured piece of rope around your starboard prop to remind you which side is which?

If that's the case, surely it should be red rope to port?

 

[longjohnsilver]

If that's the case, surely it should be red rope to port?

It's been on for so long it's faded!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Is the bit at the front tied in a bow?

That would be far too clever for me Jimmy!

 

[Elessar]

see here (Even the Coppercoat gets growth - wherever the little ?astards can hang on)

Mike, I would bet the coppercoat there was brushed or applied by sliding the roller. This pulls the epoxy to the top and sends the copper to the bottom. I reckon give the bits where you are getting the growth a sanding. It's nice and green so I may be wrong, but it's free so give it a go.

 

[Hurricane]

Mike, I would bet the coppercoat there was brushed or applied by sliding the roller. This pulls the epoxy to the top and sends the copper to the bottom. I reckon give the bits where you are getting the growth a sanding. It's nice and green so I may be wrong, but it's free so give it a go.

Yep, Mark, you are absolutely correct.
It was me - after a season, I had some Coppercoat mixed up for a tiny area that needed to be patched so I used the rest of the mix on top of vulnerable areas - in hindsight, I think that was probably one of the areas.
Last year, we gave all the Coppercoat a gentle scrub with one of those brown scotch pads.
Maybe we should have lightly sanded some areas as well.

For me, Coppercoat isn't quite as good as conventional antifoul but when I consider the saving in time and money, it really works for me.
The time saving also contributes significantly to the cost savings - far less time needed ashore during our annual lift/maintenance.