Raymarine - speed log paddle wheel fouling....what to do?

[mjf]

I had my boat out of the water in late June ready for the summer cruise. All antifouled and stern gear burnished etc.

5/6 weeks later the water line is clean, ali (unpainted) trim tabs still shiny bright and remain polished looking.

Off I go on holiday and the bloody log is not working.......get to anchor before leaving the solent and haul out the impellor (which was clean as a whistle when the boat was out of the water) to find Mr & Mrs Barnicle with family had taken up residence.


Why does this happen? No other growth at all on the hull, shafts, props but a family on my log!


Can you antifoul the paddle wheel or should it be unpainted? Its an easy job to do with a model brush - just never thought of painting it before.

Views please .


Oh! worked well after a clean up for our trip which will be reported later this week hopefully

 

[Poignard]

I smeared a VERY THIN coat of Vaseline on the impellor before launching at the end of May and, unlike in previous years, I have not had to touch it since.

 

[twisterkai]

Raymarine transducers etc are manufactured by Airmar, who recommend painting them with a water based antifouling. It's bloody expensive for what you get but it works reasonably ok. Also, because you use so little of it, the small pot lasts ages.

 

[mjf]

Excellent suggestion. Thanks

 

[mjf]

Many thanks for that information - I use Blakes Seatech which is a waterbourne antifouling so that ought to do the trick for future years.

 

[fastjedi]

A week of non use in the Hamble is enough to fill mine up with a family of pestipeeds and stop it working. Unfortunately, clearing them out didn't result in a working speed log last week .... this will be the second replacement in 3 years. Is this the experience of others?

 

[[2574]]

Mine's stopped working but to be honest I'm scared to death to pull the paddlewheel unit out to clean it. I've seen how fast the water comes in a hole that big! Can anyone offer some confidence building tips on purposely opening a big hole in the bottom of the boat and not sinkiing her in the process?

rob

 

[jerryat]

Well I anti-fouled my log impeller (2 thin coats) as usual this year and, for the first time for many years, have had to withdraw it for cleaning twice so far this season. From other posts recently, it seems this is a particularly bad year for fouling, though at least the flap valve stops loads of water shooting into the boat.

Twisterowner, thats a very interesting idea re the use of Vaseline. is this your first season using it, or has it worked over several years?

Out of inerest, my friends use the Optima water-based regularly, and their impeller has been worse than mine this year!

Jerry

 

[mjf]

Interesting point - I'm on my third impellor. Boat now just over two years old and the temp sensor has failed twice.

Raymarine agent in my marina sorted it under warranty on both occassions.

 

[jimg]

[ QUOTE ]
Mine's stopped working but to be honest I'm scared to death to pull the paddlewheel unit out to clean it. I've seen how fast the water comes in a hole that big! Can anyone offer some confidence building tips on purposely opening a big hole in the bottom of the boat and not sinkiing her in the process?

rob

[/ QUOTE ]

Just have the plug ready! You only have to push it in a small amount, there is no need to push it fully home. It looks a lot of water coming in, but you should only get a litre or two.
I know what you mean though, it does feel scary creating a hole in the bottom of the boat.

 

[DERF]

Faster!

The problem here mjf is that if you only go places @ 8knts then you never have the opportunity to blast off the barnacles that gather. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

My log never works until I get out of P'mth harbour.. as soon as I get on the plane it spins freely!

But then again I know you enjoy the trip as much as the destination! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Poignard]

Tried Vaseline this year only but in previous years I had to clean the impellor several times during the season so it looks hopeful. Might try the gunge that collects in the bottom of my pipe next [tobacco pipe, that is]. It can`t be doing me much good so who knows what it will do to barnacles.

 

[jerryat]

/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif LOL /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[mjf]

Rubbish!

All I can add is that no matter how fast you went - these suckers would not have been knocked off as you planed.

I went to Newtown at 22/23knots and did WOT for some part of the way in an attempt to move any blockage