Should I anti-foul my paddlewheel?

Yes. Eroding is better, because it's easier for you to clean off before recoating. When I do mine, I remove the impeller from the housing, clean and paint everything, then reassemble.
 
I believe that some manufactuers state not to as some anti foul chemicals can damage the plastic. Might be worth checking with the manufactuerer first for your particular part, and see if they have any advice on types / chemnicals to avoid.

Obviously not the end of the world if it leads to the paddle wheel failing, but would be bad if the actual thru hull fitting was to degrade if that was also painted.

Anthony
 
The manufacturers are just covering themselves in today's litigious society. There isn't enough solvent in a thin layer of antifouling to seriously damage a transducer.
 
I think I will be afouling mine this time, as I had problems with it this season.
Had it working when boat was put back in, then after a couple weekstied up in the dock it stopped working, tried turning it 180 for a couple hours motoring which did not clear it, so gave up, until the morning before her last trip back to dock at end of season, bit the bullet and pulled it out, cleaned the weed (no crustacions) off tried it again, stoll no joy, then turned it 180degree so arrow pointing astern, worked perfectly the whole 9 hour trip, is this not weird?, as the arrow is supposed to point forward.
Any views?
All the best for 2008., C_W
 
I have to whip ours out every few weeks and clean it off.
It is a navman 3000 unit and there is no flap in the mounting sleeve.
I only get about 1/4 of a bucket of water into the bilge when swapping it with a redundant sender that fits the hole.
The bilge area is sealed from the rest of the boat.
I seem to get some shrimp type critters on it the paddlewheel and these jamb the workings.

I have not anti-fouled it yet.

May try it next year.
 
I use the thinnest smear of Superlube - a waterproof grease. Have no problems for about 12 months. Have been using it for the last 4 years with the boat in the water for 51 weeks. I put too much on the first time and thought I had wiped it all off and was really surprised how long it lasts and how effective it is.
 
[ QUOTE ]
....then turned it 180degree so arrow pointing astern, worked perfectly the whole 9 hour trip, is this not weird?, as the arrow is supposed to point forward.

[/ QUOTE ]Doesn't matter whether the arrow points fore or aft, as long as it's one or the other.
 
Yes a thin smear of silicon grease will help too but the only sure way is to not leave it in place when stationary for any length of time. Personally I always withdraw mine and replace with the dummy plug whenever leaving the boat and replace it when I return before going to sea. This and an occasional squirt of lube keeps it clean. When underway there is no problem. The little buggers can't hang on! A good plan is to install it with a dam around it and a wee bilge pump. This stops you having wet bilges all the time but I only ever get about a cupfull anyway. You just need to have a little confidence /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
When I took it out to clean it I only got a cup full of water in, by having one hand ready to cover the hole and handing the unit to someone else to clean it while I keep the hond over hole, only got the cup full in while putting it back in.
Cheers pvb, I was only following fitting instructions by facing arrow forward, but agree with you it could face either forward or astern, but not atwarthship.
 
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