Should we have antifouled our propeller?

[sam_a]

I've just been looking through the photos of the thread about props and saw one that looked like it was covered in a lot of marine life! We just cleaned ours up and didn't antifoul it. Was this a mistake?

She was new to us in 08 and went back into the water last week for this season so it's probably too late now!

Many thanks!

 

[Bosunof]

I havent and wouldnt. In four years the prop hasn't fouled much at all. Enough that I can clean it by hand when dried out. But nothing to remark on at all. nExcept for a fishing net and a tarpaulin that is. But anti foul wont sort that.

 

[cliffb]

It might depend on where you keep the boat. Warmer waters etc etc

 

[AIDY]

also depends what the props made of and if you have problems with anode erosion ! we do so we paint the prop to preserve the anodes. not because the prop gets fouled.

 

[earlybird]

At one time I didn't bother, but one season, the motoring performance of my boat fell off very noticeably a few months after launch. On lift-out, the prop was seen to be well covered in very healthy looking barnacles, this despite fairly regular use. I've anti-fouled it, (Trilux), ever since, seemingly to good effect. If you can dry out easily, then there doesn't seem a lot of point. I can't say I've noticed much effect on anode erosion though.

 

[Ruffles]

[ QUOTE ]
At one time I didn't bother, but one season, the motoring performance of my boat fell off very noticeably a few months after launch. On lift-out, the prop was seen to be well covered in very healthy looking barnacles, this despite fairly regular use. I've anti-fouled it, (Trilux), ever since, seemingly to good effect. If you can dry out easily, then there doesn't seem a lot of point. I can't say I've noticed much effect on anode erosion though.

[/ QUOTE ]
What prep did you do on the prop? I put trilux on mine while the shaft was out. I prepped the prop using wet and dry but no undercoat. Adhesion was so poor I've now scraped it off and used primocon as an undercoat.

 

[AIDY]

i find primocon is best before trilux... unless the prop is ally and you need to etch.

 

[earlybird]

[ QUOTE ]

What prep did you do on the prop?

[/ QUOTE ]
Nothing very special, probably a quick rub with a file, certainly not a polish! I didn't think of Primocon, might be a good idea though. The Trilux seems to have stuck on fairly well in my case though, perhaps due to the rough preparation.

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Never bother to antifoul mine.... just a good clean up...

The year we bought the current boat, the prop had been antifouled by the previous owner while she was out of the water, and fouling was no better or worse than when we left it bare....

 

[Leighb]

Just my 3p-orth, I wet and dry-ed my prop last year to bright metal, applied 2 coats of Primocon and then Trilux, at the end of the season a good half of the covering had come off, and even where it remained there was a fair amount of weed and barnacles.

This year I am trying another forumites suggestion, polished to a mirror finish using Moleroda products and then applied several coats of Owatrol.

Watch this space /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[pappaecho]

Fitted new prop last year, told to grease it which I did. The barneys loved it, with a free ride round the Solent and Pompey harbour.
This year antifoul. Next year? the nuclear option

 

[paulwitney]

Where my boat lives antifoul is needed. Banacles grow from pin head to 2cm in 1-2 months over summer!! Does wonders for motoring perfomance.
Can't see what the problem is with those who want to try other solutions, it only takes a few dips of the brush to do the prop, though in my case I also put on a coat of etch primer first and apply the antifoul before the primer has set.
As always, has been over 12 months and still NO growth.

 

[lucas]

You may have seen from my thread about my props that Volvo have agreed to replace them. They have also recommended that they the new props are antifouled. Not sure what that's got to do with anodes etc. but will be antifouling them.

 

[Barry777]

Over the years I've tried many solutions, but in the Solent area, and particularly Chichester Harbour fouling can be quite heavy. I've left the prop clean and well polished, used lanoline and anti-fouled without a primer. However for the last 2 seasons I've primed it with Primocon and used red Trilux (don't know why red specifically) and this seems the best combination.

 

[alec]

[ QUOTE ]
Over the years I've tried many solutions, but in the Solent area, and particularly Chichester Harbour fouling can be quite heavy. I've left the prop clean and well polished, used lanoline and anti-fouled without a primer. However for the last 2 seasons I've primed it with Primocon and used red Trilux (don't know why red specifically) and this seems the best combination.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes ! This was recommended to me at the boat show in January.

I have antifouled the whole boat with Interspeed Ultra this year which states that it is good for up to 40 knots. Pity that my boat only does about 6 flat out but I have high hopes for both the prop and the hull.

Just wondering how many knots my prop does at about 1000 rpm. Probably a lot more than 40.