Speed Impeller - Cleaning Around It

[Slowboat35]

I've yet again removed my impellor and scraped the gunk off it until it spins easily but it still won't work - presumably fouled by tendrils of weed on it's bezel outside the hull.
I was thinkng of trying a bottle brush that would go down the fitting and expand a bit once outside to scub it.

Any suggestions/ideas?

 

[[70521]]

A swim with a brush or Coppercoat.

 

[jwilson]

First of all try spinning it fast as you can with your finger while someone else looks at the display - does it read then?

 

[RJJ]

Pass a warp under the bows, holding the ends, and swipe swipe swipe.

Or get your swimmies on. Sea's still warm. Goggles and plastic scraper.

 

[franksingleton]

Have you removed the paddle wheel? On my ST60, I push out the spindle, clean wheel and housing. Clean the spindle with metal polish or a light abrasive.

 

[pvb]

Have you removed the paddle wheel? On my ST60, I push out the spindle, clean wheel and housing. Clean the spindle with metal polish or a light abrasive.

And then I antifoul the impeller and housing. Lasts for months.

 

[DipperToo]

Pass a warp under the bows, holding the ends, and swipe swipe swipe.

Works every time. I sometimes tie a couple of knots in the middle as well.
Just make sure it is a very old warp you will never use again as a warp!

 

[catlotion]

Have you removed the paddle wheel? On my ST60, I push out the spindle, clean wheel and housing. Clean the spindle with metal polish or a light abrasive.

Do you do this in the water? I've heard that the st60 paddle wheel has a flap that prevents water ingress for this procedure but too scared to try!

 

[pvb]

Do you do this in the water? I've heard that the st60 paddle wheel has a flap that prevents water ingress for this procedure but too scared to try!

The flap in the through-hull tube works well to reduce the inflow of water. I usually have a sponge in one hand, remove the transducer, hold the sponge on top of the tube to stop water coming in, grab the blanking plug, remove sponge, insert blanking plug. Probably get less than a pint of water in. I place old towels around the through-hull to mop up water and help stop it spreading in the bilge. Remember that there's hardly any pressure behind the water, it's only about a foot below the surface.

 

[catlotion]

Thanks for comprehensive reply! Might give it a try... Still wary though after reading horror stories of those through hull fittings failing...

 

[ghostlymoron]

Thanks for comprehensive reply! Might give it a try... Still wary though after reading horror stories of those through hull fittings failing...

The horror stories only relate to NASA skin fittings which are an inferior type of plastic. I've removed my Raymarine impeller whilst afloat - the flap does work!

 

[Homer J]

The horror stories only relate to NASA skin fittings which are an inferior type of plastic. I've removed my Raymarine impeller whilst afloat - the flap does work!

The first time you do it is terrifying!

 

[laika]

Per pvb’s response the flap doesn’t prevent ingress (at least with my ramarine log with a flap). You're best off if you can, practicing switching between log and blank while ashore before doing it "in anger" but I recall that even having done that, the first time I tried to put the log in in the water I was panicking a bit: water was coming in and I couldn't feel the "notch" which ensures it's pointing the right way, totally forgetting that you can't feel that until you've screwed the ring down a few turns. Obviously once you've done it a few times you stop worrying and either don't worry about a bit of water in the bilge or take preventative measures with cloths and sponges.

 

[franksingleton]

Do you do this in the water? I've heard that the st60 paddle wheel has a flap that prevents water ingress for this procedure but too scared to try!

After being at rest for a day or two, my log often does not work due to growth. I remove it, the “non-return“
flap is good enough for a quick clean. If it really gets to be a problem, I replace the log with the blank. I can then take out the paddle wheel and remove any persistent growth. Recently, there were bits of weed compacted stopping the wheel turning. After cleaning, I use MacLube.

 

[Halo]

If you use the warp trick take the paddle wheel out first. !