Sterngear- To antifoul or not- that is the question

[Elza_Skip]

My boat has twin screws with substanial bronze P brackets and rudders as well as bronze props.

Now while we have never antifouled the props, the P Bracket and rudders were antifouled when we got the boat 3 years ago. First spring I removed the rough and flaking antifoul prefering to just leave the bronze natural and greased. The old coating was so rough it must have caused some drag

This week when she was lifted from the water there was much more fouling on the bronze than on the antifouled GRP. So I was after the collective wisdom on whether to prime and antifoul the P Bracket and Rudders this year or just clean and grease (Maybe with Lanolin)

 

[Elza_Skip]

BTW folks this is my first post with a pic- if this works out ok more (hopefully interesting) ones to follow!

 

[Red]

Give it all a coat of TriX - it is recommended for sterndrives and you can buy it in small tins. Works well but pricey then most good antifouling paint is.

 

[Elza_Skip]

Thanks. I know Trilux as used on an outdrive and props before

 

[Nick_H]

Stopping fouling on the stern gear, and props in particular, is the holy grail of antifouling.

Some people have reported good results with a clear spray antifouling by TK Line, and I also had good results this year with a product called Velox Plus (using both the primer and antifoul). I've had less success with Trilux, at least as a spray, although it was a lot better that the other spray i've tried, Blakes Mille Drive, which was a bit chocolate teapot.

 

[MapisM]

good results this year with a product called Velox Plus (using both the primer and antifoul)

+1.
Mind, the effectiveness doesn't only depend on the product, but also on the sea where it's being used.
The experience I'm talking about (and I think also what Nick_H is reporting) is related to the Med.
It might well be that in the UK the same product doesn't work as well (or maybe even better, hard to tell without trying anyway).

 

[MYStargazer]

Is Coppercoating of stern gear recommended?

Wouldn't this affect the effectiveness of the anodes - given that Coppercoat uses an epoxy base...?

 

[Vagabond]

Over here in NZ we use Propspeed. Works a treat.

http://www.propspeed.com/

 

[omega2]

Anti foul the P's AND RUDDERS

 

[itchenseadog]

My boat has twin screws with substanial bronze P brackets and rudders as well as bronze props.

Now while we have never antifouled the props, the P Bracket and rudders were antifouled when we got the boat 3 years ago. First spring I removed the rough and flaking antifoul prefering to just leave the bronze natural and greased. The old coating was so rough it must have caused some drag

This week when she was lifted from the water there was much more fouling on the bronze than on the antifouled GRP. So I was after the collective wisdom on whether to prime and antifoul the P Bracket and Rudders this year or just clean and grease (Maybe with Lanolin)

When I was in the trade, we always used to antifoul P and A brackets and bronze rudders. Years ago we had a case where an owner had antifouled his stainless steel shafts and after a season, the shafts ended up pitted. They went straight back to rhe manufacturers who stated that you should never coat EN58J stainless if it was to be used underwater. I have since only greased S/S shafts and in the main they usually come out after a season with a bit of scale which is easy to clean off