When good props go bad :(

[WestWittering]

Before

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After

Well, we only had ourselves to blame. This is after being left for five weeks.
I managed to get four coats of Propspeed on during the lunch-break. Fingers crossed!

Di

 

[SimbaDog]

I'm surprised you made it to the lift out
.
.
.

 

[theoldsalt]

WestWittering

Just an observation.

The lifting strop appears to be on the prop shaft. Probably not a good idea if it is.

 

[prv]

The lifting strop appears to be on the prop shaft. Probably not a good idea if it is.

Look more closely. It's on a kind of stub keel that the prop protrudes from the back of.

Pete

 

[[70521]]

It looks rather "cute" as my daughter would say. Have you considered contacting Build-a-Bear and suggesting this as a new line?

 

[theoldsalt]

Look more closely. It's on a kind of stub keel that the prop protrudes from the back of.

Pete

I Should have gone to Specsavers.

 

[Moonshining]

Before



Well, we only had ourselves to blame. This is after being left for five weeks.
I managed to get four coats of Propspeed on during the lunch-break. Fingers crossed!

Di

Chichester Marina?

Mine looked something like that when I tried to set off over for our bank holiday jaunt the other week.

The prop had had five coats of aerosol prop anti-foul (possibly Propseed) before it went back in the water in April, so it didn't help much.

 

[Houleaux]

I fear that's what my prop will look like when the boat's lifted shortly. I managed about 4 knots through the water the weekend before last and 2 and a bit into a very slight chop!

I've never had anything like this before - I've never needed to treat a prop with anything - but my boat's at Chichester Marina for the first time this season and it seems to be a real problem there.

I want to put the boat back in the water mid October as I use her all year round. Does anyone know what time of year the stuff stops growing? Will it just foul up again? I had no noticeable problem before July.

I've bought some Propshield at the local chandler's suggestion. Has anyone tried this and, if so, did it work?

 

[WestWittering]

Yep, Chichester Marina. Three of us have been massively affected on S Pontoon. Our neighbours with a 50 foot Mobo made it as far as Yarmouth last weekend and had to be lifted out on arrival , another tipped us off about the coral worm and this is what we found. We checked the underside with a mirror on a stick and could see a grey furry ball where the prop used to be. Unfortunately, it is virtually impossible to get at the prop without diving or beaching, so elected to have her towed to the yard for a 'Coral Worm Special' I kid you not. £71.50 including VAT.

Prop was anti-fouled in March, but I am not sure what with - something blue.

Di

 

[Moonshining]

I fear that's what my prop will look like when the boat's lifted shortly. I managed about 4 knots through the water the weekend before last and 2 and a bit into a very slight chop!

I've never had anything like this before - I've never needed to treat a prop with anything - but my boat's at Chichester Marina for the first time this season and it seems to be a real problem there.

I want to put the boat back in the water mid October as I use her all year round. Does anyone know what time of year the stuff stops growing? Will it just foul up again? I had no noticeable problem before July.

I've bought some Propshield at the local chandler's suggestion. Has anyone tried this and, if so, did it work?

I've just checked and the stuff I put on my prop was Hempel Mille Drive over their Prop Primer. I may as well not have bothered.

Don't know when it stops growing, I'm afraid. It's been an issue for three or four years now, but seems the worst it's been this year.

 

[Houleaux]

Another one for the gallery of horrors! Tubeworm on a fender left dipped in the water at Chichester Marina.

 

[billmacfarlane]

Looks familiar. I'm on pontoon I and mine looked like that.

 

[Moonshining]

Coral worm update just received from Premier.

They seem to think it's the wet weather which has made the water less saline. Seems reasonable.

CORAL WORM IN CHICHESTER HARBOUR

Unfortunately this year we have had a number of customers reporting that their boats have suffered from coral worm growth. Approximately 5 years ago we experienced a similar problem in Chichester Harbour with growth of coral worm. Following several very quiet years we have this year experienced a year of vigorous growth which I know has caused issues for some customers. This followed the extraordinary flooding in July which saw a huge amount of fresh water enter Chichester Harbour from the South Downs. We believe this created more favourable conditions for coral worm by changing the temperature and salinity of the water in the harbour. Also, we understand that during the periods of heavy flooding the treatment works at Appledram was unable to cope with the volumes of waste water and in this period some untreated waste entered Chichester Harbour which again affected the water quality in the harbour which had previously been at European Bathing Quality.

What do we know about coral worm?

It is believed to have arrived in the UK on the bottom of container ships. It particularly likes metal areas hence the props and leg drives are the most common areas of boats most affected but it can attach to the bottom of ribs as well. It forms a calcified growth and can drastically reduce performance especially on more technical props.

Can we prevent it and where is it found?

Coral worm is prevalent throughout Chichester Harbour and as a result we have lifted vessels from swinging moorings as well as at our own marina. The worm has also been found in a number of other locations along the Solent. We cannot prevent its growth but we will continue to try to find out more about this organism and if there is any way we can limit the effect. There are products which claim to be able to prevent coral worm growth when applied to metal areas. One such product is Velox but we cannot testify to its effectiveness. Other customers report that they have used lanolin based products on their boats props and shafts but again we cannot say how effective this would be or how such products might affect your equipment.

What will Premier do to help?

At Chichester Marina we have taken care to ensure that the lifting team is available at weekends and also late into the evening, just in case a Berth Holder experiences a problem. We have also introduced reduced pricing for our lift-outs and will work extremely hard to make sure this problem has a minimal impact on our customers. These lifts are labour intensive as they require a tow to and from the lifting dock and a wash before being returned to their berth. Although we have to make a charge for the above lift, we promise that should you require this service a second time, for the same problem, we undertake to provide this service free of charge.

 

[WestWittering]

Cant say fairer than that - especially the last paragraph.

On a slight thread drift, Chichester Marina seems to attract quite a few disparaging comments, one being along the lines that except for the small amount of facilities, the Marina was 'barren'. It is in an area of outstanding natural beauty, surrounded by countryside on three sides, bus service every 15 minutes to Chichester or the Witterings, wonderful walks, good Clubhouse, Curry House (delivery to boat) a Chinese meal delivery service to boat (from Chichester), farm shop virtually at the entrance with tea rooms & packed with local produce. Friendly chandlers (well to me, anyway), fabulous loos & showers, good security and masses of hardstanding. Seriously, what more could a crew want?

Premier are not cheap, but they are very good. Their park & ride to the Boat Show was great, free refreshments at the stand & a nice sit down. In the main, they provide a really good professional service and even do their best to look after the whingers.

Their response to the Coral Worm is typical and fair. If you have a nice Southerly berthed there and need it taken out regularly - get in touch and I will oblige

Di with apologies for the drift (and drivel)

 

[Houleaux]

I hope you didn't think my comment was intended to be disparaging. I don't blame Premier for the tubeworm!

I'd echo all you've said about Chichester marina. No complaints from me.

BTW, which Chinese delivers to your boat?

 

[WestWittering]

I hope you didn't think my comment was intended to be disparaging. I don't blame Premier for the tubeworm!

I'd echo all you've said about Chichester marina. No complaints from me.

BTW, which Chinese delivers to your boat?

Not at all Someone in a different thread completely referred to it as 'barren'???

I have been very reliably informed by our neighbours that they have had deliveries from a Chinese takeaway in Chi - they had a menu, but couldn't find it. I think they said it was near Argos? But could have been just past the station. Funnily enough I was just wondering about that tonight, but when I go into Chi, I will hunt them down and post it up. They say it is very good too.

BTW the wretched worm seems to have died off now - little bleeders....

Have you picked up your new blue buttons yet?

Di

 

[Talbot]

Interesting statement about "some" untreated effluent entering the marina.

I dont know how you could tell as the water quality in that marina is the worst I have seen anywhere in the world.

 

[WestWittering]

Interesting statement about "some" untreated effluent entering the marina.

I dont know how you could tell as the water quality in that marina is the worst I have seen anywhere in the world.

What it actually said was it entered Chichester Harbour, which as you know is a massive area. Some would have probably entered the marina, but the wildfowl & fish don't seem to mind. Having said that, I would not eat a fish caught at the marina, but then I wouldn't eat any fish caught at any marina - paint, chemicals, anti-foul, diesel, anti-freeze, etc but no-one seems to mind local bass, mackerel or crabs.....

Di

 

[coastin]

We are considering Chichester Marina and were concerned by reports of coral worm and seeing it on some boats recently out of the water. Spoke to Navigators who said they can apply something called ?Velux? which is used in Spain where problem is really bad. Apparently it works but needs good prep + few coats.

 

[richie1180]

Just purchased a boat in chi marina and the drive was 2 inches thick! I was able to scrape off myself but boy it's hard stuff
apparantly the yards pressure washer wont get it all off
it's awful stuff and I hope it doesn't get into my cooling system
if anyone has stern drives covered in this stuff and wants me to clean it off give me a shout I have a technique that nobody else can copy! It took me a few hours to do my drive and hopefully the worm has died down for a while now
I have heard lots of horrifying stories of people having clogged props,
Send me a message if you would like my worm removal service!!