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Anti-fouling on 3 blade fixed bronze prop

  • March 10, 2013 6:24 PM
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    Message # 1239195
    Deleted user
    Reading various blogs on the subject, I have found a lot of strong opinions on different ways to keep crud off the prop. None seem conclusive. My boat, Sea Gypsy, hull #743 is berthed in NW Florida. Warm season growth consists of banacles, worms & grass. I tried leaving the beautiful bronze wheel bare, not good. I tried coating it with multiple coats of the same bottom paint on the rest of the hull, slung it off. I have her on the hard now, finishing up some minor repairs & getting ready to slather on multiple layers of high-copper hard ablative bottom paint. I sure would like to find something I could do with the prop to reduce my usual bloody knuckles later in the season. Any ideas?
  • March 10, 2013 8:54 PM
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    Reply # 1239278 on 1239195
    Deleted user
    Polish (or grind clean), apply zinc spray or paraffin wax heated with a propane torch.  I think the wax works better.
      I guess you could wax over the zinc spray that would be the best but seems too much hassle.
  • March 11, 2013 12:54 AM
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    Reply # 1239420 on 1239195
    Anonymous member
    Depending on how often you leave the dock you could do what cruisers do in places like Cartagena Columbia where you can almost watch the crud grow.

    Put a plastic bag around it.
  • March 11, 2013 1:55 PM
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    Reply # 1239919 on 1239195
    Deleted user
    As Edward said WAx.

    2 comments.

    Polish it until it shines (really really shines ) the micro scratches give the barnacles something to hold onto so the better the polish the less grip they can get.

    Wax or lanacoat will last for part of the season  (6 months good  3 more ok and the last 12 a little better than the first 12 on a bare prop. = Not a lasting non stick, but better than paint.  Lanacoat can be done without the heat = less chance of an opps.

    Recoating under water is +/-  = Not sure if it is worth the effort, but can be done with the lanacoat in a plastic sandwich  bag,  pushed the stuff all over the prop blade one at a time but not sure this helps that much maybe ok for 1 to 2 months? 

    I tried the bag = ok if you leave it a long long time in one spot but a pain in the a$# if you move and then what do you do with the bag it smells allot? and some stuff sneaks through any way.

    Last three tips  
    1.) kevlar gloves!  The kind they sell for knife work on fish.
    2.) tie a long line to the scraper and tie off one end to a boomkin stay just in case you drop it. saves the bad words.
    3.) Hydrogen peroxide for the cuts you get (Put it on as you are getting out of the water = ASAP)
  • March 11, 2013 2:42 PM
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    Reply # 1239939 on 1239195
    Anonymous member
    I would not recommend "propspeed" I think its repackaged aerated fertilizer in a can.
  • March 12, 2013 7:26 PM
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    Reply # 1241177 on 1239195
    Deleted user
    Once again this forum has surpassed expectations! The suggestions posted here are ideas I had not heard or read anywhere else. Thank you!

    I don't think the bag is a viable option for me. I'm not likely to be willing to get in the water around the pilings at my berth each time I bring her in. I typically take Sea Gypsy out two to three times a month year 'round.

    I like the idea of the polish and paraffin. I will spend more time studying that. Aklthough my prop has som galvanic pitting from a previous application of cuprous anti-fouling paint. I'm not sure I can polish the surface to a fine enough grit to prevent attachment.

    Thanks again for the benefit of your personal experiences. I will let you know how this evolves. Cudos WOA! Good forum!
  • March 12, 2013 9:01 PM
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    Reply # 1241251 on 1239195
    Deleted user
    FYI.

    Zinc spray followed by Lanocoat works well.  But make sure you apply the zinc spray and let it dry for a day or two otherwise when you grease with the Lanocoat it will rub off.  Again the torch helps but Lanocoat is more like grease than wax.  Just another option.....
  • March 13, 2013 7:39 AM
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    Reply # 1241659 on 1241251
    Deleted user
    Edward Herold wrote:FYI.

    Zinc spray followed by Lanocoat works well.  But make sure you apply the zinc spray and let it dry for a day or two otherwise when you grease with the Lanocoat it will rub off.  Again the torch helps but Lanocoat is more like grease than wax.  Just another option.....

    I have not tried the zinc paint/spray before, waxing or lanacoating the prop, When you did this, did you have any corrosion or pitting issues? did it stay on uniformly? how many coats of what did you apply? was it removable at the next haul out?

    Gary thanks for the heads up on the propspeed (I am not for the feeding of wildlife so I will skip that product). Thanks

    Last modified: March 13, 2013 7:47 AM | Deleted user
  • March 13, 2013 7:07 PM
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    Reply # 1242216 on 1241659
    Deleted user
    Norm Rhines wrote:
    Edward Herold wrote:FYI.

    Zinc spray followed by Lanocoat works well.  But make sure you apply the zinc spray and let it dry for a day or two otherwise when you grease with the Lanocoat it will rub off.  Again the torch helps but Lanocoat is more like grease than wax.  Just another option.....

    I have not tried the zinc paint/spray before, waxing or lanacoating the prop, When you did this, did you have any corrosion or pitting issues? did it stay on uniformly? how many coats of what did you apply? was it removable at the next haul out?


    No worries.  Very easy.  I like paraffin better but zinc and lanocoat works OK.  The zinc spray is very thin and just wipes off.  The Lanocat or wax just wipes off while scrubbing the bottom.  Give it a try sometime.  Pretty benign.  Old hard paraffin I think is the best.