Never Wet

  • February 04, 2015 8:42 AM
    Reply # 3217689 on 3188408

    I took Jay's suggestion and started a more scientific test.  I took an aluminum can, a stainless steel chain plate, and a length of PVC pipe.  I coated half of each with Never Wet, and put it all in the water.   

    The collage picture shows the early results.  Lower right with masking tape so you can see the coated and bare parts. Upper right zero weeks.  Left after one week.  Barnacles are apparent already At least one barnacle located on the coated part of the aluminum.  The bare parts are glossy, the coated parts are matte.  You may need to scroll left-right to see the whole picture.

    I'll post again after a month.

     


    I also learned something new about my prop.  Last month the diver said that he never saw such a clean prop, but he scraped it anyhow.   This month, I can see the places where he scraped; stuff is growing there already.

    Therefore, 4000-5000 nm of motoring did not diminish the effectiveness of the coating, but 4-5 seconds with a stiff brush or scraper will destroy it.


    Last modified: February 04, 2015 7:29 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • February 04, 2015 7:42 PM
    Reply # 3218102 on 3188408
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Dick: Thanks for the test update - and I think your diver is proving that the never wet was doing something to slow/inhabit the growth.    

    Also what exact type of never wet are you using?  I saw a 2 part type at Auto Zone... 

    I resized your image to 500 by 320 to fit the frame.  

    Last modified: February 04, 2015 7:45 PM | Anonymous member (Administrator)
  • February 05, 2015 4:43 AM
    Reply # 3218263 on 3188408

    Yes Jay, it is the two part version I used.

  • February 09, 2015 6:50 AM
    Reply # 3221341 on 3188408
    Deleted user

    It would be a miraculous product if it works on props!  Leaving my slip last week I could hardly get any headway - felt like the prop was nothing but a ball of barnacles.  I have to scrape the prop clean about every month or so.  I spoke to Werner Hamp (Rapsody) and when he gets back to town (Cocoa, Florida) he's going to experiment with a spare prop, i.e., spraying half with NeverWet and hanging it under water for a few weeks.  It will be interesting to see what happens.  -Tom

  • March 23, 2015 6:15 AM
    Reply # 3262449 on 3188408

    Below are pictures of the test result after 6 weeks.  

    • The aluminum can portion of the test broke off and is gone.

    • The test rig picked up more than 5 pounds of growth in 6 weeks. (Holy s***!) Looking at the first picture, it seems that growth was everywhere, Never Wet as well as untreated.


    • I rubbed it with bare hands.  Almost all the growth wiped off easily on the Never Wet portions. Very little came off the untreated portions. Spinning your prop at cruising speed might be similar to rubbing it with bare hands. I learned not to scrape with a tool; that scrapes off the Never Wet too.  See the second picture.

    • Although a bit of growth remained on the Never Wet portion, there were zero barnacles on that part.  Barnacles are the worst problem here.

    • The Never Wet seemed equally effective on the stainless test as well as the PVC pipe test.

    • The test rig is still in the water.  I'll take pictures again in a month or so. 


  • March 24, 2015 7:17 PM
    Reply # 3265581 on 3188408
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Dick:  

    Thanks for the update - that is a lot of growth... 

    What do you think of the sonic based systemsto keep barnacles off? 

    Jay

  • March 25, 2015 5:43 AM
    Reply # 3265909 on 3188408

    Sonic?  Never heard of that.  

  • July 10, 2015 8:23 AM
    Reply # 3429300 on 3188408
    Anonymous

    Sorry to revive an old thread, but I'm going to try this.  I bought some NeverWet last night.  Did you spray just the prop? Or the prop and shaft together?   

    I'm still a little unclear on oxygen deprivation on stainless, but I see people priming/painting their shafts all the time. 

  • July 12, 2015 5:41 AM
    Reply # 3430866 on 3188408

    I sprayed only the prop.  I also roughed up the prop surface with 200 grit sandpaper first.  Usually, one polishes the prop as smooth as possible.  In this case i roughened it slightly.


    I also put on two coats, following Never Wet's instructions.  


    Good luck


  • July 12, 2015 5:00 PM
    Reply # 3431325 on 3188408
    Anonymous member (Administrator)

    Dick: I missed your question on sonic prevention of bottom fouling. 

    http://www.ultrasonic-anti-fouling.com/how-it-works/

    I'm wondering if our members have results from their tests? 

    Jay