Antifouling a Prop

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by billr

the amount of pollutants could be compared to the amounts from bottom paint, and maybe oil products introduced into the enviroment by outboard motors.

Rationalization is not justification.

[Latitude9.5]

Well I went with the Primocon, then the Interlux prop and outdrive paint, it's fairly hard (sprayed it) so we'll see how it holds up. Prop goes on next week if all goes well.

[Zach]

Found this:

Silicone chemically linked/suspended in an epoxy matrix. Super hard, and super slippery. Hmm...

Wearlon Industrial Coatings Product Line

Wearlon Super F-4

Though this coating has a lower silicone functionality than the other Super F series of coatings, it is the hardest of all Wearlon coatings.

• Pencil hardness - 2H
• Hydrophobic Drop Trail - excellent (5 rating).
• No electrical conductivity
• Completeness of cure - good
• Flexibility (bar mandrel) - pass 1 1/2 inches
  • Impact test
  • Direct (in lb) - 8
• Reverse (in lb) - 20
• Abrasion resistance (weight loss after 1,000 cycles) - 0.08%
• Gloss 60¡ - 9.8

[Boracay]

When I enquired about Propspeed I was told to contact the slipway.

When I asked at the slipway I was told that Propspeed really worked best on boats that were in continuous use, otherwise fouling did build up.

It almost looks like a rule of thumb.

The more you use the boat the harder (or more specialised) the propeller antifouling needs to be.

As I only use the boat about every three weeks I'm going to try four or five coats of soft (ablative antifouling) with full drying (more than 5 hours on manufacturer's specs) between coats.

[42AFJ]

In regards to the propspeed I am almost certain this is what our prop was covered with about 2 years ago by the previous owners. The boat has sat idle in Ft Lauderdale for sometime before our purchase and survey. The prop was in great shape. Anyone interested in pictures let me know. As to the product I am not sure but the owner described it as a "two part coating."

[Sandero]

I have been advocating someone develop a submersible robot for scrubbing bottoms along the lines of these robot vacuums. Maybe we could get rid of anti fouling paint all together and have the R2D2's regularly scrub the bottom?

Any engineers out there wanna make a few million$?

[MidLandOne]

Well, seems to be no definitive answer to the antifouling prop question - sometimes I give up on you guys and gals .

SO, at small expense and entirely in the interests of research, cos we only ever before just buffed the prop up at our 2 yearly haulouts, I have today instructed the yard to get the local Propspeed applicator to Propspeed our prop.

I'll report back in 2 years time .

[Alan Wheeler]

So you are up and out John? Everything look OK?

[MidLandOne]

Yes, and all looks fine below the waterline thanks Alan.

After the very enjoyable evening with you and D... we headed to Croisilles next day then had a windless and very rainy ride down from there on Sunday. Boat was out of the water by around 8am Monday morning and L... and I delivered around to the motel by about 9am .

When I visited the yard earlyish this morning (Tuesday) they had done the pressure wash, sanded back, dried the boat, done the epoxy touch ups and were about to spray the antifouling on despite there having been rain.

I don't know when the Propspeed is to go on, and there is a fiddly inside job for them to do but all should be easily finished for us to move back on board by Saturday as planned, restock the freezer and away to meander our way back home again during next week (speed of meandering depending on how cold it gets ).

Then, hopefully, not out of the water again for another 2 years.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by defjef

I have been advocating someone develop a submersible robot for scrubbing bottoms along the lines of these robot vacuums. Maybe we could get rid of anti fouling paint all together and have the R2D2's regularly scrub the bottom?

I'm not laughing.

[Sandero]

How thick can the electro plating be? Sail boat prop speeds are fairly slow no?

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

I'm not laughing.

You could be laughing if you controlled the patent.

[Chief Engineer]

Jus a thought.....If copper was soo good for wooden ships....why wouldn't copper plating work on props....providing proper electolysis measures were implemented?

[Chief Engineer]

Originally Posted by Chief Engineer

Jus a thought.....If copper was soo good for wooden ships....why wouldn't copper plating work on props....providing proper electolysis measures were implemented?

I am going to take some old 1/0 wire and some electricity and fiddle with copper plating my own prop......Just have to figure out what kinda solution I need to use and how to plug the electrical.

[Wotname]

Be interested to hear how it turns out.

As per the very first post of this thread, my prop is coming off in the next couple of weeks to be electro-polished and copper plated.