barnacles on propeller

[Beppe123]

I recently moved from CT to the Chesapeake Bay with my sail boat. While Trilux worked well in CT to significantly reduce growth, now the propeller looks like a huge collection of barnacles of all dimensions. The sail drive has also some (aluminum, also painted with Trilux) but significantly less than the propeller (bronze). I managed to remove all the barnacles yesterday, but the "glue" of many of them remains. Is there a way to get rid of them without having to continue scraping ? I read of several acid based solutions, but they are no friendly to metals. Also, what will you advice as barnacle preventer ? I read that PropSpeed may be the best, but it is expensive and tricky to do it yourself. PropGlide seems to be a somewhat similar product, but cheaper and easier to apply yourself.

Thank you for any advice.
Beppe

[SV Confianza]

We have not tried prop speed. But the only one that has worked for us has been petit barnacle barrier. It only really lasts maybe 6 months though. Didn’t have great luck with trilux.

[mbianka]

I find that a 3M Rust and paint stripper in an electric drill makes quick work of cleaning and polishing the prop to a bright shine:
https://biankablog.blogspot.com/2011...-stripper.html

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by mbianka

I find that a 3M Rust and paint stripper in an electric drill makes quick work of cleaning and polishing the prop to a bright shine:
https://biankablog.blogspot.com/2011...-stripper.html

Here is a quick video of how I clean the prop with the 3M paint stripper:
https://youtu.be/3xfiFOLZ2Kk?si=RFbQ0DpJb7KBKIpY

[Beppe123]

Mike, I see several types of 3M rust and paint strippers. Which one do you use ?
thanks
Beppe

[Kijit]

When I have that problem, I drop my prop in a vinegar bath to soften the deposits of the barnacles and then hit it with a wire brush. We are also in the Chesapeake in an area with brackish water and a fairly good tidal current so the buggers get fed well. I have not tried Prop Speed but everything else I have tried has not worked for long. Never had this problem on the west coast. I have resorted to just diving on the boat every couple of months to scrape them off the prop. We also have a saildrive and never had good luck with Tri Lux until this past year when I used the entire can on the drive leg. That worked well and the drive stayed relatively clean.

[mbianka]

Originally Posted by Beppe123

Mike, I see several types of 3M rust and paint strippers. Which one do you use ?
thanks
Beppe

I think any one of the 3M products will work. But, a 4 inch unit like this one https://amzn.to/3wdhyS2 is small enough to hit the smaller areas of the prop as well as the blades.

[Pete7]

These things look pretty vicious. However, fitted to an angle grinder will clean a prop completely in 2 minutes. Perhaps more importantly, the finish will be smooth matt ready for painting. It's our go to method for cleaning the prop each season. We have two and bring one home to prep ready for next season.

Pete

[Jimbo2010]

Go to HD or Lowes spray 6 coats of zinc chromate on all underwater metals, works for over two years in FL

I never use bottom paint on metal.


cost about $10

[Shrew]

Oxalic acid should be fine for Bronze. I also use a brass wire wheel on a drill. That also works fine as bronze is much harder than brass.

I wipe it down with oxalic acid, then hit it the wire wheel.