Prop Shaft Antifoul?

[Fish 0]

I want to prevent marine growth and barnacles on the prop shaft.

I need to be able to apply a product between tides. This is because we have Copper Coat on the hull and have no need to haul out, ever.

 

We have a spare prop, so can swap props on a tide and do the proper full on Prop Speed application a at home in the shed.

 

What is the best / most effective Antifoul product that can be applied to a stainless prop shaft (1 & 1/4 inch) between tides?

 

Last time we just slapped some International Trilux on it, but that was more of an after thought, as we had an old tin of Trilux handy. We didn't do any prep other than give the shaft a good wipe.

 

Prop speed and similar products are out, because of the careful prep needed and the drying times.

 

I don't think prepping with a PA 10 primer would work, because the drying time is too long, and exhascibated with having to get touch dry to then apply a second coat of an Antifoul.

 

I've been looking at Pettit Prop Coat Barnicle Barrier.

https://www.pettitpaint.com/fileshare/product_pds/Prop-Coat-Barnacle-Barrier.pdf

Even though it's called 'Barnicle Barrier' the spec sheet makes no reference to its ability to control growth and barnacles. Is it just to protect from corrosion?

It can be applied straight to stainless steel, but then it states between 16 hrs and two days before submersion, depending on temperature.

 

Is the drying time really that critical? Or is it just to achieve claimed product performances? If I applied a product and warmed it a bit post application, let's say with a hair dryer, could I get reasonable performance and product life from an application between tides.

 

By reasonable life span, I'd be happy with one year without growth between cleans and re-application. I.e actually works for 6 months or a year.

 

Any better ideas?

[wheels 543]

What is the drying time of the Propspeed type coatings? I know they use a fairly volatile solvent and they are a reaction cure coating, so you might get away with using it. You would only need to run some sandpaper around the shaft to remove old antifoul, get a clean shaft and a bit of a Key for the coat to grip to. In fact I think the applicator applied mine not long before a tide once.
When it comes to paints, they need to have the Solvent evaporated from them so they can cure. Emmersion stops the Solvent evaporating and thus the Paint does not cure, will likely not hold properly on a fast turning shaft and whats more, you have Solvent, which is a Toxin, washing into the marine environment.

[Jon 360]

Fish, I've used "CRC Soft Seal" for this type of thing before

Cheap and easy to apply, just clean it off and spray three or more coats over a couple of hours while your waiting for the tide.

Had it last a year or more on the shaft but only about 6 months on the blades as they have much more water over them.

Anyone else used it ?

[waikiore 399]

There is a product called Max Wax in an aerosol tin, clean shaft acetone wipe,  warm with paint stripper gun and apply - have got a year out of it on a fairly regularly used prop -great value 

[Fish 0]

Those two products, CRC soft seal and the Max Wax look very interesting. They appear to be basically similar products.

 

I see the Max Wax has a 4 to 12 hr dry time, while I've found two technical data sheets for the CRC soft seal. One says touch dry in 1 hr, the other says touch dry in 12 hrs, both for the same product code 3013.

 

Going off topic a bit,  I see the Max Wax can withstand temperatures of 200 deg C. Would this be suitable for spraying on hard to reach parts of the engine and gearbox to control corrosion on that?

 

I do like the idea of these 'cheap and easy to apply' solutions. We have used prop speed before on the shaft. it sort of almost worked but didn't queit work, and is a bit fiddle, not to mention Prop Speed isn't cheap. I find the simple solutions are the most effective. If I can give the shaft a clean and spray annually when we dry out to do the annodes, that would be an ideal solution.

[Steve Pope 243]

I have used soft seal for years, on the prop as well, barnacles after 3 months, but so easy to apply, also on bits in the engine room that are difficult to access. Great stuff.

[harrytom 642]

We have altex no10 on prop and just buffed shaft with zinc on shaft,never had a issue unless boat sits for 2 months,swing mooring panmure.

[TonyB 1]

Has anyone got hold of any Corrosion X Max Wax lately? I'm keen to give it a go on my prop. I've been trying to track some down but it seems as scarce as hen's teeth.

[Jon 360]

Steve Ashley at The Rigging Shop imports Corrosion X if that helps   steve@riggingshop.co.nz

[Fish 0]

The owner managed to get some from the distributor in Whangarei in the end. I don't have all the details but he did say the courier cost $12 at it's "a hazardous good".

He initially emailed a contact he googled for Max Wax, but it turned out to be the international distributor and not the local one.

If you want the contact details let me know and I'll get them off the owner.

 

As a note, we put the Max Wax on the shaft, and the owner has been running around spraying either corrosion X or Max Wax on just about anything he can find on board now.... 

[Muzza 18]

In the days prior to Prop Speed I used to use a Lusteroid etch primer and put my hard antifouling on over that, that etch primer stuck like the proverbial.

[Kevin McCready 83]

Muzza, how would you do your prop in those days? Now?

[Muzza 18]

Now days I would probably just have Prop speed applied, in  those days clean up the shaft and prop using  battery drill and bronze wire brush and apply the primer straight away. It was so good that after six months once you cleaned the fouling off you could touch up any anti fouling that had come off.

[Muzza 18]

I heard that soon there is about to be some generic propspeed alternatives come on the market for general sale so propspeed may lose the monopoly they have enjoyed.