Props & Shafts - "To Paint or NOT to Paint?"

[risctaker]

What is the consensus of the gathered brethren here as to whether or not to put bottom paint on the shafts & props, Zinc-galvanized spray paint or nothing at all? I've seen some marinas recently re-launching some sizable boats that just have the props & shafts all buffed up to a shiny finish. No coatings at all?

[keelbolts]

As a wooden boat owner, I've done somewhere between 15 & 20 haulouts on Favona. Some years I painted the shaft & prop & some years I didn't. I could never see where it made any difference (& thats on a 13hp diesel).

I'd definitely paint the strut. Maybe the shaft. The prop? I always figured the paint was gone by the time I got home from haulout & the polished bronze screw looked so good in the haulout photos...

It'll be interesting to see what the consensus is on this one.

[risctaker]

Joined: 05 Nov 2005
Posts: 4100
Location: Hampton Va

PostPosted: Mon Mar 21, 2011 12:58 pm Post subject: Reply with quote
I like the petit zinc coat barnacle barrier works well and not costly
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[vabeach1234]

I've never had much luck with bottom paint or the petit transducer (zinc rich) paint on my running gear. I found that the gear still fouled with barnicles and when you scraped them off, you scraped off the paint and any protection that you had.

November 2009 I hauled my boat for some hull work and used prop shield.
http://www.prop-shield.com/
It's a lanolin based grease that you apply to the underwater metals. You have to heat up the running gear before you apply it. I used a heat gun. The theary is that once heated up, it will soak into the metal. I did a test and used the zinc paint on the shaft forward of the shaft zincs.

Last summer I dove under the boat and sure enough I had a slew of barnicles on the shaft where I used the zinc paint; where I used the prop shield, there were only a few. I did have about 3 or 4 custaceans on my prop but a quick scrape and they came right off. Once the water warms up to about 60 degrees (it's in the low 50s now) I'm going to dive again and see what I've got.

I'm not saying that you can apply this stuff and forget it, but from what I've seen, it works a lot better for me than the zinc paint did.

Oh, once you put the second coat on, your running gear will be pink. I got a lot of odd looks while the boat was in sling on it's way back to the water. You can see that in the prop below:


And once in the water the 2nd coat of this stuff comes off in flakes but it's the first coat does all the work.

I've heard that prop speed works wonders but I can't commit to the steep cost.

[k9th]

I prefer no paint on shafts and props - struts yes. I don't see that it adds any value or benefit and it is just one more thing to keep up with.

[alexander38]

I use zinc paint and paint my shafts. Nothing is perfect and the critters are heavier in areas and fewer in others. So far my diver and I are happy.

[prowlersfish]

I like the petit zinc coat barnacle barrier works well and not costly

[rbcool]

I've always liked the Petit bottom paints, might try it next week when I pull out since it will be too cold to apply Speed Prop.

Ron

[rossjo]

vabeach1234 - You had barnacles on the Zinc paint, but not on the Prop Shield?

I hate barnacles ... tons of them everywhere here.

[Paul]

No paint on shafts, struts or props up here in fresh water. No need to unless you don't use your boat.

[prowlersfish]

vabeach1234 - You had barnacles on the Zinc paint, but not on the Prop Shield?

I hate barnacles ... tons of them everywhere here.

he said he used" petit transducer (zinc rich) paint" not petit zinc coat barnacle barrier I Don't think its the same stuff

ever find a barnacle on your Zincs ?