Barnacles on running gear

Lumpy · Post by **Lumpy** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:57 am

I'm in Middle River MD, and check my running gear this weekend while anchored. OMG the props/shafts & rudders were covered. I spent about an hour and most of the skin on my fingers scrapping them off. The gear isn't painted. Is this due to a lack of use? Any way to prevent this.

Thx
Chris

BobCT · Post by **BobCT** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:01 am

I had mine short hauled on Fri, the boat just didn't feel "right". I've put about 35 hours on so far so it hasn't been sitting the whole time.

I had about 3/4" on the shaft and rudders. So glad I did it because it feels so much better. I think the warm winter is making this an epic year because this is 10x worse than prior years. I've never had to haul before.

Bob

aaronbocknek · Post by **aaronbocknek** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:13 am

Lumpy wrote:I'm in Middle River MD, and check my running gear this weekend while anchored. OMG the props/shafts & rudders were covered. I spent about an hour and most of the skin on my fingers scrapping them off. The gear isn't painted. Is this due to a lack of use? Any way to prevent this.

Thx
Chris

chris, i'm at parkside marina off edwards lane in bowleys quarters. it has been a terrible year for barnacles. i had a buddy of mine dive to scrape the props for my voyage to sue island marina next week, and he said that there was absolutely no room for one more barnacle. the shafts are covered but they do turn w/ out resistance. the bottom looks fairly good according to him, just a few colonies in a few clusters. the running gear is what is really crudded up. the intake scoops are clear and clean too. i have zinc coat ready to go on once she is hauled. hopefully that will cut down on the growth,but, as john said, this year, in conjunction with lack of rain, run off from the sewage plant and a warm winter and a blazing summer, it's a perfect breeding ground for barnacles. john also said it has not been this bad in almost 30 years. so, you are not alone in this. we are all suffering the infestation of barnacles.

aaron in baltimore.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 11:40 am

We have to have our bottoms cleaned every 3-4 weeks here (2 weeks in some areas with high water flow).

Torcan · Post by **Torcan** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 12:51 pm

No barnacles here. Not a single one !!!
I looked everywhere

ready123 · Post by **ready123** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:53 pm

Torcan, What about Zebra mussels?

Torcan · Post by **Torcan** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:10 pm

ready123 wrote:Torcan, What about Zebra mussels?

Shhhh... no one mentioned Zebra Mussels.
But.. I haven't got any of them either !!! Not a single one, guess it is because of the new bottomkote I put on before launch.

Could also be because the Ministry of the Environment seeds around our Basin to kill off the weeds and zebra mussels every spring. They wait till the fish have spawned and then come in to our Basin and do their job.

koviak · Post by **koviak** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 2:45 pm

I used Petit zinc coat in the spring (3 coats) and just hauled on friday. No barnacles on props or shafts tabs were dirty but not bad. I am now a firm believer in Petit zinc coat.
Boat had sat for over 3weeks prior to haul out so I thought it would be bad.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:08 pm

koviak wrote:I used Petit zinc coat in the spring (3 coats) and just hauled on friday. No barnacles on props or shafts tabs were dirty but not bad. I am now a firm believer in Petit zinc coat.
Boat had sat for over 3weeks prior to haul out so I thought it would be bad.

X2 I have no barnacles on the props all last year thanks to it . I did not haul this year and started to get some gowth . 3 weeks ago I cleaned the props and shafts ( and scraped what was left of the zinc coat ) boat ran great . Now 3 weeks later its 10 knots slower and works to get on plane time to clean again .

Zink coat is good stuf

jefflaw35 · Post by **jefflaw35** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 6:58 pm

I'm sure we have discussed this before but is the zinc coat for the entire bottom paint process or just best to use on the running gear?

Allen Sr · Post by **Allen Sr** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 7:06 pm

jefflaw35 wrote:I'm sure we have discussed this before but is the zinc coat for the entire bottom paint process or just best to use on the running gear?

I use it on my running gear including the rudders.

rossjo · Post by **rossjo** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:40 pm

Zinc Coat is nice, but you must commit to a regular cleaning vigil to keep the barnacles off once the water warms.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:49 pm

Use the zinc coat and don't touch the props . I had no growth on the wheels for over a year . some growth on the shafts but not bad . I did not dive on it for over a year no noticable lose of speed so no need to dive .

Try it then let me know . I bet you a cigar you will like it .

daylategeorge · Post by **daylategeorge** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:52 pm

Having the same problem over here in Jersey. Never used anything in prior years and no problem. Went out a couple of weeks ago and struggled to get on plane. Stopped to check props and sure enough both were covered. Lost an hour and most of my finger nails getting them off. Think I'll haul and try the zinc coat this week. Anybody know is Petit the best? My neighbor used something, I think some sort of clear coat, on his props and tabs but still had problems.

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Mon Jul 30, 2012 10:55 pm

Pettit Zinc Coat Barnacle Barrier is what I use pettit # 1793

"Zinc Coat contains 93 percent pure zinc."

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/us ... o?pid=6770

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Barnacles on running gear

Barnacles on running gear

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