Propeller wax

[northern]

Is there any wax or other material that can be placed on propellers in salt water to help keep them from having sea growth stay off them.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Pettit makes a product called Prop Kote (yah that's how they spell it). I've never used it, but the reviews I've read have all been positive. You might want to research it as the stuff is quite pricy. As I recall it would have cost me about $ 500 to coat my 15" & 14" props.

Henry

 

[Alex F]

There's also a product called "PropSpeed". I'f heard very good reviews on it and my props have them. My boat came from the area where props would get some marine growth, but with the propspeed they were clean. As Henry said the stuff is expensive and require special care to apply it properly.

 

[garryowen]

have been toying with the idea of getting my S.S. B-III props powder coated. i know this is't what you are looking for but thought i'd throw it out there.

my idea is, the aluminum painted props i have had wipe cleaner, easier, than the coating that the S.S. picks up (all the S.S. props i have ever used seem to pick up a crusty hard mineral like deposit). also would reduce the wetted S.S. area to help with galvanic corrosion??

 

[searay40dad]

When i had my spare props tuned/balanced last october I seem to recall the shop quoting another $600 to coat both 28x33s w/ Propspeed. Reviews are good on the stuff, 10-15% increase in fuel economy if I remember. Durability may be a question though if you run at high rpms, run in "silty, sandy" water as it can take it down in a season or less. Requires very careful application. Nevertheless, the math may work out for you.

 

[Henry Boyd]

When i had my spare props tuned/balanced last october I seem to recall the shop quoting another $600 to coat both 28x33s w/ Propspeed. Reviews are good on the stuff, 10-15% increase in fuel economy if I remember. Durability may be a question though if you run at high rpms, run in "silty, sandy" water as it can take it down in a season or less. Requires very careful application. Nevertheless, the math may work out for you.

The wear issue was why I didn't go with the Pettit stuff in the end. That and the fact the local prop shop charges $ 425, to balance, fix nicks, and polish the pair.

Gary

Coating the SS will cut down on the galvanic effects. I'm not sure that powder coating is the right choice. Powder coating is just paint that's been dried, pulverized and then melted onto the part. I do't know how effectively it will stick to the polished SS. Part of the expense of the dedicated prop coatings are that they are formulated to stick to a polished metal surface that is under a great deal of stress. The reason why SS props are on the BIII and not aluminum is that aluminum is not strong enough to do the job.

 

[garryowen]

thanks for the heads up henry.

we have centered on pleasure craft props here, but i think you would know.

what do the big ships do as far as there prop finishes?

 

[drob]

I have used the prop-speed for the past two years and have had minimal growth on the props and shafts. It is costly though.

 

[Greg]

I have PropSpeed on my props and shafts. The stuff is amazing, it is expensive and tricky to apply, but it works great in the waters by me.

Everytime they pull my boat, they comment on how well that stuff works.

I really want to do my trim tabs and other underwater gear.

 

[Henry Boyd]

thanks for the heads up henry.

we have centered on pleasure craft props here, but i think you would know.

what do the big ships do as far as there prop finishes?

I don't know about props for ships, but here has been a lot of work on hull paints that started to contain things like teflon. Teflon didn't work as it turns out because it is actually porous enough for growth to get a hold. Now there is a new technology using silicone based coatings that contain no biocides at all. Besides keeping the hull clean it also dramatically improves fuel consumption. But this stuff only works on 'higher' speed ships like containerships, cruise ships, car carriers etc. 'High' speed by the way is in the 15-17 knot range.

Henry

Henry

 

[BlewByYou88]

As far as big ships go, bare in mind, they almost never stop moving, so marine growth it minut when it comes to the props. There is also another method that our prop guys use on ships which involves a special grade of polishing rather than any special coatings. They use turbo-air grinders/polishers with special pads, they garantee that they can get better speeds without any growth. Its a popular procedure that our military uses for subs because it cuts down on noise as well. Kinda expensive though, very few shipping companies actually do this.

 

[Asureyez]

Mussel Buster:

These guys are growing. I used their coating on one set of props and I have to say the product works as far as preventing marine growth. Any slime just whisks away. I paid $500.00 for 2 23X27 NiBro props and the coating survived about 20 miles of digging wet sand on the west side of the upper keys, one grounding and to repair the props where I just had the shop beat the blades to spare the coating. I was very impressed with the anti fouling. Now as for their Wild A$$ claims about dramatic boost in fuel economy, forget it.

You have to get your props tuned, then ship them to these guys, and then they do their thing and ship back. About a 2 week turn, door to door. But the shaft is still untreated.

http://www.musselbuster.com/