Props vs Barnacles?

[gtfireftr]

So I have been fighting more than one issue evidently..
Got my port motor running finally, and went out this morning. Ran fine except it wouldn't rev over 3800. Stbd revved to 4200.
So I decided to check props..... Trailered up the alpha's and I found moderate growth of barnacles on both props.
Not a great deal on the blades, but lots on the hub and bottom of the blades.
Could this cause my issue? Weather turned bad so I can't try her out.
Hopefully this will help!!!!!!
any input is greatly appreciated

 

[saopm]

I would say so. It doesn't take a lot of growth to cause performance issues on an Alfa drive.

 

[b_arrington]

Yes. I had similar moderate barnacle growth on my BIII props. After scraping them off (plus brush off light slime and a barnacle patch on the hull) I went from slow speeds / max 3600 rpm to 4400 rpm and normal speeds.

 

[gtfireftr]

Thanks..... I hope that is the case with me as well..... I will most likely find out on Friday........

 

[rbryn]

I keep an old bamboo spatula on the boat. Every time we go for a swim I break it out and scrape the barnacles off the prop and hub. We also paint the prop when we paint the outdrive, but it never lasts long. Even the smallest amount of barnacle growth on the prop will dramatically affect performance.


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[gtfireftr]

And yes it did......
I scraped the props as best as I could. I got all that I could off. I took her out for a quick spin, and it was back to normal....
It is amazing what a little growth will do.....
I have never painted the props before, so I guess that will be on the agenda for next year....
Thanks for the replies