Running gear prep

dc380

New Member
Mar 18, 2007
480
RI
Boat Info
SOLD 2002 380DA, C120, A50, ST7001, ST600R
Engines
8.1s Mercs, 7.0 Westerbeke
When I had the boat hauled this season the bottom was clean, no barnacles. However the running gear was covered with barnacles. If it was metal, it was covered with barnacles. Interestingly the props were clean. Is there something I can put on the running gear this season to keep the tabs and shafts free from hauling?
 
I can't help: I had *the same* problem two years in a row. I suspect the outdrive paint I used (and the yard used the previous year) is utter crap.
 
You would think they would sell a anti-fouling paint that would work on under-water metal.

I've been asking other folks in my marina and everyone seemed to have the same problem. The only suggestion I've gotten is to hire a diver a few times during the summer.
 
I've tried many differnt techniques over the years. None that I've tried have worked 100%. I've done the epoxy coatings, vaselines coatings, etc. Two things work best....1st...use the boat...ESPECIALLY when the water warms up....you folks in the warm south have to be even more dillegent.....2nd....dive under and clean....I hire myself for that chore also...
 
Dominic,
So in the end, do you just clean the metal gear before the season and leave it unpainted? How many times during the season do you dive for maintaining the gear?

Thanks,
Alex.
 
Alex F:

I do just what Sea Ray / MarineMax does....I paint the metals: tabs, struts, strainers, rudders, exhaust tubes, etc. (not the shafts or the props) with the same paint that I put on the bottom. No special prep, other than a light scrape/sand. Also...no paint under any area where a zinc goes.

I frequently anchor out on weekends, and I almost always go in for a swim. While I'm in, I just go under and "look". If it looks like I'm getting growth on the props, I get out the scuba gear, a plastic scraper and a heavy brush.....the hardest part is finding water deep enough in the Bay where I can safely dive.....the "Secret Spot" has an area with 10' at high tide that works great.....

I've found that, in our area, if you don't use your boat for just 2-3 weeks in late July/ early August, that you WILL have growth on your unpainted metals...props/shafts.
 
I had to do 3 major dives in the last year, but a few days of snorkeling in between during which I hit the rudders and trim tabs.
 
Dominic

Do you carry your scuba gear with you all the time?

I'm looking into getting my scuba certification this spring. I've always wanted to get certified anyway so I could dive when I go on warm water vacations. Looks like I have a good excuse now.

Dave
 
Dave:

No...I don't always carry my gear. When I'm taking a trip as a transient, and I know the marina has deep water slips, I will sometimes bring it along. It takes up a lot of room when I have my daughter and a friend along with us. If it's just me and the admiral, then I'll take it.

I've given some thought to a Hookah....but I'd rather just put the tanks on....

I'm off to Florida the first week of February to dive some wrecks off of Pompano Beach....can't wait to do some winter diving....
 
I was wondering if the gear would fit under the sofa in the main salon? It's not that easy to get to so I tend keep it empty. So it would be a good place to store it.

The diver the folks in my marina use, uses a tank and a 100 foot hose. I was thinking that might be a option if the tank is a problem while under the hull.
A driver in RI costs $500.00 plus materials. That pays for mine and the admiral's certification.

Then we can go dive in Florida too!

Thanks for the advice, Have a safe trip.

Dave
 
I keep a tank and a fender in each of the storage areas below the floor in the cabin. I keep two BC's in a plastic container below the aft berth, two octopuses in a case in the cabinet below the cabin steps, and all of the snorkeling gear beneath the seats in the cockpit. I'd like to get a 100' hose set up for these projects - waiting to spend the money, though.
 
John:

Did you cut up an old fender and stick the tank in the fender? That sounds like a good idea! I was always concerned with leaving the tank in the cabin. When I do take my tanks, I wrap it in a towel (to avoid scratches to the gelcoat) and then kind of "shove" it under the aft seat.

Have you ever dived the wrecks off of Pompano?

later,
 
Yup. Same experience as OSD9. .. and our boats are in the same water.

My boat was hauled for maintenance second week of August, after three monthes in the water -> and everything looked great. Starting September, the boat saw much less use (unfortunately!), and by November, the drives, props, and trim tabs looked like total crap! Both max RPM and top speed were affected. Ok. . .it was another three months. . but still, it was amazing how bad things got in that time.
 
John:

Did you cut up an old fender and stick the tank in the fender? That sounds like a good idea! I was always concerned with leaving the tank in the cabin. When I do take my tanks, I wrap it in a towel (to avoid scratches to the gelcoat) and then kind of "shove" it under the aft seat.

Have you ever dived the wrecks off of Pompano?

later,

The cut up fender idea sounds good. I use towels. I've thought about storing them in the cabin as well, but, they're pretty harmless. I saw an episode on "Myth Busters" where they tried to blow a SCUBA tank up. They shot it with a rifle - no explosion, just leaked air. They were able to get it to fly around the room by shooting the valve off, or something like that. Being under the floor, the temp is very stable.

I haven't dived around Pompano. We lived in Okinawa, Japan for 4 1/2 years, so we dove spectacular coral reefs all around the area. We dove Palau and Malasia as well. On this side of the world, we dove Provo, and it's quite different from the Pacific reefs. I've snorkeled the Keys, and I dive around my boat and a couple of wrecks in the PCB area. My wife and I snorkeled our Jetty's recently. There was tons of wildlife - very impressive.
 

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