Prop speed users?????

P

pdecat

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Time for a haul out again.
Last time I didn't use propspeed because our sandy water is reported to blast it off and any diver mistake can ruin an expensive job in seconds.
What has been the experience with propspeed coating from real users?
How long did it last? Was it worth the money? If so why??
 
Bruce, I am going on 2 yrs. and it has held up well. My diver is aware of it, and I made sure the installer knew what he was doing. I have talked to several guys that have now tried the new Petit product 'Prop-Koat' and claim same results, and it is about 1/2 the price. same application process. I have a friend that has a 43 like ours, and he uses petit 'Barnacle Barrier' Comes in a spray can, requires a light sand, and he is done in 3 cans of about $50bucks a can. Looks like a primer when done, and I've seen him pulled at 2 yrs, with no metal growth.
 
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Originally posted by pdecat

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Will have to let you know. I just had mine done while doing my repower. Had the bottom painted and Prop Speed applied. Still very new so don't know yet but would be interested to see others experience.

Bob
 
It's MUCH cheaper to get a diver to clean the running gear once a month than paying for prop speed.. I did the math and couldn't justify it...
 
That was my last decision but the barnacles seem to grow faster than divers can mow them down. The boat performs so much better when everything is fresh that i wish I could keep it that way.
 
Haveused Propspeed, worked very well. Diver was aware and never had a problem. Last haul out I switched to Prop Kote, significant savings. It has been 18 months and diver tells me running gear is very good, no growth that can't be removed with a swipe of a spomge. Several in my area report same results. Diver says it is better then propspeed in terms of lasting.

I will stick with prop kote seems to be better and is reasonable.

John
 
I just heard about Barnicle Barrier last week. Anyone else using it? Results?
Seems to be a lot easier to put on than Prop Speed or Prop Kote.
 
I used Propspeed and 6 months later my props looked as if it was not there. I did not use the boat a lot during that time and I dock the boat in a canal that is not very deep (I spin up the bottom on low tides). Last month I switched to the following: Interlux 353 metal primer, Interlux 2000E, and then hard bottom paint. The cost for quart sizes of the primer and 2000E was around $100. I used my bottom paint on top of the 2000E. Too soon to tell. The yard said that they guarentee Propspeed for 1000 turns of the prop.

According to the yard, if you are always in deep water, you use your boat weekly, and there is no electrolysis activity at you dock, Propspeed MAY work for you. It didn't work for me.
 
I used Propspeed for the first time this year. Screw came out clean with exception of a couple of barnacles around the hub. Bronze Michigan wheel 19". The coating of Propspeed which is waxy is still very evident on whole screw. No barnacles on SS shaft coated with Propspeed. I put about 200 hours on this season, usually running about 8 hours an outing.
 
I have used PropSpeed for the pst 3 seasons and it is the best stuff I have ever used. My boat slip is a very high marine growth area, the barnacles grow weekly. Last year I even stripped the paint off of the bottom of the outdrives and applied the PropSpeed and when I hauled last week, there was not any barnalces, great stuff.
 
quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

It's MUCH cheaper to get a diver to clean the running gear once a month than paying for prop speed.. I did the math and couldn't justify it...

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Or better yet, get your open water scuba card and do it yourself. I really enjoy diving my boat. I can inspect the bottom paint, zinc's and assure nothing is going wrong.
 
quote:
Originally posted by fountain27

quote:
Originally posted by PascalG

It's MUCH cheaper to get a diver to clean the running gear once a month than paying for prop speed.. I did the math and couldn't justify it...

Click to expand...

Or better yet, get your open water scuba card and do it yourself. I really enjoy diving my boat. I can inspect the bottom paint, zinc's and assure nothing is going wrong.

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Even just a mask works fine. Up here in the NE I scrub the bottom, inspect the running gear & check/clean intakes a few times a season & replace the 6 U/W anodes a couple times, no problem.

Before spring commissioning , I find quickly polishing the nibral props with a scotch-brite disc in a 4'" sander/grinder , then following that with a couple easy applications of durable Collinite Insulator Wax greatly prolongs the time before any small, easy to remove attachments form on the props. Not the same as Prop Speed of course but quick and cheap.
 
Sandy, You will appreciate this, my diver was complaining the other day because the water temp was down to 61.
John
 
To you guys that use coatings on your props....does anyone know if these coatings 'measurably' change the geometry of the props? Is it negligible or is it like adding a 1/4" pitch or some cup to the blades? Just curious....
 
quote:
Originally posted by dominic

To you guys that use coatings on your props....does anyone know if these coatings 'measurably' change the geometry of the props? Is it negligible or is it like adding a 1/4" pitch or some cup to the blades? Just curious....

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Good question.
I'm no expert on this or even a novice, but my guess is:
just one barnacle will change the geometry of the prop more than one of these coatings.
Love to hear from an expert on this.
 
I am no expert, but the PropSpeed works to deter marine growth because it is so slick that nothing can attach to the stuff, likewise, the coating is so smooth on the props that it feels like they are brand new, you can really feel how smooth the props run the first couple of months after you apply.
 
quote:
Originally posted by sortie

Sandy, You will appreciate this, my diver was complaining the other day because the water temp was down to 61.
John

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Waddawimp! :D:D Perhaps if he coated himself with propspeed.....?
 
I was going to have this done when I first got the boat in Baltimore The yard owner said to me, "sure, we'd be glad to have your money, but you are better off spending it on the best product for keeping your running gear clean" What's that, I ask. "Diesel fuel!" And so I did.... and he was right.

But we are not cruising full time right now, hoping to resume in May-June. Have a pair of newly refurbished wheels just put on; may try the insulator wax trick while she's still out of the water.

George
Hatteras 56MY
Boston Whaler 130 Sport.
 
I use the Petit zinc coat/barrier blocker and works very well. After 8 months in Chesapeake had minimal growth. Also use boat almost every week.
 
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