Zinc paint question

HOGAN

HOGAN

Moderator
Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2001
RO Number
3813
Messages
9,936
There was a recent topic about using a zinc paint from Lowes on metal runnning surfaces. Does anyone remember where it was?
 
What would be the point? The paint would be an extremely thin layer of zinc, at best, which would wear off rather quickly. Using the proper anodes (zincs) where needed would do a much better job of protecting the underwater metal parts of your boat.Hy
 
Pettit makes Zinc Coat and sells it in an aerosol can. It is definitely better than just regular bottom paint when you put it on the running gear. From everything I have read, it is not as good as Prop Speed but much LESS expensive and much LESS labor intensive.
I use it as well as a number of boating friends.
There have been a number of threads about zinc paint you can buy at the paint store which people here claim is basically the same but much less expensive. The Pettit product is in the $25-30 range per can.

And no, it doesn't wear off quickly. I got 2 seasons out of an application with little loss of RPM's.
 
I used the prop coat this year. The ips is a lot of blades and it attracts a lot of barnacles.
If this works I may try the regular zinc in a can from hardware store.

If you search web there are lots of stories on this topic.
Some say they are the same and some say the Pettit is more zinc.
They claim 93%.
Who knows.
I will see in fall when I haul.
 
Paint with the zinc first, then paint with NON-copper bottom paint like Interlux Pacifica.

This will keep the running gear clean without breaking the bank.
 
Hogan, I think it was a Rustoleum product and supposed to be the same as the Pettit Barnacle Barrier. LBW, this prodduct has existed for several years. The point is that it works!
 
Thanks Greg, I believe you are correct. I'll go look for it later today.
 
LEt us know what you find out. Time to re-treat my running gear.
 
Well there ARE zinc-based bottom paints out there, though I don't have any experience with them yet. I do have the Petit zinc coat on my running gear, but it's only been a couple weeks so I can't say how well it works.
 
When I google Rustoleum and zinc paint, I come up with Rustoleum Cold Galvinizing Compound. Looks like a 20 oz spray can for $5.27 at Home depot. Is this it Hogan?
 
I did the rustoleum last time out and was very happy. I was in the water from may of 2012 til November 2013. I did 2 coats. It does wear off a bit like an ablative. This year I am going with 4 coats. I applied it to bare metal.
 
If nothing else it'll prevent corrosion of an expensive prop... and I've never seen barnacles stick to a zinc for very long.
 
Just like a zinc it will be reactive when it hits salt water.
So it has 2 things working against it, the prop spin and the reactivness of the salt water.
I would be careful going too thick as it is zinc and does carry some weight. If done uneven it could throw prop out of balance and give you a vibration.

I did 2 thin coats on 4 props (dual), so 14 total blades covered with it and I had a small drop leftover which I sprayed into the intakes on the pods.
 
i've used the petit product for one season and the rustoleum for one season as a test. both do a good job of keeping growth off the running gear. the petit product is 98% zinc (and $30 per can around here) vs 93% zinc (and $4.95 per can) for the rustoleum. i'm using rustoleum again this season.
 
Thanks for the info Bruce - we are in the same harbor and will follow your lead.

Ron & Karen
"NO WORRIES"
 
I have always wondered if a super hydrophobic coating like Neverwet would work as an antifouling for running gear. I don't know what the performance loss would be, but seems to me that if the metal can't get wet it can't get fouled. Anyone ever tried or heard of someone trying this?

Richard
 
If it can't get wet, doesn't stop a barnacle from clinging to it.

You need something there to retard the plant growth and the shell growth.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top