This winter, I upgraded my standard 2 blade fixed prop with a Flexofold prop. I posted some issues I had that contributed to additional drag and lack of power / drive due to barnacle build up. I am going to make it as a routine maintenance to dive and clean the prop every 2 to 3 months, especially mid summer to the late fall.
Currently I use (2) coats of Pettit Barnacle Barrier, which is a Zinc coating product. I sail in brackish waters.
I am thinking of changing to a epoxy barrier coat on the new folding prop and apply a hard paint - Truiux 33 over that but I have read that it is not better than the Pettit barrier zinc and will take a lot more time and costs.
Any opinions on what you are using and what you thinks works and does not work?
Patrick, Being a Chesapeake sailor myself I’m very familiar with the barnacle problem and dealt with it for years before discovering “Propspeed”.
Propspeed foul-release coating. Protect your propeller and all underwater metals against marine growth and corrosion. Propeller antifouling.
propspeed.com
I've attached a photo of the prop area on my E32-3 taken just after my boat was hauled for the winter which I do every other year for bottom work and inspection below the water line. It had been power washed, before the photo was taken, but as you know most barnacles just laugh at power washing. You can see there is some growth on the prop and shaft but not much. In the past I used ablative bottom paint on the prop but since it was moving through the water far faster then the hull the paint wore off much quicker allowing for growth. (Duh!)
Propspeed makes the metal surfaces very slippy so attachment by marine life is difficult but it's hard and does not wear off very easily as is the case with traditional bottom paint. I think the small kit will probably do the trick for you which you can purchase though West Marine or Defender (a little cheaper). The stuff is not cheap, around $300 for the small kit but it does work and considering the price of a Flexfold prop maybe the extra investment is worth it? Because of my distance from the boat, my years and being fortunate enough to be able to pay someone else to do the work, I have my marina (Port Annapolis) do the prep and apply the stuff. There is a process of wet sanding the surfaces and carefully mixing the Propspeed that must be followed in order for it to work properly and for up to two years. The
Propspeed web site has a wealth of information about it's application and use, including videos. As you can see from my photos, two years is definitely achievable. Other then that possible a harder bottom paint would do too but I can't speak to that since I've never tried it.
