Paint or not paint the props

Must we paint the props? I use to paint but I saw that a lot of boats don't paint.
Despite I painted, all the time I have to clean them


Sergio "Alemao" Sztancsa
Sent from my iPhone, using Trawler Forum

"Treating" my prop helps to keep the barnacles under control. I have it done annually.

We use prop speed. Not cheap by any means but we're in South Florida and growth builds quickly. We did this even though we get the bottom cleaned every three to four weeks. It does a great job. We use it not just on the prop but the running gear as well.

Yes, painting your prop is a very good idea and particularly if you reside down south with warm waters. My prop and running gear have a primer applied and then several coats of Trinidad paint. Bottom is cleaned every 4 weeks and I still get growth but probably far less than if untreated. I have my boat hauled annually.

I always painted the props but the painting gone fast. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong.
I'm using metal primer and the bottom paint


Sergio "Alemao" Sztancsa
Sent from my iPhone, using Trawler Forum

Your prop is the part of your bottom you want to keep the cleanest. Its worth the extra cost. Use Prop speed.

I endorse the above. PropSpeed is the way to go. Until I proved this to myself I just used to have harder anti-foul put on the prop and rudder but they always came out a barnacled up mess until PropSpeed. The last time she came out, the prop looked so good I was tempted to leave it alone, and that was after over three years in warm Queensland waters.

Take a look here….
Pic 1 before pressure clean - pic 2 after...

Alemao said:

Must we paint the props? I use to paint but I saw that a lot of boats don't paint.
Despite I painted, all the time I have to clean them


Sergio "Alemao" Sztancsa
Sent from my iPhone, using Trawler Forum

Click to expand...

If you were literally using your boat every day you could probably get away with just highly polished props.

Otherwise, PropSpeed.

Alemao said:

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I always painted the props but the painting gone fast. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong.
I'm using metal primer and the bottom paint


Sergio "Alemao" Sztancsa
Sent from my iPhone, using Trawler Forum

Click to expand...

Yes, bottom paint won't get it done. There are many paints designed for props but the only one I know that works is PropSpeed, which is technically probably not even a paint, although you do paint it on.

Also PropSpeed should not be washed with high pressure equipment or cleaned with abrasives. It should just be wiped with non abrasives.

Another vote for Prop Speed.
I don't have my boat bottom cleaned for a year or more after hauling and with Prop Speed the prop stays clean as long as the bottom.

I had always painted my props but it never lasted. I used every primer and paint I could get my hands on over the years. One time I even polished the prop until it shined. I was not happy with anything until I tried Prop Speed.

Have any of you Prop Speed users noticed your boat going faster? My boat had never gone faster that about 15.3 knots in it's whole life. Returning from the yard after putting Prop Speed on, I had picked up some RPM and the GPS showed 16 knots.

I use this and the underwater metal and the underwater metal came out clean after a Florida winter. $20 a can as I recall and I use 2.



Dave

We use this as well, the product seems to be getting better, a few years back it seemed to wash away easily to where there was nothing left by July.

magicbus said:

I use this and the underwater metal and the underwater metal came out clean after a Florida winter. $20 a can as I recall and I use 2.

Dave

Click to expand...