• Creator
    Topic
  • #60205

    Joe Monaco
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Tunacious
    Engines: 3126 TA 420 hp
    Location: San Diego
    Country: USA

    Thinking of trying some new ACME props and wondering while I’m at it if I should put prop speed on the running gear. Has anyone had experience with this product?

Viewing 8 replies - 21 through 28 (of 28 total)
  • Author
    Replies
  • #63478

    Brian Katz
    Participant

    Cold Galvanize

    My prop guy told me one time he uses galvanizing paint on his props.it is very high in zinc content and looks just like the petitt product when sprayed on.. saw it in Home Depot for about 5 bucks a can .wondering if anyone has tried it.Bill

    I use cold galvanize spray. Basic rustoleum product available at most home centers.

    I started using it 3 or 4 years ago. It seems to be the same as the zinc paints you would buy at West Marine without the price tag.

    It creates an extra layer of protection and wears from the leading edge back. I personally have never had a barnacle grow on it.

    I shoot the wheels and shafts. My struts, rudders, and tabs are bottom painted.

    I boat in the NE where we don’t have the growth issues like down south so I can only speak from my experience.

    1 user thanked author for this post.
    #63306

    Rob Schepis
    Forum Moderator
    Vessel Name: Tenacious
    Engines: 6BTA 5.9 330's - "Seaboard Style"
    Location: Long Island, NY
    Country: USA

    Bill, a guy I know in Rhode Island uses the Rustoleum zinc spray can you are referring to and results are favorable. His boat is no dock queen so I’m sure the usage helps keep the prop clean.

    1 user thanked author for this post.
    #63102

    donald roth
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Paumalu
    Engines: Cummins 6BT 180 hp
    Location: where the fish are!
    Country: United States

    I think that depends largely on your local conditions.
    Cool and brackish water slow growth on running gear and bottom, so if that’s your scenario, it may work for you.
    I know from my own experiences that zinc coating is only minimally effective in warm, salty conditions.
    Propspeed works, but must be applied EXACTLY as specified, or it will wear off just as fast as any other paint. So unless you do it yourself or have a painter that will guarantee his application, you could be wasting a lot of money on it.
    On a slow boat, lanolin or silicone wax applied annually works pretty well, but may require an occasional scraping.

    1 user thanked author for this post.
    #62883

    William Walter
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Positive rate
    Engines: Cummings 480ce
    Location: Long island
    Country: Usa

    Prop paint

    My prop guy told me one time he uses galvanizing paint on his props.it is very high in zinc content and looks just like the petitt product when sprayed on.. saw it in Home Depot for about 5 bucks a can .wondering if anyone has tried it.Bill

    #61603

    pwrobert
    Participant

    My vote is yes

    I have tried several different metal bonding or priming products followed by e2000 then different antifouling painrs such as Trinidad SR. The results have always mixed and resulted in needing to pull the boat after 6-8 months for running gear touch up. Here in south Florida marine growth is heavy and fast. Any loss of paint on the metal is quickly attacked by barnacles. Boat performance degrades quickly. Even small areas of pop off cause speed loss.
    About 3-4 years ago I switched to Prop Speed and find it stays in place the entire year with no pop off. And it stays clean. I have tried a competitors brand supposed to be “same as” but it was covered with many small barnacles after a few months.
    My routine is to now paint props, shafts, struts, rudders, and underside of trim tabs with prop speed.
    Expensive but pays for itself in fuel savings and avoiding the extra mid season haul out.

    2 users thanked author for this post.
    #61151

    john
    Participant

    I don’t think you will see any noticeable performance gains. I think where prop speed is good is for those guys that let there boats sit for a couple months. If you use your boat it wears off. To me you should have your boat on a regular diving schedule and that should keep things fairly clean. Expense vs gain I really don’t think it pans out. Your diver will love you though.

    #60332

    Joe Monaco
    Participant
    Vessel Name: Tunacious
    Engines: 3126 TA 420 hp
    Location: San Diego
    Country: USA

    Tony, you’re absolutely right.

    The problem is if I do as you suggest it’s too late to then decide if it makes sense to do it or not :-). That is why I’m asking if anyone has experience with this. I don’t want to bother with the expense of it if it’s not a proven performer. I’ll just put on new props and press on. Which I’m leaning towards right now.

    I’ve read various threads on other sites about prop speed, some say it’s great. Others say it comes off too quickly, they were not impressed and not to bother with it unless you put lots of hours on the boat. Proper prep and application seems to be the key. I was hoping someone here had done as you suggested and could provide us with their performance results.

    #60322

    Tony Athens
    Moderator
    Vessel Name: Local Banks
    Engines: QSB 6.7 550 HP
    Location: Oxnard, CA
    Country: USA

    I have talked with many guys that have used “prop speed” and in 100% of every case, they put is on just after a full hull cleaning, running gear cleanings & props & shafts sanded “shiny”, and bottom job.. You tell me what they said ?

    If you want an accurate assessment, then you need to do all of the above with ZERO prop speed.. Take the vessel out and do a full review of RPM’s vs, vessel speeds…………………..Then pull the boat and put on prop speed and do the full review again…… Be sure the fuel and other liquids and gear on the boat does not change between the tests..

    Tony

Viewing 8 replies - 21 through 28 (of 28 total)

You must be logged in to reply to this topic.