Prop and shaft fouling, ouch....

[brico]

I hauled out my boat yesterday and found my props and shaft badly fouled with barnacles. The boat was not run since October last year.

What is the best and most effective method of removing barnacles?

I've seen few boats in the boatyard having applied some Pettit Prop Coat Barnacle Barrier http://www.pettitpaint.com/product.asp?id=262

Has anyone used it, and what is your feedback on the product?

Is there something better than this?

[Finalee]

Cold galvanize spray from Home depot contains the same ingredients. I have used it now for three years and am happy. It goes a full season with zero growth. I applied it on bare bronze.

[bobk]

Cold galvanize spray from Home depot contains the same ingredients. I have used it now for three years and am happy. It goes a full season with zero growth. I applied it on bare bronze.

Ditto, Rustoleum high zinc spray. Four coats applied just before launch October 30. Diver reported this week there were very few barnacles on the gear. The week before the diver, I had it up to 18 knots at WOT in only 8' of water, so I was not expecting much growth.

Bobk

[Avenger]

What is the best and most effective method of removing barnacles?

Spray on straight Muriatic acid. Makes a great smoke show. Be sure to wear your PPE.

[rsmith]

The gear really needs to be sand blasted for any paint to really stick.

[Boatsb]

Whats the fun in that?

[Avenger]

I was only answering the 'removing barnacles' question. Coating prep is above my pay grade.

[Boatsb]

You get paid?

[dsharp]

There's a very high tech tool called a barnacle scraper. If you let the barnacles dry out or just knock the tops off them they're about 10 times harder to remove. You need to get them scraped off as soon as possible. A grinder with a #36 disc will also work. just wear eye protection.

[Doug.T]

I used a cup brush on my 10K RPM side grinder. Pretty effective, but yes, do use eye protection.
Doug T
Beach Girl