Just curious if anyone has ever used this product?
http://www.propspeedusa.com/index.htm
PropSpeed USA, Inc.
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MikeD
- Candidate for Boat-Obsession Medal
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- Boat Name: Totoro
- Boat Type: Sea Sprite 23 (#626)
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PropSpeed USA, Inc.
Mike
Totoro (SS23 #626)
Totoro (SS23 #626)
I have some slightly second-hand experience with it, in that a co-worker put it on a boat, and I saw the boat hauled again four months later.
Edited to say: This is a trawler, and travels at something like 6 - 8 knots.
The boat (hence the props - main and bow-thruster) were new and prepped as Prop-Speed specifies, then the PropSpeed applied. The product is a thin coating (compared to, say, ablative paint) and has kind of a "wet look" even after it dries. It almost looks like the prop was varnished with yellow varnish.
The boat motored on the Chesapeake for about ten hours, then spent four months in a slip (fall, mostly) with two or three other outings, then motored back.
At the time of hauling there was no growth to speak of on the props -- just a bit of slime and a handful of barnacles. The PropSpeed was peeling slightly at the outer edges of the thruster props (maybe they are more prone to it because tunnel clearance is close). I called PropSpeed to ask how/if we could touch it up, and they said that when it does fail it needs to be stripped back and reapplied fresh (in other words they did not recommend touching it up).
That's not much experience, but it's something.
Rachel
Edited to say: This is a trawler, and travels at something like 6 - 8 knots.
The boat (hence the props - main and bow-thruster) were new and prepped as Prop-Speed specifies, then the PropSpeed applied. The product is a thin coating (compared to, say, ablative paint) and has kind of a "wet look" even after it dries. It almost looks like the prop was varnished with yellow varnish.
The boat motored on the Chesapeake for about ten hours, then spent four months in a slip (fall, mostly) with two or three other outings, then motored back.
At the time of hauling there was no growth to speak of on the props -- just a bit of slime and a handful of barnacles. The PropSpeed was peeling slightly at the outer edges of the thruster props (maybe they are more prone to it because tunnel clearance is close). I called PropSpeed to ask how/if we could touch it up, and they said that when it does fail it needs to be stripped back and reapplied fresh (in other words they did not recommend touching it up).
That's not much experience, but it's something.
Rachel
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Hirilondë
- Master of the Arcane
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- Boat Type: 1967 Pearson Renegade
- Location: Charlestown, RI
We use it on many of our boats. Some people swear by it over glopping things up with bottom paint. It sure is expensive, and be sure to wear a respirator when using the stuff.
Dave Finnegan
builder of Spindrift 9N #521 'Wingë'
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Gresham’s Law of information: Bad information drives out good. No matter how long ago a correction for a particular error may have appeared in print or online, it never seems to catch up with the ever-widening distribution of the error.
builder of Spindrift 9N #521 'Wingë'
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Gresham’s Law of information: Bad information drives out good. No matter how long ago a correction for a particular error may have appeared in print or online, it never seems to catch up with the ever-widening distribution of the error.
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fusto
- Master Varnisher
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- Location: Adams, MA
I'd have to second that at our yard here in the PNW.Hirilondë wrote:We use it on many of our boats. Some people swear by it over glopping things up with bottom paint. It sure is expensive, and be sure to wear a respirator when using the stuff.
If its properly applied (ie proper prep)then it lasts a long time.
Ive seen it still good after 2 years, and still no growth.
Its not a biocide, like bottom paint but a slippery barrier coating.
Barnacles and whatnot can adhere to it while the boat is stationary but as soon as you start moving everything just slides off.
Kind of gives the prop (or whatever) a clearish rubbery coating.
It is expensive though...
Zachary
Adams, MA
Adams, MA