How To Remove Barnacles From Propeller

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05-11-2011, 06:01	#16
Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, USA Boat: Beneteau First 42 Posts: 3,961 Images: 25	Re: Suggtestions for removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Quote: Originally Posted by minaret ...Wonder why they are so worried about scratching, .... Hydrodynamics. A propellor blade is a foil operating in a fluid. Unless you are acquainted with Reynolds Numbers, Bernoullie's Equation, Laminaer verses Turbulent Flow and the issue the Roughness Coefficient of a foil has on the point of catamenia separation across the foil, and the consequences, a detailed give-and-take would exist quite pointless. Exit information technology be said that one wants/needs a blade to be as smooth and fine as possible if the blade is to role property and to information technology's maximum capability and without cavitation that errodes the blade surfaces/edges. Minimizing the Roughness Coefficient is the objective of eliminating the lime circles left past Barnacles. An constructive material for these is a product known equally RydLyme. A thin towel saturated with a RydLyme solution and wrapped effectually the prop blades will dissolve the deposits. A compound known as CLR (see Home Depot) might also serve the same function. A follow up with fresh water rinse and then a smoothen will produce a remarkable deviation in the performance of the Prop. FWIW we accept been using a product known as "PropSpeed" that seems to prevent growth on the prop. FWIW... __________________ "Information technology is non so much for its beauty that the Sea makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that then wonderfully renews a weary spirit."

05-11-2011, 06:21	#17
Seaman, Delivery skipper Join Engagement: January 2010 Location: PORTUGAL Posts: 28,675 Images: 2	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Quote: Originally Posted by GordMay NEVER mix bleach and vinegar! In fact, you actually shouldn�t mix bleach with anything (except h2o). Mixing bleach and vinegar, or any acid, releases toxic chlorine gas. True... but a 50/50 mix is a great deck cleaner... at that place it was green... GONE... And the fumes really clear the crap outa your breast... don't even have to breathe... similar amonia it simply seeps in... glue sniffers would beloved it... (My contribution to population control...) __________________ It was a night and stormy nighttime and the helm of the ship said.. "Hey Jim, spin u.s.a. a yarn." and the yarn began similar this.. "It was a night and stormy dark.."

05-11-2011, 06:35	#18
Senior Cruiser Join Appointment: October 2007 Location: 29� 49.16� N 82� 25.82� W Boat: Pearson 422 Posts: 16,212	Re: Suggtestions for removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Quote: Originally Posted by svHyLyte Hydrodynamics. A propeller blade is a foil operating in a fluid. Unless you are acquainted with Reynolds Numbers, Bernoullie's Equation, Laminaer verses Turbulent Flow and the result the Roughness Coefficient of a foil has on the betoken of flow separation beyond the foil, and the consequences, a detailed word would be quite pointless. Leave it exist said that ane wants/needs a blade to be every bit smooth and fine as possible if the blade is to function property and to information technology'due south maximum capability and without cavitation that errodes the blade surfaces/edges. Minimizing the Roughness Coefficient is the objective of eliminating the lime circles left by Barnacles. An constructive textile for these is a product known as RydLyme. A thin towel saturated with a RydLyme solution and wrapped around the prop blades will dissolve the deposits. A compound known as CLR (see Home Depot) might also serve the same function. A follow upwards with fresh water rinse and then a polish volition produce a remarkable departure in the performance of the Prop. FWIW nosotros have been using a product known as "PropSpeed" that seems to prevent growth on the prop. FWIW... All relevant issues merely in the practical world of a canvass boat prop the theoretical implications of laminar flow, separation, cavitation, etc are not that critical (in my stance) for several reasons. 1. Prop speed on a displacement hull are much slower than high speed boats, airplane props etc so less sensitive to these effects. ii. Later a adequately brusque menses of utilize a gunkhole prop is going to have lots of fiddling nicks and dings on the leading edge of the prop anyway, negating the benefits of keeping a perfectly polished blade surface. 3. Have not examined the end produced past PropSpeed but other prop treatments I have seen in the past were non mirror smooth and I felt I could achieve as good or better end on the bract surface by polishing with very fine sand newspaper. I would wager a cheap beer or a gift certificate for a Happy Meal, that there would be no measurable deviation in performance on a sailboat with a brand new, perfectly polished prop vs an older, slightly scratched simply cleaned prop. More important would insuring that the prop blades are not bent or warped in any way and repairing dings in the leading edge of the blades. __________________ The h2o is always bluer on the other side of the bounding main. Sometimes information technology's necessary to state the obvious for the do good of the oblivious. Rust is the poor man'south Loctite.

05-11-2011, 07:05	#19
Armchair Bucketeer Join Engagement: October 2006 Posts: 10,012 Images: iv	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Do information technology as the first job after haul out - that way they are withal squidgy Autonomously from that, a scraper and some elbow grease.

05-eleven-2011, 07:05	#twenty
Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Great Neck, N.Y. Boat: Lancer 30, Little Jumps Posts: 695	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Have scraped barnacles off my flex o fold with metal scraper for concluding 4 years...try to keep scraper flat (and do nigh of the fourth dimension to avoid gouging) have to employ fine sand newspaper for stubborn barnacle rings...then polish. Prop seems to hold upwardly just fine... but water flow surely not smooth equally could be. Will look into using some Rydlyme this year. Any success with the paint products other than prop seal which I know is very good and very expensive? __________________ hugosalt southward/v Piddling Jumps Lancer 30

05-xi-2011, 07:51	#21
Registered User Join Engagement: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa Bay area, USA Boat: Beneteau Showtime 42 Posts: three,961 Images: 25	Re: Suggestions for removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Quote: Originally Posted past skipmac All relevant issues merely in the practical world of a sail boat prop the theoretical implications of laminar menses, separation, cavitation, etc are not that critical (in my stance) for several reasons. 1. Prop speed on a deportation hull are much slower than loftier speed boats, airplane props etc so less sensitive to these effects. ii. After a adequately short menstruum of use a boat prop is going to have lots of petty nicks and dings on the leading border of the prop anyway, negating the benefits of keeping a perfectly polished blade surface. 3. Have not examined the finish produced past PropSpeed just other prop treatments I have seen in the past were not mirror smooth and I felt I could reach every bit practiced or amend finish on the blade surface by polishing with very fine sand newspaper. I would wager a inexpensive beer or a souvenir certificate for a Happy Meal, that at that place would exist no measurable difference in operation on a sailboat with a brand new, perfectly polished prop vs an older, slightly scratched merely cleaned prop. More important would insuring that the prop blades are not aptitude or warped in any mode and repairing dings in the leading border of the blades. Possibly the foregoing is entirely truthful on your yacht but I tin assure y'all that on ours, a newly cleaned prop has an hands discernible difference with our 2-blade xx" Gori folder. It is also measurable--and material--in terms of our fuel fire rate which drops to a tad over .v gal/60 minutes from .ix gal/hr to average vi knots through the h2o under power. The departure may non exist meaningful on your yacht but whereas nosotros but acquit 47 usable gallons, it is to us. As for ProSpeed, information technology certainly does not leave a mirror surface but, at least where we are moored, it does an excellent job of keeping growth off the Prop tho' at some price. For me, the cost is worth information technology as when I need power out of that Prop, I need it, every bit we maneuver in very tight circumstances in our mooring. For a thorough discussion of the matter, I refer you to CA ("Tony") Marchaj's text, "Sailing Theory and Practice", (c) 1964, pages 239-242. Hugosalt--There are times when one must scrape. If so, however, it is wise to scrape across the blade, in the direction of menstruation, rather than length-wise. Believe it or not, one can also "sand" nether water by using a pad of cheese-material liberally rolled in very fine sand such every bit we have here on the beaches of southwest Florida (nearly powdery), again across the bract. Every bit of an alternative to PropSpeed, I have not constitute anything effective for very long as cavitation across the blades apace wears away the coating. When I was immature, we were able to buy Whale Oil and, believe information technology or not, that did inhibit the growth of barnacles etc on the running gear (Eric Hiscock told usa that trick). Of course one had to re coat the works ofttimes. Then, I could endure the cold water in Sausalito Yacht Harbor with an oily sponge, now, not-so-much (which is why we're here in Florida!). Believe information technology or not, I have found that Neosporin Ointment volition inhibit growth on a prop and the impeller blades of a knot-meter, but of course, that stuff is costly and washes abroad apace. Another sometime--makes me look immature--friend, swears by a mix of Lanacote and Red Chili Pepper that he glops on his Prop... N'any case...I am informed that it is time for chores. __________________ "Information technology is non so much for its beauty that the Bounding main makes a merits upon men'south hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that then wonderfully renews a weary spirit."

05-11-2011, 08:47	#22
Senior Cruiser Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: 29� 49.16� N 82� 25.82� W Gunkhole: Pearson 422 Posts: sixteen,212	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Statuary Propeller Quote: Originally Posted by Cormorant I'm guessing they're just taking theory to a logical extreme. Scratches and burrs on your prop cause mini-turbulence and mini-cavitation, and eventually loss of prop efficiency. In the instance of barnacle scrubbing, probably nothing you could measure. But they simply desire to steer you away from the possibility. . . . That's my guess, plus a fiddling CYA as another mail speculated. __________________ The h2o is always bluer on the other side of the bounding main. Sometimes it'south necessary to state the obvious for the do good of the oblivious. Rust is the poor homo's Loctite.

05-11-2011, 09:12	#23
Senior Cruiser Join Engagement: Oct 2007 Location: 29� 49.16� North 82� 25.82� W Boat: Pearson 422 Posts: 16,212	Re: Suggestions for removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Quote: Originally Posted past svHyLyte Perhaps the foregoing is entirely true on your yacht but I tin can assure you that on ours, a newly cleaned prop has an hands discernible difference with our 2-blade twenty" Gori folder. It is also measurable--and material--in terms of our fuel burn down rate which drops to a tad over .v gal/hour from .9 gal/hr to average half-dozen knots through the water under power. The difference may non be meaningful on your yacht but whereas we only deport 47 usable gallons, it is to u.s.. I remember yous are misunderstanding my point and I am in understanding with you just we seem to be comparison apples and grapefruit hither. I did not say or hateful to imply in whatever way that in that location is no measureable difference betwixt a make clean prop and a dirty or fouled prop. I also see the differences you merits comparing a clean prop to ane with even a little bit of fouling. However, I have never seen that magnitude of deviation between a brand new, shiny prop and a clean and smooth but not polished, buffed, shiny older prop in any boat I've ever owned, sail or power (I've just owned boats, never been rich plenty to ain a yacht ). The indicate I'one thousand trying to make is that using a scraper on a prop, equally long as i doesn't exit gouges and nicks, will not result in a measureable difference in performance compared to one cleaned simply with acid, plastic or other ways. Plus, unless you buy a new prop every couple of years, it is inevitable, at least every where I have e'er motored, that your prop will end upwards with pocket-sized nicks and dings from flotsam and jetsam, old angling lines, crab pot lines and what ever other garbage you inevitably encounter on the water. In real earth terms, a banged upwards leading edge on the prop will accept a greater effect on the efficiency than the very small-scale difference in smoothness on the blade surface. Quote: Originally Posted past svHyLyte As for ProSpeed, information technology certainly does not go out a mirror surface but, at to the lowest degree where we are moored, it does an splendid job of keeping growth off the Prop tho' at some cost. For me, the toll is worth it as when I need ability out of that Prop, I demand it, as we maneuver in very tight circumstances in our mooring.. I am also non disputing the benefits of Propspeed and it will be on my prop when I launch. I have also had to maneuver in some tight spots and my old Westerbeke is not exactly over powering my boat. Quote: Originally Posted by svHyLyte For a thorough give-and-take of the matter, I refer you to CA ("Tony") Marchaj's text, "Sailing Theory and Exercise", (c) 1964, pages 239-242. North'any case...I am informed that it is time for chores. Would notice that of interest I'thousand sure. Will look for a re-create. Quote: Originally Posted by svHyLyte Northward'whatsoever example...I am informed that it is fourth dimension for chores. Chores on a Saturday? Saturday is for canoeing. __________________ The water is e'er bluer on the other side of the ocean. Sometimes it's necessary to country the obvious for the benefit of the oblivious. Rust is the poor man'south Loctite.

05-11-2011, 10:34	#24
Registered User Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tampa Bay expanse, Usa Boat: Beneteau First 42 Posts: 3,961 Images: 25	Re: Suggestions for removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Coffee suspension.. Quote: Originally Posted by skipmac ... Chores on a Saturday? Saturday is for boating. Regretably, the yacht's on the difficult having a bottom task and insurance survery so at that place'south no escape... The ii most intrusive calls i ever gets (at least at our house) seem to be: (a) the Call of Nature; and, (B) the "Have you fixed xyz yet and if not, will you Please!!!" (insert your own whatever for xyz), both with like urgency. __________________ "It is non then much for its dazzler that the Body of water makes a claim upon men'southward hearts, equally for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that so wonderfully renews a weary spirit."

05-11-2011, x:35	#25
Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Boat: Dragonfly 1000 trimaran Posts: 6,963	Re: Suggtestions for removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Quote: Originally Posted past GordMay I think that yous should either swim faster, or take your jewelry off before entering the water. Gord, I had to read that twice. Pretty subtle. __________________ There are now but ii groups. Those who can�t unsee and those who won�t look. All it takes is a tiny peek and the latter becomes the former.

07-04-2014, 16:43	#26
Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 29	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller I'll be giving my prop its annual service sometime in the next few days by first soaking it in vinegar, and so scraping off whatever remains using a windshield snow-scraper, and then polishing it on my buffing wheel. That's considering when I bought it, the guy who sold it to me said "nothing harder than a windshield scraper, e'er." Why not? This is for a sailboat with a fairly slow-turning prop. Surely micro-scratches tin can't hurt! Or tin can they? Here are 2 reasons they might. 1. Barnacles demand to grab something to grow (as does weed). The fewer micro-scratches, the better. After years of messing with my prop, I can say with confidence that I go less growth in years where I've polished than in years where I've scraped (which I did with my sometime two-blade prop). 2. Cavitation. That's those little bubbles that form on the forepart side of the prop when information technology's nether load. Basically, the water is humid there, not due to estrus, just due to reduced pressure (the same way water boils at a lower temp in the Rockies). (That reduced pressure is role of what draws the prop ahead through the h2o. All "Bernoulli is a crock" crackpots offset ranting hither, please.) Now call back dorsum to loftier-school chemistry: when yous wanted to eddy stuff in the test tube, yous ever had to put these little limestone "humid chips" in there. Why? Because the tiny cracks and rocky shape on the surface provided "nucleation" points for the humid -- they helped the h2o start to boil. What practise microscratches on your prop do? I'll bet that they provide the same sort of nucleation site to offset cavitation earlier. I've got no proof (except for understanding the geometry and physics of the state of affairs). Merely it might be fun to set up an experiment in a tank and see whether we tin induce cavitation sooner in a scratched prop than a smooth 1. Is cavitation bad? You bet. Because when those little bubbles collapse dorsum downwards, they do it with a WHAM, and yous can get pitting on the prop from that. This is all just conjecture...but I believe it enough to pop the prop off each wintertime, remove the barnacles, and spend one-half an hr polishing it. --John

07-04-2014, 17:05	#27
Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Skagit City, WA Posts: 24,636	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Statuary Propeller Preferably dont gouge information technology, scrape with a modest spatula with rounded corners and bronze wool if you wish. The residue is bunk for your utilize. __________________ "I spent well-nigh of my money on Alcohol, Broads and Boats. The rest I wasted" - Elmore Leonard

07-04-2014, 17:40	#28
Registered User Join Appointment: Aug 2010 Posts: 29	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller Wow. Thanks, Cheechako, for that insightful analysis. Perhaps it is all bunk. But as for smooth-versus-crude/barnacle growth, the science says yous're wrong: Meet this paper. Run across you on the water. --John

07-04-2014, 18:35	#29
Registered User Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Punta Gorda, Fl Gunkhole: Endeavourcat Sailcat 44 Posts: three,016	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller I've had some luck with Lanocote Prop and Bottom. Information technology seems to terminal about 6 months when applied on the hard and leaves a quite smoothen surface. You heat the prop witha heatgun and the stuff lows on in a sparse cocky leveling layer. It tin exist repplied in the water but nosotros have establish that the metal needs to be extremely make clean when doing so. A good scrubbing with a scotchbrite pad seems to be enough. If the metals not clean the stuff will non adhere. In the h2o does not give you the nice smoothen cloating that you go applying it on the difficult. For people who pull their boat every flavor ane treatment in the spring might become y'all through the whole summertime.

07-04-2014, 18:41	#30
Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Gettysburg Pa Boat: 1981 Irwin 37 Posts: 192	Re: Suggestions for Removing Barnacles from a Bronze Propeller I don't call back the small gouges and scraps cause a subtract in performance but they will create a weak spot in the blade. Pocket-sized gouges will concentrate forces to a small area of the blade, sanding the nick or gouge shine will help prevent breakage. I take owned aircraft for many years and it is very dangerous to wing around with even very small nicks or gouges in the prop with out dressing them. This is done with file and sand paper to smooth and radius the nick and polish out whatever scratches or gouges.

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