Propspeed

bigblockcutlass

bigblockcutlass

Member
May 9, 2010
832
Michigan
Boat Info
1998 Carver 370 Voyager
1990 270 sea ray sundancer twin 4.3L
1987 Power Play 230 Conquest
1987 Fo
Engines
454
I have Bronze 23x27 Propellers, Will Propspeed reduce Corrosion? I Just had them Adjusted to class 1 and went I went to go pick them up and after I paid the guy 2K, he said said the props were corroding and will last 10 years max. I was thinking about Appling Propspeed to extends the life with the other benefits.
 
Seems like it might be more of an electrical or galvanic corrosion issue. Which seems odd since you’re in Michigan? Pics of the props might help.

Propspeed isn’t really intended to protect against corrosion. It’s a anti fouling via a super slick coating.
 
b_arrington said:
Seems like it might be more of an electrical or galvanic corrosion issue. Which seems odd since you’re in Michigan? Pics of the props might help.

Propspeed isn’t really intended to protect against corrosion. It’s a anti fouling via a super slick coating.
Click to expand...

Q: Doesnt painting the props reduce galvanic reaction, as there is less surface area exposed?
 
b_arrington said:
Seems like it might be more of an electrical or galvanic corrosion issue. Which seems odd since you’re in Michigan? Pics of the props might help.

Propspeed isn’t really intended to protect against corrosion. It’s a anti fouling via a super slick coating.
Click to expand...

What are the conditions of your anodes, and where/how many do you have? Is your bonding system still intact? I am trying to decide of I should paint mine this year - looking at Velox, but havent heard enough about it.
 
Huh I never heard of prop corrosion. Are they brass or nibral? Check you grounding system. I just throw a coat of prop paint on. Look like new since new.
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There are small dark specs in the bronze after polishing. Those are the signs of the material breaking down. My question is would speed prop slow this process down or increase the process of the material breaking down? These are pictures of before and after, none of the pictures will show the material where it's breaking down
 
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I started sanding them and getting ready to apply the prop speed. Hopefully it will help out with the brake down of the material in the props and stay cleaner.
 
bigblockcutlass said:
This is my question?
Click to expand...

I would say yes it does as it is blocking contact with water. Here is an example. I had installed my main zinc and had left the sticker with the price on it. When it came time to change the zinc......Well the zinc did it’s job sacrificing itself and corroded away except where the the sticker was located. It was still there and that part of the zinc was protruding out.
 
bigblockcutlass said:
I started sanding them and getting ready to apply the prop speed. Hopefully it will help out with the brake down of the material in the props and stay cleaner.
Click to expand...

Just a reminder - did you check your anodes and bonding system? It sounds like the paint will definitely help, but you need a working anode system. This allows the galvanic reaction to eat away at the anode, rather than your shafts/props/other metals.

Some boaters use a shaft anode to protect the shaft/prop. Other dont, due to the semi-valid risk of the shaft anode loosening and sliding down blocking water to the cutlass bearing, or coming apart and potentially hitting the prop causing damage.

https://www.yachts360.com/know-your-anodes-demystifying-sacrificial-anodes/

If your slipped in a marina, and regularly on dock power -- there is also the possibility of stray current from another boat - commonly referred to as a 'hot marina'. You should check to see if your boat has a galvanic isolator installed. I believe your at lower risk for this, given your in fresh water, however there have been cases where the water in a marina was dirty (contaminated) which allowed this to occur.

Its a lot of information to to absorb/understand - but running gear is expensive!
 
markrsimon said:
Some boaters use a shaft anode to protect the shaft/prop. Other dont, due to the semi-valid risk of the shaft anode loosening and sliding down blocking water to the cutlass bearing, or coming apart and potentially hitting the prop causing damage.
Click to expand...

I’d say it a valid concern. During a purchase survey, we found the shaft anode had slipped and was jammed against the strut.
 
markrsimon said:
Q: Doesnt painting the props reduce galvanic reaction, as there is less surface area exposed?
Click to expand...

Yes. Galvanic corrosion is an electrical reaction between dissimilar metals, e.g. steel & aluminum, steel & NiBrAl, etc. Insulating one of the dissimilar metals will create an open circuit and slow down the electron flow. That said, painting will help, but will not protect you from a poorly functioning bonding system or stray current from improperly wired shore power.

my project for next week is to strip the existing paint off of the NiBrAl pods and props and repaint. Pods are getting Pettit Protect Epoxy with Pettit HRT topcoat, and props are getting Velox primer and topcoat.
 
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