Barnacles.

Pirate Lady said:
Pulled boat yesterday to have leaking outdrive seal fixed. Found out why my depth guage only works when sitting. The transducer, trim tabs, outdrive hoses, totally covered in barnacles. Was going to remove drain plug, so encrusted I couldn’t get a wrench on it. Lady at the marina I took boat to said they are very bad this year, not just me, everyone having barnacle issues. Never seen it this bad. You’d think the boat sat in water for years. Will post pics tomorrow before I scrape them off.
They were pulling boats today, power washing, that barnacle smell was all over the boat yard.
It’s like skunk, a smell you never forget.
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There’s probably a diver at your dock. Have him check up on your boat when he’s in the water.
 
What to do?
Got call regarding leaking outdrive lube, bad prop seal (knew that). Prop shaft is worn which ate the seal, and the carrier housing for the prop shaft is corroded. Total bill out the door $1500. About what I expected.
Bravo 1, rest of drive is solid as rock.
He has a Bravo 3 I can have for 2500. really not inclined to spent another thousand.
mechanic said if I fix the B1 I will be good but offered the B3 as an option.
I said fix the B1. No sense spending an additional thousand on a dual prop that I don’t need.
What say you?
 
Does the dual prop give you better power or efficiency?
 
Pirate Lady said:
What can I use to get off barnacles in the nooks and crannies of outdrive?
Got tabs and flat surfaces with scraper. A brass brush with wooden handle is too bulky to fit.
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I have a Dremel Multitool reciprocating saw. If you use the scrapper blade it zips the little bastids right off. Even works after they’ve dried on.
 
jmauld said:
Does the dual prop give you better power or efficiency?
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I honestly don’t. My thought is I know what I have with my B1, not sure what I would get with a B3. I know they a lot bigger and heavier so I don’t know if much benefit on small 250.
I asked if it was his boat what would he do? He said let’s fix the B1.
So I was just throwing it out there for conversation because I got nothing better to do.
And why is a guy selling his B3? Not to upgrade to a B4? Hmmmm. Think I’ll dance with the girl I brought.
 
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Figuring out what prop set at what gear ratio for your boat to run the bravo three sounds like a problem looking for a solution. You know what you have works fine so why spend extra money on an unknown?
 
I may be done for season. Got winter rates at my marina today and it went up. Since I already paid to have it hauled, blocked, power washed at the marina where it’s getting fixed. There don’t seem much point to relaunch for a few weeks to pay again at my marina. I may as well leave it where it is. It’s a stones throw from my marina AND my favorite water bar is right next door to walk to. Will crunch the numbers with them on Monday. By my count I can save $500 keeping it where it is and calling it a season.
Got a taste of what’s coming, 45 deg this morning when I went down to cover the zodiac. Cold windy, not nice. May be best to just call it a season and let it go.
 
If I understand my fluid dynamics, having two counter-rotating props inline is slightly less efficient than a larger single prop. I don't know if it's enough to measure, however. No, the primary benefit is the lack of steering torque transmitted back to the pilot. A thousand dollar's-worth better? Probably not.
 
I’m done with the yacht. Staying where it is. Right up against the shop building. Water and electric right there. Will spend what nice days I get in October buffing and waxing the hull, bottom paint. Winterize the water and toilet systems this week. play with zodiac next 4 weeks, bring that home end October. Then hang with the old guys at local bar til April.
it’s good to have a plan.
 
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electric and water on building right behind it. Best winter location I ever had on any boat. This will probably be its new winter home now on. Also I like they blocked a bow high, when it snows / melts will run right off. Should have all winterize done by weekend.
 
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Water & toilet systems done. Shop doing engine. Outdrive staying indoors, they will install in spring. So, I’m done. In a way it’s kind of relaxing knowing I have 6 months that nothing is going to break.
Zodiac ride tomorrow!
 
Pirate Lady said:
Pulled boat yesterday to have leaking outdrive seal fixed. Found out why my depth guage only works when sitting. The transducer, trim tabs, outdrive hoses, totally covered in barnacles. Was going to remove drain plug, so encrusted I couldn’t get a wrench on it. Lady at the marina I took boat to said they are very bad this year, not just me, everyone having barnacle issues. Never seen it this bad. You’d think the boat sat in water for years. Will post pics tomorrow before I scrape them off.
They were pulling boats today, power washing, that barnacle smell was all over the boat yard.
It’s like skunk, a smell you never forget.
Click to expand...
What ever happened to the pics? I remember it was really bad one year back 2002-2009?
 
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