painting my running gear

[fairtide]

Does anyone have any hint about painting the plastic thruster prop? I did not paint it and near the end of the season the thrust was not as forceful as it had been. On haulout, I found out why. I don't want a barnacle merry-go-round this year.

[Russell]

I paint mine with the regular ablative bottom paint and it works very well. You have to take the propeller off to do it but that is not difficult and you can paint the tube much easier while the prop is out.

[RobS]

Plastics should be painted with a water-based paint, as the ketones in ketone-based paints can attack the plastic. That's why inflatables are painted with water-based paints. I don't paint my thruster prop simply because I use the boat for diving, beaching, swimming, etc. and the small film that develops on the prop rubs right off. The Vetus props have a very slick finish and, per Vetus, are not intended for paint. I do not think a new prop would hold paint well but as they get older, scratched, scuffed, etc. they would hold paint better.