bow thruster prop

[saltshaker28]

I just got a new bow thruster prop made by Vetus and I would like to know how to paint it I am not sure because it is made of plastic?

[Carl]

I just scuffed mine up with some sand paper, wiped it off with solvent and used a spray can of Trilux 33. I put about 4 or 5 coats on it and it seemed to last OK. The next year I didnt put as many coats and it had some growth at the end of the year. Be sure to tape off the back where the shear pin sits. In the summer be sure to run it in both directions, even while siting in the slip. I got to where I did not use mine much and then it really seemed to start building up with growth. Now I hit it everytime I visit the boat just to blow off the slime.

[joe.baar]

The prop on our Vetus 23kgf was entirely crudded up with years' worth of bottom paint, which was certainly not helping the slipstream over the blades, or the tip clearance in the tube. I chipped and scraped all the paint off - which left a slightly roughened surface - and just left it "bright". The plastic is slick enough not much adheres to it anyway. No trouble in four years.

[saltshaker28]

Joe .Baar I see you come from WA how are the barnicles in Wa

[RobS]

When I changed my 3 blade out for the new 6 blade I spoke to the Vetus rep about whether or not to paint the prop. I was told that its slick plastic finish would prohibit growth. That was not the case. Being a diver, I dealt with it with periodic cleanings throughout the season. However, last year I scuffed it up and sprayed it with a few coats of Petit Transducer Paint 1793 and it fared well.

[saltshaker28]

Thanks Rob I will try that because we both come from NY

[RobS]

It was when I had her hauled for Irene that I painted the prop. She re-launched Sept 5th. and then got pulled out for the end of season Nov 6th. Pulled early in 2011 due to extreme work load. Here is what she looked like when pulled after the 2 months. This was after the yard pressure washed it but there are no signed of barnacles starting to grow. Unfortunately this was only a 2 month period so not a true test as this year will be..

[saltshaker28]

Hey Rob is that a zinc that I am looking at in the bottom pic

[RobS]

Under the gear housing

[joe.baar]

Saltshaker,
Our boat is docked at a large marina about one mile upriver from the mouth of the Snohomish in Everett, WA. The water there is tidal but there's usually a layer of fresh water on top. I think this is known as "brackish". It was pretty opaque and brown 2 weeks ago during the annual spring floods. The last time I hauled the boat was in October 2010 and my diver found no barnacles in June 2011.