Thruster prop paint

[Russell]

Does anyone have a recommendation for a good paint to use on the bow thruster propeller. I have used bottom paint and the Pettit zinc coat spray paint and nothing really works. Barnacles seem to grow extremely well on the prop and gearbox inside that tunnel.

[RobS]

Welcome to FL Russ! I would talk to some of the locals who are "in the know" since that is an environment thing, not boat specific.

In the meantime just leave the bow thruster running while you're not using the boat just tie the bow tight and don't forget to leave the battery charger on

Can't believe that in a month my snowbird parents will be heading back to Palm City...the seasons just fly right by..

[Cape Codder]

I've used Pettit Hydrocoat ECO, water-based, NO copper, anto-fouling bottom paint on EVERYTHING....INCLUDING METALS.
Spray your metals with the zinc spray, and topcoat with Hydrocoat ECO. Remove thruster prop and clean inside and out, and paint two thin coats of Hydrocoat ECO. Paint the elbow of the thruster, but do not coat the thruster zinc.

Before I used the regular Hydrocoat with copper, and had tons of barnacles in metals. Pettit tech staff explained that when copper is over other metals, a slight electrolysis current is established, PREVENTING, the copper from leaching, rendering it ineffective. Once I went with Hydrocoat ECO.......problems solved.

[Russell]

Bob, thanks for the recommendation. I had not thought of hydrocoat and will try it next time. I already applied Pettit zinc coat this year. It seems to hold up well on the main propeller and metal parts like the skeg bar but the thruster prop is plastic. I sanded it a bit and will see if that helps with adherence.