Propspeed

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    How important is a barnacle-free prop to you? Propspeed, a product from Oceanmax (available through West Marine), claims to keep the metal below your waterline as clean as a whistle—but at a price many boat owners aren’t likely to pay.

    Billed as an environmentally safe antifouling coating free from copper, tin, or any other toxic substances, Propspeed prevents marine growth from attaching to metal surfaces below the waterline (props, shafts, bow thrusters, rudders, etc.) via “low critical surface tension.” In other words, it works by being super slick.

    The cost of being environmentally friendly and having a shiny, slick shaft? A whopping $395 for a 34-ounce kit ($170 for an 8.4-ounce kit and $275 for a 17-ounce kit).

    Past experiences have left us skeptical of metal anti-foulants—most have a hard time sticking to the surfaces. So we’re going to put Propspeed through its paces on a sailboat and a powerboat to see how well it keeps marine growth at bay. Watch for an update in a future PS issue.

    A Propspeed kit includes a catalyzed etching primer and a silicone-based top coat. The primer is a two-part coating (base and hardener) for use on nonferrous metals such as bronze and aluminum, as well as zinc and galvanized iron. Surface prep calls for cleaning off all marine growth, sanding with 60- to 80-grit paper, washing the with water, then wiping with denatured alcohol or acetone.

    Oceanmax recommends using two people for application: one to apply the primer, a second to apply the Clear Coat after the base dries (three to five minutes). Re-launch time is a minimum of eight hours after application. 

    CONTACT
    PROPSPEED
    , propspeedusa.com, 877/987-7333

    Darrell Nicholson
    Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.