Welcome to Boat Questions and Answers, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of the community.

Paint bronze prop with zinc paint?

0 votes
Is is a good idea to paint a bronze prop with a zinc based paint as a way to prevent fouling?
asked Jun 1, 2012 by 3rdcoastsailor (670 points)

2 Answers

0 votes
Yes, use the cheap stuff. Generic cold galvanizing spray from Ace Hardware or Home Depot.  3 coats, then when dry, rinse prop with fresh water. Good to go for a couple of seasons!

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-100142963/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=galvanizing+paint&storeId=10051
answered Jun 1, 2012 by anonymous
0 votes
Getting cold galvanizing rattle-can paint to stick to a propellor seems a bit of a stretch. I use the same anti-fouling paint on my bronze prop that I use on the fibreglass hull, but it never lasts long on the prop. A couple of months at best. The same paint on the hull lasts 2 years. It's an ablative paint and simply wears off the prop as it spins.

I suppose if your boat just sits in a marina or at anchor, it'd work for a while, but if you spend much time underway the zinc paint would soon deteriorate, either from ablation due to friction with the water, or else sacrifice itself as part of your anodic protection.  In 20 years of salt water sailing I've never heard of anyone using zinc-based rattle can paint on a prop.  But there's always a first time. There is a fairly expensive product and process using copper-based paint for bronze props that some have reported to me as worth the cost.   ymmv.

I suppose that if you got your prop super clean, and then used an appropriate epoxy primer, and then applied the galvanizing paint while the epoxy was still tacky (and then not spin the prop too fast), it might work for a season. If anyone has done this on a cruising sailboat, please report back.  Inquiring minds want to know.  Meanwhile, it might be comforting to know that other opinions are available here:  http://yachtpals.com/prop-barnacles-9167
answered Jun 14, 2012 by Sailbad the Sinner (3,140 points)
edited Jun 23, 2012 by Sailbad the Sinner
...