shafts, props, rudders, tabs

[handball]

I bought a 30 ft. sea ray weekender last spring and all the underwater metal was painted with interlux product called tri-lux.After a full season of use in salt water when the boat was taken out of the water the shafts props and all the other metal parts were in very good shape with almost no barnicals or growth.<br /><br />When I tried to order tri-lux last week I was told that it is no longer legal in new york state, and has been removed from the shelves.<br /><br />After 40 years of boating I finally found something that works on the running gear and now I can not buy it.<br /><br />Has any one found a good substitute for painting bottom gear?<br /><br />Bill

 

[snapperbait]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

Bummer!<br /><br />I can't remember the name, nor where I saw the info,but a company had some kind of powdercoat (or something to the effect) which they were using on props and such..... The down side was you have to take them off and send them out to be done... I'll try and find it for you...<br /><br />As for a substitute for tri-lux, I'll ask the painters at the yard... They may know of something else... Most of the running gear I see getting painted is done with tri-lux...

 

[handball]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

Snapper bait,<br />Thanks for the comeback on trilux, sounds like you are still using it in florida.<br /><br />By the way back in 1996 we had a landfall 43 sail and were anchored for 3 weeks in lake worth and also near peanut island waiting for a weather window to go to the abacos.Sounds like you work in one of the yards nearby.We also spent a month in crackerboy at fort pierce having our boat repainted using imron.The fellow there that painted our boat was Larry, very nice guy, he did our landfall in a dark blue with clearcoat over that.Larry also cut off part of a keel on a 42 sail boat using a chain saw and a guide, the owners wanted shoal draft.<br /><br />best regards<br /><br />Bill

 

[Terry H]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

handball<br />I know NY is large but if you don't mind traveling to the next state you might find the tri-lux...likely it's not illegal to use tri-lux in NY...just illegal to sell it... just a Thought

 

[snapperbait]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

Have not forgot ya Handball... <br /><br /> I'm mobile (cover Boynton to Jupiter and all points in-between), and have'nt been at any yards where I know the painters well in the last few days...<br /><br />Thought101 brings up a god point... How far is Jersey from you?

 

[handball]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

Hi there snapperbait,<br />Just wondering, I would love to know what the comercial guys do about painting their underwater running gear.You would think they would have to keep there props and shafts clean, to have the boats run as economically as possible.<br /><br />You might ask some of the yard painters what they use on comercial boats if possible.<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Bill

 

[Ryoken]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

most bigger boats and commercial rigs in our yard either don't have painted running gear or have regular bottom paint on em. all rudders are b. painted, and generally tabs too... tho, tabs are rarely done correctly with zinc first...<br /><br />if the boats being used once a week it shouldn't need the running gear done (shaft and prop). even the guys with bottom paint on the shafts dont paint the wheels..<br /><br />i know when i pull shafts, if they have bottom paint on em, they can usually expect to pay an extra hr for me to scrape the shafts to get em thru the cutlass bearings..<br /><br />and Tri-lux is available around here in NJ, but honestly, noone with an inboard i know uses it on running gear. strictly I/O stuff... tho, it certainly would probably be better than bottom paint as far as loading up the shafts....

 

[bidlimit]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

I buy it in NJ all the time...

 

[bidlimit]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

The difference between Trilux and normal bottom paint is the type of poison they use in the paint. Before the 80's-90's, all bottom paints were like Trilux; they used tin as the base metal to poision and kill the barnacles. Environmentalists got to thinking and said that if it kills the barnacles, it must also kill the good fish. So they started putting copper in bottom paint as a substitute. The problem is, that the copper is more noble than aluminium and thus outdrives and aluminum boats started dissapearing as a result of galvanic corrosion. So, they introduced Trilux and a few bottom paints for use on aluminum boats and outdrives/outboards. However, your shafts are stainless and should be able to be painted with normal bottom paint...Same for bronze shaft supports. I still would not do this because the paint will be a bear to get off if you need to pull the shafts. I don't think you need to paint 'em; barnacles don't stick to stainless really well anyway, a powerwasher usually will get them off easily.

 

[handball]

Re: shafts, props, rudders, tabs

Thanks fellows for the help,<br />I think I will sand and paint the trim tabs and struts with ablative paint.I will sand the shafts and props clean and not paint them.Hopefully the barnicles will stay off the props during the season if the boat gets enough use. We usually take at least a short ride about 3-4 days out of the seven.<br /><br />Thanks again,<br /><br />Bill