Sharing your boating thoughts and opinions
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Propeller painting
The elusive quest for a reliable paint to adhere to a propeller has long been a source of frustration and disappointment. Therefore, I was sceptical when I read that there’s no need to source mystical ingredients like crushed unicorn horn dust mixed with mermaid scales (PBO, December 2022). Instead, Hammerite Special Metals Primer was proposed as a viable alternative.
I promptly acquired a 250ml pot, applied a single coat, and still had plenty remaining. Once dried, I applied two coats of Seajet 034 Antifoul. As I admired my handiwork, I feared it would all be in vain within a matter of weeks if not on the first trip to the breakwater.
We used the boat frequently from its mid-April launch until mid-July, followed by weekly day trips whenever the weather allowed, until it was hauled out during the first week of September. Typically, the propellers would have been stripped of their antifouling protection, back to bare metal and overrun by a blanket of weed and other marine growth, this is despite my diligent weekly efforts with a brush.
However, this year the broom remained in the locker–the Hammerite has remained. Now I seek recommendations for a more resilient antifoul. Does anyone know where to find dragon teeth…
Vyv Cox responds: I’m very pleased you found it to be effective, particularly as it appears to be a motorboat, presumably having high velocities across the propeller blades. I don’t have any experience of propeller antifouling for this type of boat but I would give Velox a try to see if it can resist erosion better than the Seajet seems to have done. A second thought... I think I mentioned in the article that Hammerite needs a rub with 180-grit paper. It develops a surface layer that looks glossy and this needs to be taken off. The antifouling will key to this more effectively.
Marsali Taylor
I was shocked to read of the serious injuries suffered by Marsali Taylor during a race (PBO, October 2023). I always enjoy reading Marsali’s column, and I am sure other readers will join me in wishing her a speedy recovery, and a return to sailing on Karima S.
Mast climbing
Just an additional note on the useful mast climbing article by Pip Hare (PBO, August 2023). Do I trust the halyard and sheaves on my old boat?
For added security, I put at least one prusik loop around the mast (no sail up of course). That way if anything untoward happens with the person on the winch or an old sheave or halyard fails or jams I’m safe and in control. There are two problems: getting past the spreader (use a second prusik) and sliding a prusik down on a tapered mast. However ,the person up the mast is ult
