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Prop Guard by FSI for Props

Discussion in 'Props, Shafts & Seals' started by Fletcher500, Feb 15, 2017.

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  1. Fletcher500

    Fletcher500 Member

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    Long story short, I have had some pitting which could be from a casting issue or possible propcavitation on my propellers. Galvanic corrosion was ruled out after tests by two different companies, one of which is an expert in the field.

    I am hauling out in a few weeks, and have been considering applying prop speed.

    I recently found out about the prop guard coating which is a ceramic coating and used extensively in other industries, and on boat propellers in the commercial fishing fleet, and some sport fishers.

    Overall, it does not have widespread use. This may be due to the Fact that The application process can only be done in the shop, and requires a few days as opposed applying prop,speed in the yard.

    Costs for both coating systems are similar, but I think the ceramic will last longer and could proved better protection.

    Has anyone used this product or talked to people that have?

    Do you think it's worth trying over prop speed?

    I have not used any coating products before, so looking for feedback.

    Thanks, Fletcher.
  2. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Prop speed has worked for us. We will not try prop guard or prop gold.
  3. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    If Prop Speed is your coating of choice for your running gear than fair enough, You'll find many new entries into the silica/ ceramic hybrid coating market that will force Oceanmax LTD to re evaluate their price point from now on as up until a couple of years ago there weren't many other players in this arena. This however has changed as far superior products are available in the market place to supplant Prop Speed. You'll soon see ceramic coatings in "Clear coat" form for waterline & exhaust / scum line applications from Alexseal and Jotun.
  4. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    I don't doubt other superior products will come, but I will wait until they prove themselves, are readily available, and the yard I use is comfortable with their application. There have been other products for a long time. But they haven't been superior. I'm sure we'll see superior products though and I'm sure Oceanmax will have to make changes.

    Do you have experience with the product he asked about?
  5. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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  6. Fletcher500

    Fletcher500 Member

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    Captholli, I am unable to open the link titled report. Can you reattach please?
  7. captholli

    captholli Senior Member

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    Its a sad fact that the U.S. isn't as proactive in research and development in ceramic marine coatings as Europe has been.. They certainly have had the edge in advanced high performance coatings for quite awhile now. Yes, we've tried Prop Guard and found it to be an excellent alternative to Prop speed. We didn't have to have to apply Prop Guard in any special environment and found it much easier to apply without the hurried rush of the two part prop speed. You'll find that Lauderdale Propeller , Stuart Propeller and others have had samples given to them a year or so ago and have all had emersion tests in their shops with positive results so positive that they now recommend Prop Guard over the before mentioned product. ( might be commission driven a bit) but still a superior product to the unchanged chemistry for 25 years of Prop Speed. ICOMIA 's site has a mega yacht builders & coatings sub site that has reams of valuable information of the evolving new high performance ceramic coatings on the market today being used in real time with excellent results. There are so many companies out there in Europe selling and applying various ceramic coatings for topsides and running gear use that its hard to keep track . Rokoat seems to have the market between the Balearics and the south of France and Jotun owns the Netherlands in this arena. Many players slapping their own labels on proprietary technology to differentiate themselves.
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2017
  8. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Very good information.

    Typically I am not one to be on the front wave of the introduction or change of any product. I take a very conservative approach when what I have is working. That means in cases like this I continue to use the product I've been using satisfactorily perhaps even beyond the time that might make sense to others. The immersion tests sound positive, but I'll wait until some local boats have run with it on all their underwater metal for a year or two. Certainly easier application is beneficial if performance is the same.

    What does make things complicated often, and does in this case, is the financial incentive to yards and others to get them to attempt to sway customers. Now, your indications are that this technology and both products may soon be outdated and replaced by better options, so I might end up skipping a step along the way.
  9. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    If you have cavitation issues and pitting of your propellors, it doesn't matter what you put on them (ceramic coating or prop speed or similar) it will all get burned off very quickly by the cavitation.
  10. Fletcher500

    Fletcher500 Member

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    Copy that, but It is not extensive. I have two sets of props. If I apply coatings to both, and swap them every two years, and reapply the coating, I should be able to get many years of use from both sets.

    At this point, I I am leaning toward the ceramic coating over the prop speed. It is not done as much in the US on props, so I will continue to research it.

    Thanks for the input...it helps.

    Any other feed back from folks who have used, or know others who have is appreciated.
  11. d_meister

    d_meister Senior Member

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    Maybe fix the cause of the cavitation burns? One boat I ran had a real problem because the gear was extended and the new struts were square on the trailing edge, 1" wide. The bubbles hit the props and pitted them badly. On the advice of a prop guy in San Francisco, I faired the trailing edge and the problem was solved.
    Another coating consideration here in San Diego is the type of growth we have. The tube worm coral sticks to almost everything and a monthly diver is unavoidable. Although PropSpeed shows good results, you won't get a discount from the diver and he'll be under there anyway. The ceramic may work well on the props, but what about the other metals?
  12. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    We get pricing based on the effort and time required and definitely do get a discount based on the frequency of cleaning and the bottom condition and based on prop speed having been used on all metals. I'm not by any means claiming we save enough to pay for the Prop Speed. However, we maintain performance and that carries value too.
  13. d_meister

    d_meister Senior Member

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    As far as I know, it's a flat rate by the foot and type of boat, here. Maybe that can be negotiated; after all, there's a lot of competition in San Diego. You're right that there's a performance bonus with PropSpeed to consider, as well.
  14. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    For one time users, it's typically a flat rate here, but beyond that there are discounts based on frequency, condition, and number of boats. There are also substantial upcharges for boats not regularly cleaned and in very bad condition.
  15. Fletcher500

    Fletcher500 Member

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    I am looking to apply it to the props only.

    I have a diver clean the hull and drives every 4 weeks in the summer and every 3 in the summer. Cutting his rate is the least of my concerns. I pay him over the going rate because he is a good guy who does a nice job on my boat.
  16. olderboater

    olderboater Senior Member

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    Why the props only?
  17. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    There's a standard per foot rate here on a monthly contract that most everyone in the industry charges.
  18. d_meister

    d_meister Senior Member

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    I guess he's going with the ceramic, which needs to be applied in the shop.

    "Overall, it does not have widespread use. This may be due to the Fact that The application process can only be done in the shop, and requires a few days as opposed applying prop,speed in the yard.".
  19. Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Please keep us up on your results.
  20. Fletcher500

    Fletcher500 Member

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    I have two sets of props.
    Here is my plan:
    Coat one pair with PS, and the second pair with PG.
    This will occur next month when the boat is hauled.
    Run the boat on the PG props for 1 year.
    Pull the props off after 1 year, and put the other props with PS on.
    Compare after 1 year.
    The only variable that may change is the time duration. IE, could be 2 years - TBD.
    Long term test.