To Paint or not to Paint (trim tabs)

[SnugTug]

Curious if folks choose to paint their tabs or not? I had major growth after last season and was considering using non-copper anti-fouling paint to avoid creating a bigger problem with disparate metals.

Good idea or bad idea please? Open to product recommendations.

Thanks.

 

[wincrasher]

My dealer coated the tabs and other running gear with Propseed. It's a clear coating, so you don't really see it on there unless you touch it.

 

[SnugTug]

Thanks for the reply. I checked out PropSpeed on web - several good reviews but critics site high cost and and strict application criteria.

Not ruling this out, but wonder if anyone has more economical solution - or is it worth it at all?

 

[Brian B]

Petit makes a good product, http://www.defender.com/product3.jsp?pa ... &id=157662
I use it on the trim tabs, prop, raw water intakes and swim platform supports. Do not paint the area where zincs mount to. I have round zincs on the trim tabs, I made round discs the size of the zincs from 1/4" ply and mount them to the tabs then spray paint. I also learned to spray the metals first before bottom painting then the overspray is covered by the bottom paint and looks neater.

 

[knotflying]

I use Pettit Barnacle barrier (same as previous post) spray paint on prop, trim tabs and swim platform supports. Been using it for 5 years. so far, so good.

 

[Red Raven]

I met a guy at Sucia Island in the San Juans who swore by using Baby Cream with zinc. Seems like it wouldn't last long. Any one tried it?

 

[knotflying]

Only while sunning on the beach. :lol: I guess if the boat isn't moving it may work, but once you start moving I doubt it won't be there long.

 

[Red Raven]

Other folks on other boating boards make the same baby cream with zinc claim. I agree it seems like it would be gone quickly. Another claims to use Rain-X. Again, doesn't seem like that would last very long either. Just wondering if others may have tried these unlikely (but inexpensive!) solutions. 😉

 

[Levitation]

We have gone around on this topic before.
As far as special spray paint for underwater metals, it is Cold Galvanizing with an expensive label.
I choose to use the $7 spray can of cold galvanizing from the hardware store over the one with the $25 label :mrgreen: