Carver Owners Forum

As we are getting VERY CLOSE (finally!) to getting into the water, I am thinking about bottom paint.
I would like to know what you guys are doing with paint in terms of the running gear.
I usually paint the struts, rudders and trim tabs. The boat that I purchased last spring did not have bottom paint on the shafts or propellers. The new place where I am staying is suggesting that I paint the shafts as he suggests the bottom paint is compatable with stainless steel.
Regarding the props, he simply sands them smooth but doesn't treat them. I believe that the marina where I bought the boat used some clear heavy zinc type of paint on the shafts and props.
What say you?
Thanks

I know some don't paint their props for good reason. I'm not one of them. I dock in some fairly "impure" water and find I need some coating on all running gear. I've used Petit Barnacle Buster in the past and it worked fine but, quite expensive. On suggestion from a dock mate I tried Home Depot Cold Galvanized silver paint. It worked just as well for me at about 1/4 of the cost.

I am in mostly fresh water. My props and shafts go in the water shiny and naked. They come out naked, but not so shiny.

I have used Barnacle Buster on one side and Rustoleum cold galvanizing on the other side. Both work well and I couldn't tell the difference other than the price. Your choice.

Thanks for the feedback. I will certainly try one of them.

@Jcoll and @Throwback2 ... how long do you go between paintings? I'm in brackish water and growth was always an issue when I wasn't in-state and able to run the boat every week. I used eel snot this last time we short hauled and scraped. Going on four months now and haven't noticed any performance/drag issues.

PJ excuse my ignorance. What is 'eel snot'?

PJHoffnet wrote:Source of the post @Jcoll and @Throwback2 ... how long do you go between paintings? I'm in brackish water and growth was always an issue when I wasn't in-state and able to run the boat every week. I used eel snot this last time we short hauled and scraped. Going on four months now and haven't noticed any performance/drag issues.

Paint the underwater hardware once a year.It holds up well.

denpooch wrote:Source of the post PJ excuse my ignorance. What is 'eel snot'?

Eel snot is an hydrophobic coating ... here's their site.
http://eelsnot.com/

throwback2 wrote:Source of the post

PJHoffnet wrote:Source of the post @Jcoll and @Throwback2 ... how long do you go between paintings? I'm in brackish water and growth was always an issue when I wasn't in-state and able to run the boat every week. I used eel snot this last time we short hauled and scraped. Going on four months now and haven't noticed any performance/drag issues.

Paint the underwater hardware once a year.It holds up well.

Thank you