Propellers and stern drives

PROPELLERS, STERN-DRIVES, FLAPS AND METALLIC PARTS

The protection of propellers, sten-drives, flaps and other metallic parts has always been one of the strengths of MARLIN. VELOX PLUS antifouling and its primer METAL PRIMER have been market leaders for years and are appreciated and used with success all over the world. Below are the instructions for a professional application and some important tips.

SURFACE PREPARATION

SURFACES ALREADY TREATED WITH VELOX PLUS IN GOOD CONDITION: Pressure wash with fresh water and/or sand very lightly with fine paper or abrasive felt. Leave to dry well.

SURFACES TREATED WITH UNKNOWN ANTIFOULING: Remove completely back to bare metal by stripping and/or mechanically sanding by hand or with random orbital.

BARE METAL PARTS (BRONZE, STAINLESS STEEL, ALUMINUM): Degrease, then sand with coarse paper (n. 80) or sandblast. After sanding, never wash with water, detergents, acids or generic solvents. Dust dry or wash with our SOLVENTE 102 only if necessary (or pure and new ACETONE). Then prime with METAL PRIMER.

PARTS COATED WITH FACTORY PAINTS: The stern-drives and other aluminum parts are normally treated with factory paints. These should not be removed. Degrease, sand lightly with fine paper or abrasive felt, then prime with METAL PRIMER.

APPLICATION

BRUSH (OR ROLLER):
1. Apply one coat of METAL PRIMER (maximum wet film thickness 100 µ, dry film thickness 30 µ). We suggest application with a small/medium brush. Leave it dry for at least 3 hours at 68° F (20° C). A light coat is enough, applying thicker coats than recommended may result in worse adhesion.

2. Apply one coat of VELOX PLUS by brush (wet film thickness 100 µm, dry film thickness 30 µm). Apply it with continuous long brush strokes. Avoid going back and forth on the same spot, as this will soften too much the METAL PRIMER. As pictured below, full coverage will not be achieved with first coat of VELOX PLUS. The first coat will normally slightly soften the primer, showing some of its green colour.

3. Wait at least 3 hours at 68° F (20 ° C) then apply a second coat of VELOX PLUS (wet film thickness 100 µm, dry film thickness 30 µm). For best result, apply it by brush with long and continuous strokes, perpendicular to the brush strokes of the first coat. A third coat of VELOX PLUS may be applied to obtain perfect coverage or in areas where fouling growth is particularly agressive.

4. Wait at least 12 hours at 68° F (20° C) before launching.

IMPORTANT ADVICE

NEVER use acids or acid-based products to descale or clean the metal surfaces before applying the METAL PRIMER (for example, the products normally used to dissolve barnacles or are acid-based).
Do not use detergents, dirty solvents, water to wash the surfaces after sanding and do not touch the surfaces with bare hands before applying the METAL PRIMER.
Do not touch the surfaces with bare hands before applying the METAL PRIMER.
For cleaning the surface, use only SOLVENTE 102 or pure acetone with clean cloths.
Do not apply in case of extreme humidity and/or strong temperature changes. Watch out for dew point and condensation on metals, especially early in the morning. If in doubt, the metal parts can be dried with a jet of hot air and the surfaces washed with SOLVENTE 102.
Do not apply the product with temperatures below 5° C or above 38° C. In case of temperatures below 10° C it is important to wait at least 48 hours for launching after the last coat.
The minimum drying times are indicative, it is always advisable to let the product dry for as long as possible between coats in any situation. Beware of high humidity, which significantly lengthens drying times. Whenever possible, we recommend waiting up to 24 hours or more between coats.
To obtain an excellent result, the preparation of the surface is essential, which at the time of applying the METAL PRIMER must be very rough (the rougher it is, the better adhesion you will have) and clean, free from grease, dust or other dirt (even fingerprints sweat or traces of solvents or water).
Never apply VELOX over any other type of antifouling or directly over bare metal.
The product is ready to use, it is strongly advised not to dilute both METAL PRIMER and VELOX.
Mix very thoroughly before use. The product may present a marked separation due to the heavy pigments present in the formulation.
It is advisable not to stay connected to the electricity outlet when at mooring. Strong galvanic currents significantly reduce the effectiveness of antifouling for metal parts and can cause severe detachments.
Bare aluminum parts without the factory paint must be treated with an anticorrosive epoxy cycle (e.g. 2-3 coats of PRIMEPOX) before applying METAL PRIMER.
The treatment of the propellers and metal parts is delicate, we recommend that you do it before the other jobs in order to have enough time to do it in a workmanlike manner.
Respect the recommended quantities to obtain a good result. The product is ready to use, the use of thinner is not recommended.
In case of antifouling application several months before launching, it is preferable to keep the boat away from direct sunlight and rain (for example with a black plastic bag).