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Canal Weed & Propellors

  • 16-11-2019 7:41pm
    #1
    deaglan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 246 ✭✭


    Are there means to prevent a boat propeller from being clogged up by weeds?


Comments

  • #2
    John_Rambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,061 ✭✭✭✭John_Rambo


    I'm pretty sure there's aftermarket weed guards available for most props.


  • #3
    deaglan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 246 ✭✭deaglan1


    John_Rambo wrote: »
    I'm pretty sure there's aftermarket weed guards available for most props.

    I am aware of prop guards for safety purposes but are they designed to prevent weed issues? Could safety prop guards exacerbate weed clogging?


  • #4
    John_Rambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,061 ✭✭✭✭John_Rambo


    deaglan1 wrote: »
    I am aware of prop guards for safety purposes but are they designed to prevent weed issues? Could safety prop guards exacerbate weed clogging?

    I think so, sorry, we only did one trip in freshwater and it was a problem, we looked in to it but never got to do a freshwater trip again.


  • #5
    fergal.b
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,344 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    You could also fit a rope cutter to your shaft. I built a weed hatch into my boat so I can access the prop from inside the boat might be worth looking into if you are doing up an old boat and spending a lot of time on the canals, other than that a diving mask and a good knife. :)



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  • #6
    Daibheid
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 546 ✭✭✭Daibheid


    I’ve a prop guard on my ZapCat and it’s a weed magnet. The only good thing about it is it catches weed in such a big way it’s instantly noticeable as the prop can’t get enough water through, otherwise it could starve the cooling system.
    So the guard will keep weed off the prop but accumulates on the guard and stops you anyway.
    While it is relatively easy to clear weed from an outboard, if you’re running in weed be careful you’re not clogging your water intake on either outboard or inboard engines.
    I’d go the direction Fergal suggests


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  • #7
    deaglan1
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 246 ✭✭deaglan1


    fergal.b wrote: »
    You could also fit a rope cutter to your shaft. I built a weed hatch into my boat so I can access the prop from inside the boat might be worth looking into if you are doing up an old boat and spending a lot of time on the canals, other than that a diving mask and a good knife. :)



    .

    Interesting Fergal. Never heard of a rope cutter before. Looked it up and it seems like a very useful piece of kit & costly:( and I presume I would have to remove the prop guard.

    Care to show us an image of your DIY weed hatch or a drawing of it - I am not clear how it functions. Is it a serious DIY project or relatively simple for the talentless Mr. Minimal DIY guy?


  • #8
    fergal.b
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Sports Moderators Posts: 6,344 Mod ✭✭✭✭fergal.b


    Have a look at page 7 and 13 in my link. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057583016&page=13 it might be in your interest to read the whole post if you are thinking of doing up an old boat.
    You will have to have a good idea about fibreglassing to take on the job or get it built by a pro.




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