Protecting lower skeg and gearbox from weed growth

[nigel52]

Our boat does not allow enough clearance for the Suzuki 150 to completely raise ie the skeg and bottom 8" of the gearbox is always in the water. We are getting lots of weed growth on these areas in the summer months. One solution we tried that seems to have helped a bit is to put a large IKEA bag over that area. (There will be sea water in the bag as one puts it over the prop, skeg and lower gearbox.)

We put it on after each trip. After 4 months the blue IKEA bag is falling apart thru UVA degradation etc. My question is: without using aluminium antifouling has anyone found a successful method o tackling this issue?

(Someone suggested a large black bag as less effected by the UVA.)

Would really appreciate suggestions to this problem. Thanks.

[jeffstevens763@g]

You can buy electronic anti foul worth looking into it.
Or you could put a plastic drum over it and pump the water out with a bilge pump

[paulbrown22]

Around that area of France I thought I'd often seen those garden type buckets under the skegs of outboards that weren't completely clear of the water?

[nigel52]

Originally Posted by paulbrown22

Around that area of France I thought I'd often seen those garden type buckets under the skegs of outboards that weren't completely clear of the water?

Certainly a very large plastic bucket may work. Not sure how effective pumping out the sea water would be as rain will fill it up, although fresh water. Don't know much about electric antifouling of outboards with aluminium casings.

Any solution must be able to put in place and take off.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Originally Posted by nigel52

Certainly a very large plastic bucket may work. Not sure how effective pumping out the sea water would be as rain will fill it up, although fresh water. Don't know much about electric antifouling of outboards with aluminium casings.

Any solution must be able to put in place and take off.

Auto bilge pump

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by nigel52

Would really appreciate suggestions to this problem. Thanks.

If water intakes are not under water, then I have seen somebody covered the skeg in melted wax. No growth at all, but only skeg and torpedo was waxed.

[nigel52]

Originally Posted by Jerry

If water intakes are not under water, then I have seen somebody covered the skeg in melted wax. No growth at all, but only skeg and torpedo was waxed.

Interesting solution if it works. Do you know what type of melted wax please.

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by nigel52

Interesting solution if it works. Do you know what type of melted wax please.

I was told just a melted candle. The look of it suggested there were two different candles of two different colours melted, not very well mixed

[jeffstevens763@g]

Wax in the intake

[Jerry]

Originally Posted by jeffstevens763@g

Wax in the intake

Don't think so - engine didn't want to overheat. It also looked as the intakes were taped with masking tape before waxing.