Diaper Cream

B

bridma

New member
It's that time of year again boys. Have you put your diaper cream on? I did my trim tabs and transducer this morning. It sure helps keep the growth in check.

Martin.
 
Hey Martin, I knew you babied your boat, but really now? :roll: :lol:

I'll bite, what are you using for diaper cream? Is that Zinc oxide stuff, Desitin? How much and how often? Or did I just get punked :oops:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Last summer I had 6 weeks and that was broken up by 3 trailer trips, and an overnight on the trailer on each segment. The boat really came out pretty good, better than I expected. I did a wash down at the first and last trailer day but could not find a site for the second one. I do remember the trim tabs being "yucky".

Thanks Greg, it looks like I need to learn some more new "stuff".

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Ah, you guys that live in the PNW, with your chilly water, have it made... rub on a little diaper cream and you're good to go?

Down here, in the land of swaying palm trees, warm sand, and bikinis, you can hear the critters in the water saying, "Ohhhh - fresh fiberglass! Mine! Mine! Mine!!" as you back the boat down the ramp. Without adequate bottom paint, you'll see growth and barnacles in less than two weeks.

We could probably use the diaper cream while we sit on an overturned bucket scrubbing/scraping the bottom (the boat bottom, that is) when we pull it out of the water. :wink:

Regular use of the boat really helps.

Bottom paint is your friend.
 
From Bennett

fyi

(SALTWATER ONLY) To deter electrolysis, a zinc anode should be attached to the top of each trim tab. Zinc must make direct contact with stainless steel. Do not paint zinc. Do not ground trim tabs to other underwater appendages.

Paint trim tabs to discourage marine growth:
1. Clean surface of all grease, oil, dirt.
2. Apply two coats of epoxy metal primer.
3. Apply two coats of anti-fouling paint. Actuator, including the piston, may be painted.

Unpainted trim tabs may acquire an orange discoloration. THIS OXIDATION
OF SURFACE CARBON MOLECULES IS NORMAL. The integrity of the stainless steel is not affected. Orange coating can be cleaned off, but may eventually return. Note: This discoloration should not be confused with the pitting and corrosion of electrolysis.
 
That's the stuff Harvey. Get it from the local store. Usually $6 to $8 (Can) depending on what size tin you get. Apply it on thick, just use your finger. One tin will last two or three years up here in the PNW. I do not put it on my trim tab zincs, which I replace every year. Don't forget your transducer.

Martin.
 
Not so sure about electrolosis due to the petroleum base of the cream keeping water from contacting the zinc components very directly. The critters sure seem to stay away or have difficulty taking hold. These cremes have done as well as bottom paint on dinghy bottoms and are great on hard to paint boat bits and even done pretty well on some props. But it would be pretty messy for anything that needed handling.

Greg
 
OK, I get it. Desitin :monty How thick do you put it on? Enough to show white, or just a thin layer. It doesn't dry so, do you repeat the application ? Seems it would wear off on the bottom of the trim tab after a while, wspecially at planning speeds.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Harvey,

Useing my finger, I apply a thin coating so that you can see the white smear on all the surfaces you are paying attention too. This gets me through through the algae bloom season and anything else that wants to make my trim tabs their summer home.

Martin.
 
I am betting the active ingredient in Desitin makes it tough for marine life to get a healthy start. IOW, it subtly poisons the surface. It is not the base for the cream, or the zinc oxide that inhibits the fungal growth, it is the antifungal ingredients.

Zinc oxide and petroleum jelly alone would not do the job.

I bet the active ingredients become incorporated jnto the surfafe of the trim tabs.

BTW, likely it is technically illegal to apply the Desitin ... so don't tell anybody about it! ;)
 
Thanks for the hints, AND Dave, I would never put anything into the water that would be bad for it, but I will probably treat my boats diaper rash if it becomes an issue. :wink:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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No worries, Harvey. A few dabs of diaper cream are nothing in the scheme of pollutants issued en masse, viz., Victoria's massive straight, no treatment outfalls.

Dab away, matey!
 
Practical Sailor just published part of an article on this. Bottom line, it works on trim tabs, transducers, etc. - anything that is not spinning or sliding on and off of a trailer.
 
I used Desitin, (zinc oxide diaper rash ointment), last summer. After 48 days in the water, the white stuff was still there. It washed off easily with some "boat soap" and then I replaced it for the next dunking (a month) and it functioned great. I will do it again.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Interesting how this type of knowledge seems to come and go. We used this back over 35 years ago on running gear of our large cruising sailboat. (Prop, & shaft).
 
And that is how effective marketing can be on the boating population. Only people thinking a little outside the box and spreading word, keep needlessly expensive products in check. I am surprised there is not a relabeled tube of the cream sold for 10 times the price at marine stores.

They do that with so many products. Like solar panels!

Greg
 
Thanks for reminding me guys. I'm gonna try this this season. After only 3 1/2 months of keeping the 25 at my marina last year I learned my lesson....The transducer, trim tab bottoms and other parts were taken over by sea nasties (that's a technical term).
 
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