Propspeed, leading innovator of underwater foul-release coatings, has recently announced an important milestone – 20 years of continuous use by Freedom Fast Cats. Based in Rosslyn Bay Harbour, Queensland, Australia, Freedom Fast Cats offers ferry transfers and a wide range of cruises to the Keppel Bay Islands and Great Barrier Reef. Owned and operated by the Allen family, Freedom Fast Cats’ fleet currently consists of five ferries and two glass-bottom boats.
“We aim to offer our customers a quality product that delivers exceptional performance year after year,” said Chris Baird, CEO, Propspeed. “We are very proud of the dedicated following we have built through superior product development and customer service and in the case of Freedom Fast Cats, this dedication has spanned more than 20 years. We look forward to continuing to offer the same quality products and excellent support for at least 20 more.”
Freedom Fast Cats first applied Propspeed in 2000 and began applying it every 12-16 months when the vessels are hauled at Murphy’s Shiplifts in Hervey Bay. Over the years, the Allen family has been closely involved in the builds of their vessels, and increased efficiencies from products such as Propspeed can be a factor when it comes to selecting engines.
These increased efficiencies became obvious after a Propspeed-coated propeller had to be replaced with a spare on one of the fleets’ vessels.
“When we damaged a prop on one side of our boat, the nearest slip was 10 hours away in Hervey Bay, so the decision was made for divers to fit a spare which did not have Propspeed applied,” said Max Allen Jr., owner and operator, Freedom Fast Cats. “Over 20 hours, there was a noticeable difference in the fuel burn between the two sides, with the port side burning an additional 200 liters of fuel and clocking up an extra two hours of run time compared to the propeller with Propspeed.”
With over 21 years of experience protecting underwater assets globally, Propspeed has built a passionate team to offer superior in-field technical support. Propspeed’s ultra-slick topcoat is specially formulated to prevent marine growth from bonding to metal surfaces below the waterline.
Offering all-in-one protection, Propspeed is the ideal defense against marine growth and corrosion for all underwater metal assets including propellers, shafts and struts. It is proven to support vessel readiness, increase efficiency, prevent corrosion, save fuel and reduce maintenance costs. The solution features an exceptionally strong chemical and mechanical bond between the metal substrate, the Etching Primer and the Clear Coat – ensuring the Propspeed coating actually sticks to running gear, and that the vessel can run at its peak. In addition, because growth releases when the vessel reaches cruising speeds, the product line prevents invasive species from being transferred to other regions.
Propspeed understands the importance of the commercial market and the savings that can be had using its product line on commercial vessels. They recently launched the Propspeed Commercial Kit, created specifically for the commercial marine trade profession. This kit includes everything need to coat a surface of 153 square feet or 14.2 square meters, ensuring a vessel’s operational readiness and sustained performance, while reducing maintenance and fuel cost.
