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Message 7 of 7
Posted by member colin on Tuesday 24 June 2025
Hi David, believe it or not, I actually made up something very similar to this many years back using a weeding knife and attaching it to a long oak pole handle, given many years of stirling service in the garden!
The extending type would be much easier to store on the boat and therefore make more sense.
Drifting seaweed is a common issue off the north east coast, also disgarded nylon line, a lot of which floats near the surface, not sure how it would cope with the nylon line but it could be pretty effective on the seaweed!
(It may be possible to cut some saw teeth into the blade to assist with any cutting using a file)
Good idea!
Col.
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Message 6 of 7
Posted by member DavidP on Sunday 22 June 2025
Col, Not tested my weed cutter in earnest yet, but I think you'll find the bade is already pretty sharp.
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Message 5 of 7
Posted by member colin on Sunday 22 June 2025
We will also be investing in one of these, I would imagine its good for drifting seaweed which can get tangled on all sorts of things! Probably will not deal with tangled nylon rope and the like, I suppose it would be possible to put a 'keener edge' on the blade!
Good idea!
Col.
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Message 4 of 7
Posted by member DavidP on Thursday 12 June 2025
Just want to say thanks guys for your input. I've invested in a weed knife with an extendable handle like this https://darlac.com/product/dp360-telescopic-weed-knife/. 20 quid off eBay, I'll report back when I've had an opportunity to test it out.
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Message 3 of 7
Posted by member Derek on Wednesday 11 June 2025
I’m forever getting weed around the prop, reverse doesn’t always work. I’ve done a bit of asking around and a suggestion was getting a roofer’s slate puller,
Amazon for £10-£15, some a lot dearer I’ve gone for the cheapest, fingers crossed!
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Message 2 of 7
Posted by member Nick Askham on Monday 9 June 2025
Hi David - I also use my Pilot on the river and frequently get weed around the prop. One can always tell when weed is fouling the prop since it becomes less responsive. Generally "whacking it into reverse" does the job, albeit it sometimes requires a second attempt. If that fails then I generally nose into a reedbed, tilt the outboard and proceed to clear the weed. The previous owner left a short, about 4 foot, extendable garden tool onboard that has a blade on one side and a three pronged rake on the other. The pronged part is ideal for getting into the weed and ripping it off. I certainly wouldn't raise the outboard and then put it into reverse, I think that would be counter-productive. Hope this helps.
Regards, Nick.
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Message 1 of 7
Posted by member DavidP on Monday 9 June 2025
This is probably not an issue for those of you who use their boats in the sea, but my cruising is primarily on canals and rivers. Following the recent spell of hot weather, weed is becoming more of a problem. The other day, I tilted my outboard and the prop was choked with weed. Fortunately it did not block the water inlet, so no damage done. The big problem was actually cutting the weed off. Not easy when all I had to hand was a boat hook! I managed to remove most of the weed, but tackled the rest when I was back on the pontoon and could reach the prop and cut the remaining weed which was well and truly wedged between the gearbox and the propeller with my trusty Opinel knife. My question is what do other people do tackle this problem? I've heard stories of people tilting the outboard and running the prop in reverse. Not too sure about that! Are there any special tools/devices that are useful to have on the boat beyond a wetsuit and a knife?
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