Cranchi Yachts has adopted Propspeed coating systems as standard equipment on models measuring 62 feet and above. The programme covers more than propellers, extending separate Propspeed products to underwater lighting and Humphree stabilisation components on larger Cranchi yachts.
Cranchi will use Propspeed on Volvo Penta IPS propellers and other running gear, Lightspeed on underwater lights and the newer Foulfree Multi-Surface System on Humphree fins and interceptors. Each product is intended for a different substrate rather than applying one coating indiscriminately across the yacht.
Three coating systems cover different underwater assets
This component-by-component approach reflects how complex underwater appendages have become on modern performance yachts, where propulsion, lighting, stabilisation and sensors may all use different materials and finishes.
The standard begins at 62 feet
Propspeed says the factory programme applies to Cranchi models from 62 feet upward, including the Settantotto 78 flagship. That places the agreement squarely inside the upper end of the Luxury Yacht Guide market, where larger equipment loads and greater underwater surface complexity increase maintenance demands.
Standardising the coatings during production also means the builder can integrate preparation and cure times into the original build schedule instead of leaving the first application to the owner’s local yard.
Biocide-free systems target efficiency rather than poisoning growth
Propspeed’s foul-release products rely on low-adhesion surfaces rather than conventional biocides. The goal is to make growth easier to shed while protecting the original component and preserving hydrodynamic performance.
For IPS propellers and stabiliser surfaces, fouling can alter efficiency and response before it becomes visually dramatic. Preventing heavy adhesion therefore has an operational as well as cosmetic purpose.
OEM testing adds weight to the specification
Cranchi adopted the system after testing, according to Propspeed, giving the supplier an important builder endorsement. For owners, the key value is not the brand name alone but the fact that the coating process has been incorporated into the yacht’s original technical specification.
That should make later maintenance easier to document, although owners will still need to follow cleaning and recoating intervals appropriate to their cruising area and how frequently the yacht is used.
