9 or 4 inch rollers?

[dgadee]

Under the boat antifouling this morning and a friend says, "You must be the only person who uses a 9" roller". He claims 4" is quicker - the curve on the hull stops the larger roller from being effective. Not sure I agree, but is he correct?

 

[Robert Wilson]

4" does it for me. I've not tried a 9", but I can think it would be awkward in the tighter spots.

 

[VicS]

Under the boat antifouling this morning and a friend says, "You must be the only person who uses a 9" roller". He claims 4" is quicker - the curve on the hull stops the larger roller from being effective. Not sure I agree, but is he correct?

I always use a 4" roller but then my boat is quite small

I once antifouled a friend's Westerly 31. He provided a 9" roller. I found it heavy, and tiring to use, when loaded with paint

 

[CCJ]

Under the boat antifouling this morning and a friend says, "You must be the only person who uses a 9" roller". He claims 4" is quicker - the curve on the hull stops the larger roller from being effective. Not sure I agree, but is he correct?

7" on a pole does the trick

 

[sarabande]

If you use a 4 inch roller it can work vertically and horizontally along the curve of the bilge. A 9 inch one only up and down, not along.

 

[Tam Lin]

I am another 4 inches man! And you can get them with longer handles so you don’t have to stretch so far.

 

[jwilson]

I use 4" rollers for almost everything rolled: even external walls of the house. Ancient arms with both shoulders dislocated a few times. 7 or 9 inch ones get far too hard after 15 minutes: 4 inch ones really are not much slower and so much easier. Also for antifouling I think they give a better finish, also less spatter-spray.

 

[thinwater]

9-inch. Multihulls have less compound curve, so a 9-inch roller with medium nap makes full contact. I have to use a chip brush around the rudder and stands anyway. Much faster... for a multihull. If you handed me a 4-inch roller I would think I was being punished for some misdeed, like scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush.

A 3-foot handle gives you the leverage and reach to work a 9-inch roller very efficiently, even with sore joints. I never use just the handle. too hard on the wrist and too much bending over.

 

[PhillM]

Both - 4 inch for the waterline and tight bits. 9 inch to fill the gap. A team of two of us can get a coat on in an hour.
Boot top = Paint brush
Topsides - 4 inch roll and brush to tip off.

 

[BelleSerene]

Boot top = Paint brush

Why, please, Phill?

 

[johnalison]

9" on a pole.

 

[Applescruffs]

4” it is then,

But what roller?

Foam, sponge, mohair, wool ???

Confused I be.

 

[lampshuk]

My preference is the fine-cell foam. Easier to control and more consistency between full and half-used.

 

[VicS]

My preference is the fine-cell foam. Easier to control and more consistency between full and half-used.

The only foam roller I tried was not compatible with the solvent in the antifouling !

 

[Cuan]

The only foam roller I tried was not compatible with the solvent in the antifouling !

I always use the 4 inch yellow foam rollers, as I found that the white ones disintegrate quickly

 

[Mister E]

My wife says 7 or 9 inch.
4 inches is to small.

 

[MikeCC]

I had a few people trying the Anza felt rollers recently and all reported good results with no material loss from roller. Come in 7" and 4" wide. 7" good for larger expanses of hull.

 

[CCJ]

Why, please, Phill?

Mine is only 50mm wide

 

[CCJ]

The only foam roller I tried was not compatible with the solvent in the antifouling !

Mohair is the way forward

 

[lampshuk]

Cheap Screwfix foam rollers work with cheap Gael Force Antifouling.