A View of the Bottom

[AMCD300]

Why, when GRP is so thin, has no-one ever thought of putting a see-through panel in the bottom of a yacht?

Surely, if it were put in during manufacture and assuming the materials used were up to the right spec re toughness, flexibility etc etc etc, is this not done. Great to let the kids see underwater when anchored. Good also for use as viewing panels for the keel, propeller, rudder etc too.

Andy

 

[Habebty]

It has been done, to inspect props etc.

the problem being, keeping it clean enough to see through!

 

[haydude]

mmh let me think, perhaps because of the same reason we paint hulls with antifouling?

Those bathyscopes that you see on holiday boats do get cleaned often by divers, could you do the same to yours?

 

[jwilson]

Quite a few racing boats have a small window in the bottom to let you check the keel has not caught any weed that might slow you down.

 

[zzyyxx]

mmh let me think, perhaps because of the same reason we paint hulls with antifouling?

Those bathyscopes that you see on holiday boats do get cleaned often by divers, could you do the same to yours?

Windscreen wipers.

It's clearly an essential feature.

 

[AMCD300]

Details........just details.....

 

[sarabande]

we had a little porthole just by the prop shaft in 1960s to ensure that the folding prop was folded and in the configuration of least resistance. Keen racing sailors

 

[Resolution]

Windscreen wipers.

It's clearly an essential feature.

Don't forget the underwater blue lights as well!

 

[Seajet]

I'm sure when someone is suffering ' kill me now ' seasickness hunched over a bucket, they'd absolutely love a window through the bottom to peer through while they' using it...

 

[Rum_Pirate]

I recall a dinghy ( boston whaler style) that had a completely transparent hull.

 

[AMCD300]

mmh let me think, perhaps because of the same reason we paint hulls with antifouling?

That raises a good question - why is antifouling usually nasty bright colours. It's only a chemical - why not make it transparent?

Pin removed, thrown in, stand back....

 

[[70521]]

why is antifouling usually nasty bright colours

This season I shall be mostly wearing black. With apologies to the Fast Show.

 

[jamesjermain]

That raises a good question - why is antifouling usually nasty bright colours. It's only a chemical - why not make it transparent?

Pin removed, thrown in, stand back....

Copper is not hugely transparent.

 

[FWB]

That raises a good question - why is antifouling usually nasty bright colours. It's only a chemical - why not make it transparent?...

Clear antifouling was banned years ago. It was too effective. I still have a tin.

 

[zzyyxx]

That raises a good question - why is antifouling usually nasty bright colours. It's only a chemical - why not make it transparent?

How would you know you'd put it on?

 

[chewi]

How would you know you'd put it on?

with virtual a/f you'd be virtually certain of the coverage...

 

[AMCD300]

heh heh - I thought there would be a good reason.

What is the old saying about re-inventing the wheel?

I'll think of some more 'why hasn't anyone though of...' things in a while. Or maybe I won't.

Andy

 

[Seajet]

Andy,

International made transparent antifouling, the main idea was to put it above the boot top where weed and slime can grow, especially on boats weighed down at the bow by moorings.

It was TBT based, so as Dylan mentioned, far too useful to let yotties use !

 

[AMCD300]

Andy,

International made transparent antifouling, the main idea was to put it above the boot top where weed and slime can grow, especially on boats weighed down at the bow by moorings.

It was TBT based, so as Dylan mentioned, far too useful to let yotties use !

Andy

We used to use trichloroethylene, a wonderful degreasing solvent, to clean hydraulic oil from aircraft surfaces (F4/FGR2)...until someone found that it was a carcinogenic. Damned inconvenient, but at least the hair on the back of my hands and on my knees (don't ask) grew back when we stopped using it.

Like always, the good things that work are found to be too good. Poor us...

Andy