Algae causing slippery pontoons and green decks - mild weather and rain combination

[FullCircle]

Arrived at Bridgemarsh today to see a sign on the pontoon gate that pontoons are being jetwashed in salt water to combat the build up of slippery algae on pontoons.
Also, most of the boats have much more green decks than usual. It took ages to clean ours this afternoon, and the pontoons were insdeed very slippery.

Be careful on pontoons at the moment, wherever you are, we don't want to fish any more forumites out of the drink, it's too upsetting.

 

[Vara]

Yep, green particularly bad this year, my decks have been keeping patio magic in business for the last couple of months. (Not everybody has a g/child they can press into slave labour)

In Dover they've got a big patio cleaner with a pressure washer and have kept the pontoons pretty clear.

The cold snap should slow it down.

 

[sailorman]

I have forwarded this to our marina manager

 

[johnalison]

No problem in Titchmarsh! The only easy way to make wood non-slip is chicken wire.

 

[ex-Gladys]

...
Also, most of the boats have much more green decks than usual. It took ages to clean ours this afternoon, and the pontoons were insdeed very slippery.

Ah, I thought it was just Gladys, continuous line on the furler is very green, and the sides of the wheelhouse are very bad... Also had bird cr4p to contend with until they'd eaten all the berries in the hedge...

 

[MoodySabre]

Thankfully we no longer have wooden pontoons.

 

[xyachtdave]

Sounds like a job for patio magic!

 

[Saguday]

What have you got in Bradwell, Roger - composite something-or-other?

 

[AliM]

Tosh is jet washing the Bridgemarsh pontoons. He has completed the inner one and started on ours.i think he did the same last year. biff is replacing some of the pontoons - the new ones are already in the water, waiting to be put in place. They still have wooden surfaces, but less of the ancient patchy decking and bits of old pallet - it is actually new timber. They should be a bit better when the work is finished. Just wait till it freezes - then it gets really slippery.

 

[jimi]

Coincidentally I sprayed the boat with patio magic yesterday cos it was getting green.
Must be the time of year!

 

[MoodySabre]

What have you got in Bradwell, Roger - composite something-or-other?

Composite on the brows and metal "cheese grater" pontoons and fingers. Not popular with dogs or in bare feet. Very stable and safe.

 

[Koeketiene]

I have forwarded this to our marina manager

JJ's going to stop it raining?

 

[sailorman]

they might clean the pontoons to protect their employees & berth holders, its very green down there & when wet, slippery.
As stated by others, there has been much algae on boats & pontoons this season & its not normal in this part of the world

 

[Cantata]

Treated my decks and cabin top to Patio Magic a few weeks ago, having suffered really lush green growth last winter. So far still gleaming white (apart from my muddy footprints from going to and fro....)

 

[wingdiver]

they might clean the pontoons to protect their employees & berth holders, its very green down there & when wet, slippery.
As stated by others, there has been much algae on boats & pontoons this season & its not normal in this part of the world

The weekend HM at Foxs did around 15 ft at the land end of A pontoon last weekend (30th). It is far less slippery than the rest so shows what is needed.
I asked for the pontoons to be looked at in around Feb/March and then, the 'special' piece of kit they use was out of action.
It appears there will be a lot of boat movements in the next month whilst the marina is dregded and the pontoons should be cleaned then whilst berths are clear as it will avoid covering boats in the residue.
TBH, I would rather they did it now and I had to clean the boat than end up in the drink or on my (ample) ar$e because of slippery pontoons!!!

 

[jimi]

I wear these ice gripper things on my feet when the pontoons are icy, micght be worth trying on slippery pontoons as well?

 

[Hadenough]

I wear these ice gripper things on my feet when the pontoons are icy, micght be worth trying on slippery pontoons as well?

They work well.

 

[sailorman]

The weekend HM at Foxs did around 15 ft at the land end of A pontoon last weekend (30th). It is far less slippery than the rest so shows what is needed.
I asked for the pontoons to be looked at in around Feb/March and then, the 'special' piece of kit they use was out of action.
It appears there will be a lot of boat movements in the next month whilst the marina is dredged and the pontoons should be cleaned then whilst berths are clear as it will avoid covering boats in the residue.
TBH, I would rather they did it now and I had to clean the boat than end up in the drink or on my (ample) ar$e because of slippery pontoons!!!

Like duty of care

 

[ChattingLil]

Limehouse is being re-pontooned at the moment. Half done - with some sort of composite hard plasticy thing that almost feels like concrete. It's a grid type structure.
Bloody excellent underfoot (but hideous in bare feet). Can't believe the difference it makes.

 

[wingdiver]

Limehouse is being re-pontooned at the moment. Half done - with some sort of composite hard plasticy thing that almost feels like concrete. It's a grid type structure.
Bloody excellent underfoot (but hideous in bare feet). Can't believe the difference it makes.

They put that on the gangway from land to pontoon at Foxs and it was great until people started using the skids of trolleys to slow them down when descending at low tide. They had to put extra bits across the middle for grip after that.

PS - we were in London a week ago and tried to see about popping by Limehouse by car. Nigh on impossible to get close......