An Alternative to Anti-fouling?

[Major_Clanger]

A pal and I were discussing, over a few pints naturally, whether GRP boats that live in mud berths really benefit from being anti-fouled. His argument was that if a thin layer of mud builds-up over the coating then it can't do its job. I'm not sure I agree, although it does seem logical.

So, if you were to paint the hull with something other than anti-foul, what would you use?

 

[William_H]

Well the practical answer is do nothing. Presumably it has old a/f on it still which will perhaps continue to work a bit.
If it was a new boat or with just gel coat then that may be OK. Meanwhile around here no tides to speak of, warm water and lots of sun people with trailer boats often park them on a swing mooring perhaps to work on the trailer. Within 2 weeks you can see the slime build up and within 6 weeks the gel coat is damaged to the point it will never be pristine again. Within 6 months the boat has grown to twice its size and is unusable. ol'will

 

[vyv_cox]

The first boat I owned was ten years old when we bought it and had never been antifouled. Although deep-keeled the boat was kept on a drying berth alongside a jetty. Every month or so the previous owner would brush the hull down with a broom.

 

[Wansworth]

We dry sail our Vega but I reckon if thehull was smooth a clean offalongside a jetty every three weeks anti fouling would not be needed.

 

[Major_Clanger]

Access to scrubbing posts is good, so I'll have no trouble keeping her clean. What I'm after are some alternative coating ideas. I'd like to put something on there, even if just for the sake of appearance, but it may also give a little protection to the gelcoat.

 

[peteK]

The thin layer of mud on the hull acts like a primer for the barnacles

 

[ProDave]

I found im my boat kept in a frying harbour, the very bottom that contacts the mud at every low tide, had bay far the largest amount of small barnacles compared to any other part of the boat.

If you really want to avoid anti foul, move to fresh water. Last week we took a boat out that had been in fresh water for 4 years and she had a lovely clean bottom.

 

[Stemar]

Better still, park the boat in fresh water, but sail in salt. That way nothing gets a chance.

I have the same problem as the OP. The boat sits on Portsmouth mud for a couple of hours every tide. Nothing works, I tried coppercoat, mainly because a mate had just done two big gin palaces and there was enough left over for my little Snapdragon, but not got his 36 footer. The bit that sits on the mud grows barnacles like nobodies business. Half a dozen assorted antifouls made no difference, so I seem to have a simple choice. Put antifoul on and scub off 3 times a season or save my money and scrub off 3 times a season.

 

[johnalison]

We towed an Avon for three weeks once in the West Country and there were visible barnacles on it at the end.

We used to berth our boat in fresh water, sailing in salt, and got almost no fouling. Spending time in somewhere like the Netherlands, or even the Baltic will also delay fouling but for most of us it's just a cross we bear.

We used to moor in a creek where suspended matter stuck to the A/F and fouling occurred very quickly but onlt the bottom of the keel which occasionally lay in mud grew barnacles. If I were in mud now I would use a hard A/F and aim to scrub from time to time, but also possibly only apply A/F in alternate years.

 

[LadyInBed]

So, if you were to paint the hull with something other than anti-foul, what would you use?

Having a half salt, half fresh water river mooring, I don't normally A/F but this year, because the boat was out of the water, I painted the hull with household emulsion, just to make it look nice
It will be interesting to see what it's like when I pressure wash it in April.

 

[Major_Clanger]

Having a half salt, half fresh water river mooring, I don't normally A/F but this year, because the boat was out of the water, I painted the hull with household emulsion, just to make it look nice
It will be interesting to see what it's like when I pressure wash it in April.

Quite an interesting idea. I suppose the thinking is that, being water-based, the paint sloughs off taking any fouling with it?

 

[LadyInBed]

Quite an interesting idea. I suppose the thinking is that, being water-based, the paint sloughs off taking any fouling with it?

I'm hoping so!

 

[vyv_cox]

Having a half salt, half fresh water river mooring, I don't normally A/F but this year, because the boat was out of the water, I painted the hull with household emulsion, just to make it look nice
It will be interesting to see what it's like when I pressure wash it in April.

When Dick Durham disastrously antifouled his boat with the system that uses thin sheets of copper stuck on the hull, he reported that a boat hauled at the same time as him was considerably less fouled with emulsion paint the only antifouling.

 

[Shaun of the sea.]

Hi,

I saw the date of this post and although it was some time ago I thought Id share what I have just seen.

Whilst working on my own boat in the yard. I witnessed a company removing anti foul with a new style system. It is not sand/soda blasting, so no need to sheet up the boat. There were no chemicals involved so no mess. It was a kind of stripping machine set to remove the anti-foul and not the gel!!

It was a very efficient system. Completely removing all dust at source to a dust extractor.

This has to be the most cost effective way and environmentally friendly.

As I was so impressed I got the guys number and will definitely be using him when I need mine done.