anode checking /hull scrubbing

[zefender]

I had a new boat delivery early last June. Prior to that, I've only chartered so I've never had to get into this maintanance business. Apart from taking a look at the undersides before launching, I've not looked there since. To get some winter sailing in, I've kept the boat in the water. Does anyone have a guide as to how often the anode should be checked and is there a rule of thumb about scrubbing the underside? From what I can see, the underside looks pretty clean still though green is beginning to show itself. On a related point I've also heard about a submerged scrubbing facility on IOW. Anyone know much about this and does it work?

I'd be grateful for advice....

 

[JamesS]

The facility I think you are refering to is at Yarmouth - I haven't seen it but I understand its a sort of underwater car wash and cost wise it compares very favourably with the alternatives of hauling out and blasting off the weed.

With regard to anodes, I've had the boat out each year for the past 3 and have changed the anode on each occasion but I think I could have got away with changing every 2 years.

Cheers

 

[kingfisher]

Anodes

You can't just use two years as a rule of thumb. Anode wear is determined by a number of factors: strau current, salinity of the water,....

Check them regularly, if they're worn for more than 1/3, replace them.

Indeed; they should last about two seasons. If they wear faster than that, there's something wrong.

Obi-Wan

 

[tonyleigh]

Re: Anodes

"Something wrong" ? Does not water quality also govern wear. I have to replace annually and this appears the norm in my sailing area. No boats expect shaft anodes to last two seasons and I would doubt we all have a problem?

 

[Twister_Ken]

If its beginning to go green, it deserves a scrub anyway, so why not dry it or lift it, and kill both avians with a single projectile?

 

[Stemar]

There's an in-water scrubbing facility in Haslar Marina, Gosport

 

[kingfisher]

Common problem

Compare the wear of the anodes of boats with shore power vs those without in your marina. If the shorepower boats lose a lot more anode, than there's a common problem.

I replace mine anualy, whatever their state. What's the point. I'm not going to save a few € on zincs if they can save my prop. Idem for the zinc in the direct cooled engine.

Obi-Wan

 

[tonyleigh]

Re: Common problem

Only see a marina the odd time or two each year so no point of comparison I'm afraid. Where I winter boats come from two local estuaries and are largely on swinging moorings in quite strong tidal streams. Annual change is customary. I wondered what effect water quality (or tidal streams perhaps)had? So pronounced is wear that I would expect to remark change over say 4-5 weeks. However, never "aware" of wear when spending this sort of time in "Atlantic" clean water eg Scilly or South Brittany. Can't measure this of course and may merely be supposition.

 

[Bergman]

Re: Anodes

More worrying still is if they dont wear!

 

[zefender]

Re: Thanks for the info

I was being mean I suppose, trying to save a couple of hundred quid by avoiding the lift out. Twister Ken is right in that if it needs to be cleaned, then I may as well lift it out and replace the anode, rather than use the 'aqua car wash thingie' But many thanks for the speedy response. But has anyone actually used the Yarmouth (or Gosport) facility?

 

[Chris_Stannard]

Re: Thanks for the info

If you bought the boat in June and it was not new then you do need to inspect the anode. As an alternative to lifting you can put you boat on a slip alonside piles. Some yacht clubs have them, so check if you are a member of one. There are also public slips in the Hamble and Medina, contact the Harbour master's office for details. The yacht clubs are the best bet because they will offer pressure washing facilities.

If you do decide to slip, alongside piles, some points to remember.

Do not go hard up the slip at the top of the tide, you will want to get off on the next high water and it may not be as high as the one you go in on.

You will need a dinghy or some means of getting ashore

You will need a ladder if you want to get on board whilst the boat is dry

It is a good idea to take the spinnaker halyard to a point ashore on the beam, to hold the boat firm against the piles in addition to securing your lines firmly to at least two piles

Good luck

 

[zefender]

Re: Thanks for the info

Thanks for that... the boat was new last June, so its only been in about 7 months though obviously by the end of next season it'll have done 15 months or so.

I had forgotten about the ladder ...good point!

Spinnaker halyard? Perish the thought!