Anti-foul: does it die?

[Gentlemanracer]

Any idea how long I can keep an anti-fouled boat out of the water for before the anti-foul becomes useless when re-floated? Does the paint need to be continuously in water to "work"? Can the boat be removed for months then on re-floating, does the anti-foul start to work again, or is it effectively "dead"? I understand that bits fallen away would need replacing, but any ideas / what's the story about the rest of it? Thanks in advance!

 

[rafiki_]

The antifoul that I have used has always said paint on up to 2 weeks ahead of launching. However, you are best checking with the manufacturer of your particular paint.

 

[Gentlemanracer]

The antifoul that I have used has always said paint on up to 2 weeks ahead of launching. However, you are best checking with the manufacturer of your particular paint.

So if I start to dry stack an anti-fouled boat, previously kept in the water, do you reckon its pointless re-anti-fouling until I move on to keeping her in the water, possibly in a year or so's time??

 

[rafiki_]

So if I start to dry stack an anti-fouled boat, previously kept in the water, do you reckon its pointless re-anti-fouling until I move on to keeping her in the water, possibly in a year or so's time??

Yep. Not a lot of point a/F'ing a dry stacked boat.

 

[Bandit]

Some antifoulings can be put on 6 months before launch, so I don't see why being in the water for a couple of months and then out for six months is any different, see the manufacturers details which are available on line.

International is http://www.yachtpaint.com/gbr/diy/default.aspx

Hempel ( was Blakes) is http://www.hempel.co.uk/yacht

etc

Both International and Hempel have telephone help lines.

However if the boat has been in the water for 6 months, then comes out for a long period but the intention is to relaunch for 6 months or more for the season I would slap on a coat or two.

 

[Bertramdriver]

I last anti fouled in 2004 with international af. The boat has averaged only six weeks per year in the water since then as we have refurbed it, but it still has a clean bottom. Interestingly the rain seems to have washed away the carrier but left the copper, so the keel is now green instead of black.
The boat will go back in in May for the 1000 km trip to Italy, so she'll get a full af job a week before she goes back into the water. Last coat the day before.