Anti Fouling Prep

Halo

Halo

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Nov 2009
Messages
2,051
Location
Wetherby
Visit site
On my old boat I simply pressure washed off and slapped on a single coat of Tiger eroding antifouling each year. AFter about 15 years it got a bit lumpy but no real problems
Having invested in a newer boat I am wondering how much prep is really needed. I have seen various people emerging from under thier boats looking like blue smirfs having spent hours rubbing the old antifoul with wet and dry. I expect these people have not been improving thier health or longevity.
I am not a racer requiring absolutely the last 0.1 kn of speed. So the question is how much prep is REALLY worthwhile for a sailing cruiser and what is the optimum prep.
Particularly interested in hearing from others who have not bothered with scotch brite / wet n dry or done a small amount over an extended period
Thanks in advance Martin
 
My 34 is power washed when lifted out at the end of the summer.

I only sand if I find a rough patch of old antifouling.

Usually it is just a matter of masking up the waterline and rolling on one coat of International Cruiser Uno at the start of the next summer, which I am about to do.

Maybe some people sand hard antifouling to ensure good adhesion for the next coat but I have not found this necessary with soft antifouling.
 
Anti-fouling prep

I think the idea of wet sanding old anti-fouling is to minimise build-up. Not strictly necessary if old a/f is sound but it puts off the horrid task of eventually scraping off many years worth of a/f. I (and most folk I know) only put on one coat of a/f with a bit extra on waterline and leading edges - further reducing build-up. For the average cruiser doing local sailing plus a few cross channels this seems to work OK in W. Solent - boat is based in Lymington and I use Tiger Extra.
 
Halo said:
I have seen various people emerging from under thier boats looking like blue smirfs having spent hours rubbing the old antifoul with wet and dry. I expect these people have not been improving thier health or longevity.
Click to expand...

No need. Get a pole sander and tie on a block/couple of sheets of scotchbrite. Dip in bucket, stand back and rub down. As already said, it's really to try to put off the evil build up of A/F. Having scraped everything off my hull a couple of years back I don't want to have to do it again for the next many, many years.
 
Halo said:
On my old boat I simply pressure washed off and slapped on a single coat of Tiger eroding antifouling each year. AFter about 15 years it got a bit lumpy but no real problems
Having invested in a newer boat I am wondering how much prep is really needed. I have seen various people emerging from under thier boats looking like blue smirfs having spent hours rubbing the old antifoul with wet and dry. I expect these people have not been improving thier health or longevity.
I am not a racer requiring absolutely the last 0.1 kn of speed. So the question is how much prep is REALLY worthwhile for a sailing cruiser and what is the optimum prep.
Particularly interested in hearing from others who have not bothered with scotch brite / wet n dry or done a small amount over an extended period
Thanks in advance Martin
Click to expand...
It's not what you want to hear, but if you use a six foot pole with swivel sanding head attached - about £10 from builders merchant, the cool bue smurf look for the sander is much reduced.

I tape a hose to the pole as well, so you constantly wash away the blue. Good quality wet and dry cuts well, but you have to change the sheet fairly often. Metal sanding mesh also works, doesn't clog, lasts much longer but not as good as wet/dry paper.

I sand the hull not for ultimate speed, though I do like a boat to sail well, but to delay the inevitable "all off" year, which is a truly horrible job, or expensive with someone else doing it. With just one fresh coat a year, and a light wet sanding, I hope to get 12 years at least before having to strip and start again. So far 7 years in and hull still relatively smooth - not racing finish but pretty good.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top