Antifoul Prep (again - sorry!)

[PeteCooper]

I am about to prepare my hull for antifouling. I am not going to scrape it right back as I usually do but just prepare the surface so that the new paint will stick. I would normally do this using wet & dry which I would fit to a sanding block and then dip it in a buclet of water, sand, dip in water, sand etc. I saw a pal of mine using a hand held water squirter so that instead of dipping in the bucket he can keep it wet and keep on sanding, and also the squirter should rinse off the abraded surface. I was wondering if a garden squirter like this one from Argos : http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/pa...Bdecoration.htm might make the job a little easier? Any thoughts?

 

[savageseadog]

Yes I've used similar, particularly useful when drying down where there isn't water on tap.

 

[cnh]

My boat (30 foot) is ashore in a Foreign Port at the moment. I asked them for a quote to antifoul it.

To sandblast it, clean and degrease, then antifoul: 342 euros (say £240). Good value? The antifouling itself is extra.

Nicholas Hill

Channel & Baltic Pilot

 

[VicS]

I think you may still need the bucket to rise the paper occassionally. Otherwise seems a good idea but a trigger spray, ex-domestic cleaning product, might be just as effective (and cheaper) to keep the surface wet but won't be enough to wash it.

 

[Aja]

Pete

Yes - almost what I do. A good tip is to use (plenty) of washing up water in the bucket. It helps keep the paper clear and prevents clogging.

Still hard work though!

Donald

 

[Norman_E]

What grade wet & dry works best for this?

 

[alkira]

Why would you want to go to all that trouble.
Is the surface of the existing foul not rough enough already? if you looked at the paint surface through a microscope i bet it would be covered in minute "grand canyons" perfect to key in and surely enough to hold subsequent layers of anti foul paint.
As long as it is a clean surface go for it with the new stuff it could save you a lot of messy labour.
Sure if you look at the manufacturer info they may say different but then should we not be polishing our cars every week.
Owned 40ft yacht since '99 and not had excessive foul problems but used ablative - couldn't imagine sanding each year!!

 

[BobnLesley]

I'm with Alkira; power-wash at the end of the season, then scrape/brush off any loose stuff in the spring and slap some more on - we just apply one good coat all over, plus a second at the waterline and on the keel & rudder leading edges. Works for us. Remember, boat anti-fouling is like gardening - never buy one bigger than your wife can cope with.

 

[asj1]

I agree, don't bother with much prep, but what is vital is not too overdo tehy antifoul, one coat is fine with two on teh waterline and leading edges.
Come the autumn the powerwash off virtually removes all that's left.

Regards

 

[RobBrown]

Once jet washed, I used Scotchbrite abraisive pads & found these work fine but now got it down to supemarket own brand pan scrubbers- does just as good a job- one or two gen sufficient to do a 30' boat.

 

[VicS]

[ QUOTE ]
I used Scotchbrite abraisive pads

[/ QUOTE ] Similar, but much thicker, pads from industrial floor cleanung machine. One pad cuts up to make several. Excellent for scrubbing off.

 

[tommydortez]

after weighing up the options on paying someone to jet wash/ sand blast the boat every year i just went ahead and bought the cheapest petrol washer i could find.

its called a EPW3100-2 made by a company in Wales, not far from me (Pembrokeshire) they sold me an additional attachment called a sand blast hose, really affective! especially when i turned the pump up to max pressure

only cost me about £400 all together