Antifoul question again

[F_McMillan]

Thinking of applying antifoul this year. We have an E Boat (22ft trailer sailer) on a drying mooring, we didn't antifoul her last year and found a relatively small number of barnicles and weed (mainly around the bow) at the end of the season.
So is it worth while bothering or just scrub off anything that attaches itself? I think I know the answer to that one but thoughts appreciated.
Also if I do antifoul her, how much am I going to need?

 

[andyroo]

If I was in the same position as you, I would antifoul using a hard (rather than erodable) antifoul. Even though not entirely necessary if the mooring is dry for a large part of the day, it does give the hull some added protection which I believe justifies the cost.

On the subject of how much you need. If you go to either the international or blakes website you can input you measurements and it will calculate how many and what size pots to buy. I did it for my boat and I had just the right amount.

Cheers

Andrew

 

[F_McMillan]

Thanks Andrew,
I did wonder which type to go for, as you say hard looks like the one for the job.

 

[Inselaffe]

Not sure if it is worth it (I am new to all this) but if you do then this is what I have done in similar, but high fouling, circumstances.

I just did my Etap 22 for my first time which is in a drying berth.
I used a hard antifoul VC17m and it took exactly one of the 750ml pots to do 1 coat, which was handy. I think this tarried with their estimates - I think they were slightly conservative.
I didn't realise, but after you have mixed the pot, any left over will keep in the pot up to about a week - I thought it would just go off. I also found it important to follow their instructions of only one application roll intead of back and fro rolling. I used small mohair rollers. two coats in well under two hours.
I am in a very high fouling area, and it worked pretty well, so for you no problem I guess- the teflon also made scraping off any fouling very easy.
Also its a very thin layer so not so many worries about stripping it all off after a few years.
Only needs a wash with fresh water each year as prep (first time you have to sand I think) and half hour between coats and can almost directly go into water.

The downside is the price, but for a small boat not a big thing, and the coverage is above average.
I just noticed that again the prices for Compass here in Germany are the same in Euros as what you have to pay in pounds from UK compass (37 euros for VC17m and VC offshore vs 35 pounds for VC offshore).
next year I will use VC offshore and it will still only cost me 50 quid.

Another thing is to realise that almost nothing else will go over the top of these VC teflon AFs if you want to change later (see International guide to painting) - so although I'm pleased with the results and it was the advice of others, as my boat already had VC17m on, other than stripping it all off and starting again, I didn't have much choice!