Can anyone recomend a good antifouling for applying between tides? I am trying to avoid having to lift out so can do it tied up to piles. Main cruising area is the Solent.
I have used International Micron between tides with good effect. It does need to be a dry day so that the hull is dry after washing down before the antifouling is applied.
Do not use Optima as that is water based and needs time to dry
Give Hardway Marine Chandlery, Priory Rd Gosport, a tinkle...they do this regularly on the hard outside the shop and are most helpful. I'm sure they'll sell you what they use.
I do this every year with a bilge-keeler, either on the hard or a beach such as East Head or Priory Bay. I have not noticed any particular differences between brands (they seem to change the formula every year anyway!). (talking about conventional solvent based a/f).
The important points, I believe, are:
A 'good' tide. Preferably grounding around 7am with as much range as possible....unfortunately these are of course incompatible!
Do all the cleaning off the day before so as to be ready to rinse down with fresh water as soon as the tide has gone.
Choose a warm day with low humidity and a gentle breeze. (difficult if you're retired....near impossible if you're working!)
Work like furry to try to get at least 3 hrs drying time!
It's certainly not my idea of fun, but its better than paying for a lift-out!
XM3000 at £45 for 3 litres.(errodale stuff so little scrubbing required to keep thickness down) works well in the Hamble. Apply with big roller and long handle to save the back. Scrubbing off made very easy by use of garden hoe and scrubbing pads attached to flat paint pad from B&Q. Scrub from dinghy as tide goes down as it is so much easier than when it starts to dry. Worth the effort but two in the dinghy is by far the easies way. Scrubbing pads at Hamble / Warsash ideal for the job and the Victory in Hamble does good reasonable food as a reward.
The fastest antifouling in all senses is VC 17m from International.
- it's teflon/copper in a quick-evaporating solvent
- it's really a boost when you come from built up conventional a/f
- it's also OK for very fast boats - unlike my 25ft oversized dinghy
Best thing: it does dry in less then 10min (sic!) and doesn't build up thick layers
Where is the catch? You got to start with a clean gelcoat or a epoxyprimer over old coats.
I have done it with jotun seaguardian on my 34' trimaran but the last bit was a bit doubtful. It would probably be ok on a smaller boat.-oh and it was on a scorcher day.
I used jotun non stop, on a 57' boat, one side at a time, on four tides, no problems, includoing fitting a new echo sounder and bootopping, two guys, pressure washer, a bit of scraping here and there. windy day, dry.