Antifouling in Sweden

[roger]

A fairly recent PBO article seemed to say that In Baltic Sweden you could not use antifouling with either biocides or copper. This suggests that it isnt worth using AFs at all. Since my boat is laid up in Baltic Sweden I need to know if its worth putting anything on the bottom. I didnt get much weed etc on the bottom this season but did have a lot of slime.
Any comments from those who know would be welcome

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[chrisc]

if you are on east coast it is probably not worth putting anything on.on west coast they have reverted back to proper anti-fouling.-two very different environments.don't buy any in uk buy it locally it's cheaper,and the right stuff.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[PerL]

Technically, I think you are allowed to use copper antfouling but not put it on. My boat is based on the west coast, but I do most of the sailing in the southern Baltic, so I'm allowed to use the good stuff. The eco friendly antifouling isn't much use, but most boat owners I know on the east coast consider it somewhat better than nothing and apply it anyway.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[gunnarsilins]

Put something on!

Even if Baltic sea is a 'low-growth' area, you still can expect a lot of barnacles.
But I don´t recomend using the local stuff, it´s close to useless!
Every autumn I see dozens of boats beeing lifted at my marina in Stockholm with the bottom full of barnacles, weed and slime.

The thing is, you are allowed to use anti fouling with copper, but not to buy and sell it. So bring some with you when coming from UK!
Or at least try to get some of the 'West Coast' variety.

For yor knowledge, I´m Swedish, live in Stockholm and keep my boat afloat all year round here, but buy my AF from mailorder companies in UK....not exatly legal!



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Twister_Ken]

Considering the substantial size of the mullet you see in almost every UK sailing river/marina, and which seem to relish the delicacy provided by slime growing on boat bottoms, it's difficult to accept that antifouling does any harm to marine life!

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.writeforweb.com/twister1>Let's Twist Again</A>

 

[roger]

Folks - many thanks for your replies. You have confirmed that the official stuff is close to useless. I'll be joining the boat by Ryanair which means a tight weight limit. I just might rely on last years - theres a lot of it left.

<hr width=100% size=1>Roger

 

[gunnarsilins]

Old \'real\' anti foul...

....will work fine!
I painted in spring -99 in Scotland with Internationals Cruising Superior and kept her afloat almost 3 years in the Baltic sea without any growth to speak about!


<hr width=100% size=1>