Twister_Ken
Well-Known Member
Why are there so many antifouling questions this year?
Antifouling question
- Thread starter Twister_Ken
- Start date
pvb
Well-Known Member
None of the above! Basically, people are easily fooled by marketing hype. The reality is that almost all popular antifouls contain the same ingredients, in roughly the same proportions. Effectiveness ultimately depends on how much of the filthy expensive stuff you can be bothered to apply. Put a thin layer on by roller, and it'll need doing again soon (which is why yard staff always use rollers). People are also for some inexplicable reason convinced they have to do it in Feb/Mar, when the weather's miserable. I've settled into a nice routine of taking the boat out once every 2 years, in the summer (when the marina has cheap liftouts), and I whack several thick coats of Micron on it using a brush. Lasts for 2 years in the water. I save a fortune on liftouts. The yard guys are always amazed at how clean the hull is when it's eventually lifted. But I doubt anyone will learn from my experience...
Cerddinen
Well-Known Member
The reason is the psychology and the initial post fails to do justice to the symbolic power of the act. Applying antifouling represents the point of transition from repair and maintenance to preparation for launch or, more prosaically, from the dating to the promise of mating. It has a quasi-religious significance, and an invocation of all the joy that is to follow. Many cultures have the tradition of celebrating the arrival of Spring and the renewal of life. Our own Mayday festival is an example of a Pagan tradition dating back thousands of years. A yachtsmen does not engage in contortions around a Maypole wearing fancy dress and waving a dripping fertility symbol. Instead, he engages in contortions around his keel wearing fancy dress and waving a dripping roller.
rogerdog
Well-Known Member
Excellent /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
WF36
Well-Known Member
very good!
WindermereColvic
Well-Known Member
Further to Jaz's excelent post, i would like to add an exstract from an article im writeing its a work in progres, but might help answere the question..
Another peculiarity of winter maintenance begins as soon as spring begins to loom on the horizon, and a most peculiar creature comes out of hibernation. He has been tucked up at home, or more likely propping up a bar all winter, but when the frost thins, and gales subside, members of this most eccentric species begin to venture out again, treading paths to chandleries, workshops and harbours throughout the land. Lying down in the freezing mud below their boats, they begin to chip away at last year’s paint, filling, sanding and polishing before straitening up, admiring all their hard work; and promptly painting over it again. Those few boat owners who have mastered the art of antifouling are soon elevated to a god like status by those around them, for you see, what might look like a simple bit of painting, is actually a Pandora’s box of temperature and humidity control, endless epoxy-pevey-semi-self-unannealing, vinyl matted-extra copper coated-auto eroding-non scrubable, 2, 3 half pack paints, all of which you will have to go without food for a week to buy. And you still don’t go any faster. But, we do it, becasue if we didn’t, relying as in the days of old on scrubbing grids and copper ingots hung from the rail, we would be alienated from the pack, renegade misfits to be treated with the upmost contempt. And, of course, we wouldn’t be able to complain about it afterwards.
Another peculiarity of winter maintenance begins as soon as spring begins to loom on the horizon, and a most peculiar creature comes out of hibernation. He has been tucked up at home, or more likely propping up a bar all winter, but when the frost thins, and gales subside, members of this most eccentric species begin to venture out again, treading paths to chandleries, workshops and harbours throughout the land. Lying down in the freezing mud below their boats, they begin to chip away at last year’s paint, filling, sanding and polishing before straitening up, admiring all their hard work; and promptly painting over it again. Those few boat owners who have mastered the art of antifouling are soon elevated to a god like status by those around them, for you see, what might look like a simple bit of painting, is actually a Pandora’s box of temperature and humidity control, endless epoxy-pevey-semi-self-unannealing, vinyl matted-extra copper coated-auto eroding-non scrubable, 2, 3 half pack paints, all of which you will have to go without food for a week to buy. And you still don’t go any faster. But, we do it, becasue if we didn’t, relying as in the days of old on scrubbing grids and copper ingots hung from the rail, we would be alienated from the pack, renegade misfits to be treated with the upmost contempt. And, of course, we wouldn’t be able to complain about it afterwards.
benlui
Well-Known Member
Call me an idiot if you may, but im doing my own boat this year to save €€€. I never had the time to do it before, but now I have so why pay for labour when i can do it myself? Also, the yard where I am, charge a bomb for this. So this year, im one of those (idiots) whos asking the questions your all sick of hearing of. After all, isnt this what this forum is for!!!!!!!! Ide rather hold on to my money thanks and keep the budget for the more specailised jobs i cant do myself..........
Danny Jo
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Call me an idiot if you may, but im doing my own boat this year to save €€€.
[/ QUOTE ] I failed to make it cheaper by doing the work myself. What I saved on labour was spent on materials.
Call me an idiot if you may, but im doing my own boat this year to save €€€.
[/ QUOTE ] I failed to make it cheaper by doing the work myself. What I saved on labour was spent on materials.
William_H
Well-Known Member
Ah antifouling. Things are different here in West Oz. Antifouling paint is vital. Some people leave small f/g mobo trailer boats on a mooring and within 2 weeks in the summer the bottom has growth and the gel coat shine on the bottom is lost forever.
My own boat goes on a trailer so I relaunch in early spring without a/f. I have spent much of the winter with the boat at home cleaning off the old stuff. I am afraid of build up.
After a month or so the weather warms up and I bring it home for the paint job. One or 2 thin coats. After a month or so the slime has built up and it is wiped over or scrubbed in water usually once per week until the a/f has disappeared in places and scrubbing becomes even more important. About the time the water gets too cold it is time to drag it home again. olewill
My own boat goes on a trailer so I relaunch in early spring without a/f. I have spent much of the winter with the boat at home cleaning off the old stuff. I am afraid of build up.
After a month or so the weather warms up and I bring it home for the paint job. One or 2 thin coats. After a month or so the slime has built up and it is wiped over or scrubbed in water usually once per week until the a/f has disappeared in places and scrubbing becomes even more important. About the time the water gets too cold it is time to drag it home again. olewill
Scotty_Tradewind
Well-Known Member
Hi Ken, 'The idiots guide'. Is it to be believed then? If so many in my yard at the top of Portsmouth harbour, who use Blakes Cruising Performer, are wrong!
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
Are there significantly more questions on antifouling than usual at this time of year?
Or do we think the same every year?
Or do we think the same every year?