BoatScrubber silicone based antifoul

Hazymoonshine

Hazymoonshine

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Hello,

I am looking at a boat with a view to buying it but am a little uncertain what to make of the Boatscrubber antifoul system it has applied.

I have no experience of this product, and as I believe the company is no longer operating, would anticipate reverting to 'normal' antifoul.

Does anyone have experience of this; am I looking at a major job?

I would really appreciate any advice or guidance,

Many thanks

H
 
Not sure but I THINK that system has had immense problems and no one wants to pick up the Boatscrubber warranty work.

OTOH if you can use that to knock down the price, you can get the hull blasted to clean, and start over with a normal a/f system, for not too much money.
 
If you do a search you should throw up one or two past posts on this topic. Boatscrubber went bust twice & as far as I know no one is trying the idea for a 3rd time.

The silicon based antifoul is I believe a Seajet product but you would need to check the website to see if they still do it. As the previous poster says as some stage you will have to remove it & start again with a new a/f system- I believe Seajet did make a stripper for the a/f but you are probably better off going down the slurry blast route and starting again from bare gelcote.
 
It fouls far too quickly to be viable now that Boatscrubber has gone bust. A report (from a Danish governmental body I think) concluded that it is only a viable option for dry sailed racing yachts. As to its removal Seajet's advice is:
"Firstly the hull should be high-pressure washed very intensely with a pressure 150-200 bar in combination with a rotating nozzle. Secondly the remaining Seajet Speed can be removed by slurry blasting or manual scraping. In both cases special attention must be given to the fact that also minor silicon residue is to be removed for 100% since these will causes adhesion problems when overcoated with any new paintsystem. The experiences with chemical strippers / conventional abrading are negative and therefore we can not recommend this."

As you may be able to tell I have an interest in this question. (I'm intending to use a Bosch electric scraper).
 
Got mine all off (36 ft long-keeler) in 2 weekends using a tungsten carbide scraper (about £15 from Screwfix), Put on a couple of coats of primer and then antifouled. Not worth making the boatyard rich, and it builds up your scraping arm. However, the rubbery scrapings blow about the place, so take a broom and rubbish sack so that you can clear up after each session if you wish to avoid annoying the neighbours who get the silicone stuff on their new varnish work.
 
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