Clearing weed.

[Sean Carter]

Hello

At my sailing club we have a weed problem. Has anyone got some clever ideas about clearing weed, or a special machine that will do it.
We can manually pull it out, but would be interested in solutions found by others.

Sean

 

[Seashoreman]

Deleted.

 

[Sean Carter]

All the weed is in the water and quite densely packed and will stop a dinghy or yacht.

 

[Thistle]

Google pond weed cutting tools.

 

[pvb]

When it happens in the marina I'm in, they use a launch with guys with rakes, pull it out of the water, take the launch away from the marina and dump the weed. Repeat....

 

[Sean Carter]

It does seem a low tech solution is probably best. Thank you everyone for your help.

 

[johnalison]

You need a large aquatic herbivore. Something like a hippo perhaps.

 

[NotBirdseye]

Herbicide works...

Otherwise, get a dinghy and a rake. :|.

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=429

 

[jaypea]

At Hykeham Sailing Club [Lincoln] we have used a blue dye to prevent sunlight reaching the weed for seven years. The lake is 180acres...
Expensive but very effective.
PM with your mobile and I can take you through our solution and guide costs

 

[Neeves]

The greenies are going to love this thread.

Jonathan

 

[NotBirdseye]

The greenies are going to love this thread.

Jonathan

As self confessed greenie (I'm just not a remainer), yep. Being green is about being sustainable and invasive weeds serve no one since we don't have any animals that will consume them. It's like japanese knotweed, a problem.

The dye works well but only if the weeds are not established in the first place (and not on free floating unfortunately). Another tip would be to try and understand what is encouraging the weed growth. Otherwise, consider drying it out, baling(?) it up and selling it as firewood. If anyone has a log fire, they'd be glad to take it off your hands as long as it has been compressed into logs (apply lots of pressure into small brick like shapes).

 

[thinwater]

The hydrilla weed is so bad in some US east coast rivers they have floating mowers. But they can't keep up... or don't try very hard.

I like sailing on the washington, DC area. It is close to home and the view in the capital city is nice. But the weed clogs the rudder and keel multiple times each day. We moved the boat (it does not tolerate salt).

 

[jaypea]

As self confessed greenie (I'm just not a remainer), yep. Being green is about being sustainable and invasive weeds serve no one since we don't have any animals that will consume them. It's like japanese knotweed, a problem.

The dye works well but only if the weeds are not established in the first place (and not on free floating unfortunately). Another tip would be to try and understand what is encouraging the weed growth. Otherwise, consider drying it out, baling(?) it up and selling it as firewood. If anyone has a log fire, they'd be glad to take it off your hands as long as it has been compressed into logs (apply lots of pressure into small brick like shapes).

Unless the weed really is knotweed....which it won’t be, the dye has proven effective against all common weed growth types in the UK including the perennial favourite Canadian pond weed. Our lake became so congested by late June it virtually stopped us sailing. The weed dies off over winter, dye is applied in Feb or March. We went from a lake resembling the Sargasso Sea to a clean lake in the first year.

I usually find that when someone offers first-hand and direct experience of several years it’s unwise to make sweeping and inaccurate observations without further enquiry.

 

[Daydream believer]

You need a large aquatic herbivore. Something like a hippo perhaps.

My mother in law would fit the bill perfectly, but I cannot take responsibility for any side reactions

 

[Daydream believer]

How about a 15 ft rake & someone with an old steam traction engine on the bank to winch it across the lake. Some models were designed to pull ploughs across fields, so a rake would be no different. The owners would welcome something to play at, plus earn a few bob in the process. Might even find a pair so they pulled it back & forth like a proper ploughing operation.
Try a steam society for contacts & ideas
Possibly the weed can be composted & used as fertilizer.

 

[NotBirdseye]

I usually find that when someone offers first-hand and direct experience of several years it’s unwise to make sweeping and inaccurate observations without further enquiry.

You're starting to sound like Brent, but okay, I'll come up with my sources:

RYA https://www.rya.org.uk/knowledge-advice/environmental-advice/Pages/dealing-with-weed.aspx
Michigan University https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/using_aquatic_dyes_in_ponds
Environmental Agency http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/7963/1/BarrettSTR-W111-e-eN007963CR.pdf
International Guide to Water Management 1995 https://www.lonza.com/~/media/Files/water-treatment/Weedbook.ashx?la=en
MossyOak (Hunting Magazine I think) https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsess...-dyes-can-they-be-useful-in-your-pond-or-lake
Platinum Lake Management https://www.platinumlakemanagement.com/blog/pond-dye-is-it-worth-the-money

I'll also point out that the "The Dye works well but only if the weeds are not established". The Dye will not kill plants, it is not a herbicide. As you point out yourself, the weed dies off over winter and the dye is applied prior to the weeds establishing themselves.

I suggest you actually read the reply before making sweeping and inaccurate observations.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

You need a large aquatic herbivore. Something like a hippo perhaps.

A manatee or dugong sounds ideal, with the added advantage that you can talk about the mermaids at your club!

 

[Neeves]

As self confessed greenie (I'm just not a remainer), yep. Being green is about being sustainable and invasive weeds serve no one since we don't have any animals that will consume them. It's like japanese knotweed, a problem.

The dye works well but only if the weeds are not established in the first place (and not on free floating unfortunately). Another tip would be to try and understand what is encouraging the weed growth. Otherwise, consider drying it out, baling(?) it up and selling it as firewood. If anyone has a log fire, they'd be glad to take it off your hands as long as it has been compressed into logs (apply lots of pressure into small brick like shapes).

Its actually never been mentioned that this is an invasive weed - hence the suggestion (in the absence of qualification) the greenies will love it. As guessing seems to in order - it maybe that agriculture our homes nearby are intensively using fertilisers that are encouraging more dense growth of a native weed - and until the OP defines what weed he is talking about - the greenies might love the thread.

Now if it is an invasive species - different scenario.

Jonathan

 

[johnalison]

My mother in law would fit the bill perfectly, but I cannot take responsibility for any side reactions

I don't know about your Mother-in-law because I have never met her, but in the case of hippos it comes out of the rear.

 

[Daydream believer]

I don't know about your Mother-in-law because I have never met her, but in the case of hippos it comes out of the rear.

If you ever heard my mother in law you would know that trouble comes out of both ends :ambivalence: