Curry powder

reginaldon

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Did anyone else use the tip of adding curry powder to their antifouling? You'll be pleases to know that it it works well - I've the finest crop of weed ever, even better than using the Growmore that I apparently used last year.
 
I used chilli powder this year.

Dried out the other week for a look and found:

Very little fouling of any kind. Quite unusual.
Some flaking paint. Not sure if this was because of the chilli.
The texture on application was pretty grainy, and I think may have effected hull speed.

Overall worth looking at I think. Might try a sauce next time though to avoid the grains.
 
The only really effective additive is TBT, which is of course illegal in the UK. Out of interest it is freely available at any builder's merchant in the USA, they use it on brickwork beneath the damp course to stop the green mould.
 
Ive heard of arsnic being added to create antifoul paint in africa, think that works a wee tad more than TBT, and is also illegal, very and nasty.
 
Chilli is sold as a fine powder in most shops sellling stuff for the Indian cuisine (mine is "Rajah", cost 1 EUR). I tried it too this year, mixed into copper based AF. Dried out a week ago. A smattering of small barnacles on the keel bulb and a bit on the hull in front of the keel. Not spectacular, but noticably better, the hot summer taken into account.
 
yes... (grainy)

Mine has been on for 17 months now and is definitely better than last year.

She does have a slime all over currently, but this just brushes off as I have found.

I think it does work, this is the best result I have had since I relaunched in 2002.
 
I bough something like a 500g bag, but found that after what looks like a couple of heaped table spoons that the 2.5l tin looked like it really had enough. So got a couple of year's worth left if it keeps its strength.
 
I can recall a couple of (more or less) controlled trials that showed chilli powder to have no significant effect. All depends on whether the litle critters have capsaicin receptors. Even if they do, using chilli may select for vindaloo-loving masochists.
 
I tried it a year ago. With two rudders, I coated one with the usual a/f, the other with the same a/f mixed with a whole jar of fine chilli powder. Not exactly a scientific test, but there was certainly a goodly dollop of chilli on the one rudder.

This year, I examined both with great expectations - to find they were both the same......
Just about the same number of barnacles appearing, same slime, same amount of bits of weed. ( Greek waters). /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 
Sorry I jus had to mention this as I have a picture built into my mind...

The barnacles all gathered around on hte hull having a laugh and a chat as well as a rest on the underwater hull areas of a boat, bighting in a nd getting a place to stay for the night. All bragging about the last chilli antifoul dish they had...
The next day when they excrete the meal, and get a real ring stinger, wow was that dish last night hot!!!!
 
Worked on a 100' MY in HK (95-97) and when the Captain asked the yard to mix chilli powder in with the antifoul there was much astounded amusement. Don't think it had a great effect, except on the mood at the yard. Sunny Marine, Ap Lei Chau- a great bunch of guys.
Jem.
 
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