DIY in water hull cleaning..

[wipe_out]

We have a Larson 254 Cabrio and I'm just wondering if there is something that can be done once a month or so that can keep the hull below the waterline clear of growth reducing the frequency it has to be taken out and jetwashed/anti-fouled..

Anyone know of any good ways to clean the hull in the water without diving under the boat?

Thanks..

 

[prv]

Tape an empty (or rather, full of air) 2-litre coke bottle to the head of a broom. Then attack the hull from the pontoon. The buoyancy of the bottle keeps it in good contact with the hull.

Not perfect, but I guess it would help.

You'll need to berth the other way round to get at the other side

Pete

 

[colind3782]

Certainly not cheap but it gets good reviews:

http://www.hullmate.com/

 

[wipe_out]

Awesome.. Think I might try the broom idea first and see how that goes..

I guess you need a fairly hard/outdoor broom right? Or would that scratch the surface too much?

 

[rogerthebodger]

Tape an empty (or rather, full of air) 2-litre coke bottle to the head of a broom. Then attack the hull from the pontoon. The buoyancy of the bottle keeps it in good contact with the hull.

Not perfect, but I guess it would help.

You'll need to berth the other way round to get at the other side
Pete

I do that about every 2 -3 months using a stiff nylon swimming pool brush, using the brush to clean the algae and the back of the brush to knock off any barnacles or limpets off.

Using an eroding anti fouling I get 2 years before a haul out in warmer water than UK normally has.

 

[MoodySabre]

Hullmate good deal http://www.allgadgets.co.uk/marine/pc/Hullmate-Brizo-Hull-Cleaning-System-62p428.htm

I am going save the cost of a lift out this spring - more than paid for in one. Good reports http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?281599-Hullmate-Brizo-hull-cleaning-system-review

 

[onesea]

Tape an empty (or rather, full of air) 2-litre coke bottle to the head of a broom. Then attack the hull from the pontoon. The buoyancy of the bottle keeps it in good contact with the hull.

Not perfect, but I guess it would help.

You'll need to berth the other way round to get at the other side

Pete

I have used a stiff window scraper with a bottle on the other side works... But round the pottle I put one of these:

They open out to make a sock that is perfect for putting round a water bottle, This gives a courseness about perfect for cleaning the bottom of the boat (Very similar to the hullmate). I just need to work out how to make a bent/ flexible pole next...

Why a window cleaner? you can flick it over and it can knock barnicales of..

 

[Jabamusic]

Don't you just end up eroding all your a/f into the water?

 

[lustyd]

Don't you just end up eroding all your a/f into the water?

By the sound of it the anti foul was useless anyway. LM was in for 18 months and had no growth at all so I find all this brush nonsense very amusing. To be fair I'm not a racer and do understand why they would go to all that bother.

 

[choppy]

I have used a stiff window scraper with a bottle on the other side works... But round the pottle I put one of these:

They open out to make a sock that is perfect for putting round a water bottle, This gives a courseness about perfect for cleaning the bottom of the boat (Very similar to the hullmate). I just need to work out how to make a bent/ flexible pole next..


Half an old style winsurfer boom usuaally ideal & lengthen the clew end depending on how much reach is needed.

 

[William_H]

Don't you just end up eroding all your a/f into the water?

Yes exactly. I habitually (you might say addicted to) clean my boat by swimming under neath. With the warm waters I get about 5 weeks from new A/F before I feel the need to wipe it over. By another few weeks areas of A/f are missing so I need to scrub even harder. By the end of the season at least I don't have to remove a/f for next application. Admittedly I don't put much on. Now I need to scrub at least before every race. There is noticeable build up from one day to the next. Different to UK of course.
I can't imagine the hand scraper device used from a dock would really get to all the parts that collect weed. This especially around propeller and rudder. I suggest spend the money on a wet suit mask snorkel and weight belt. It must at least help you to keep fit and it is satisfying to know there are no mysteries under there. good luck olewill

 

[prv]

I suggest spend the money on a wet suit mask snorkel and weight belt.

No point having the mask here - the water's too murky to see anything anyway...

A mudflat on the river Itchen is a bit different to where you keep your boat

Pete

 

[Jabamusic]

I suggest spend the money on a wet suit mask snorkel and weight belt. l

I would need a dry suit where I am..........!!

 

[rob2]

It will depend on the hull shape as to how much can be reached from alongside. Any keel boat really needs either a diver or drying out occasionally. I've often wondered whether I could duck dive in a dry suit to any effect, but I'd need a weight belt to counter the trapped air (lanyard to the boat so I can drop the belt to surface) and my driving friends are instructors, so they won't lend me a belt - I can't swim much either.

Scrubbing piles are the easiest way to clean off as a DIY operation. Many areas have them for free, or cheaply booked with the club that own them. Easiest if you have a really good pressure washer to do the work!

Rob.

 

[choppy]

I too tend to scrub off immersed - sometimes in a shortie or trunks & frighten the fishies - but do wonder how bad the clouds of AF are for you. I know its less toxic these days but cant be great for the system - anyone know ?

 

[William_H]

Well provided you don't swallow too much water that has the a/f in suspension then should be no problem. I have been doing it for 30 years and look what it has done to me??? Hair has gone white got fat out of condition and a bit doddery. I blame the a/f.
Re drysuit and weight belt. Actually when snorkelling it is surprising how far you can reach from the surface. You need a rope from stem to stern that you can hold onto or in my case I can just reach the gunwhale. Makes it a lot easier.
Weight belts. Divers always carefully select the weight they carry so they can swim on the surface with weight belt on but still duck dive easily. ie lead is just to neutralise the buoyancy of the suit wet or dry. good luck olewill

 

[nigelmercier]

... my driving friends are instructors, so they won't lend me a belt ...

Why not buy one? I made the weights that I keep on board, about 75mm x 75mm x 20mm cast in lead, covered in resin. Then got a pocketed weight belt. Sorted.

 

[OldBawley]

Because we sail an old wooden heavy boat, lifting in any form is bad for the yacht. After a lift in Rhodos and putting 6 coats of AF on the hull we ware OK for a long time. Five years later most AF had gone, so I kept the boat clean by snorkelling. I have sold AF in the past, went to courses to know the product, believe me, it is really dangerous.
I am 60 now, grow ugly, among others my nose gets out of proportions so I can not ware a diving mask any more. Tried lots of them, they just stand off my face. Swimming goggles don´t work, they condense in seconds.
We found a cosy little old yard where wooden boats are lifted with sledges, the best way for an old working horse as our boat. Lifted and coated with Coppercoat. Good for ten years.
We are in the water for a year now and no growth. However, some easy to clean off slime is covering the Coppercoat.
So I was thinking about a tool to clean the hull underwater.
An old derelict weed mower, some sort of sponge – brush at the end and driven by a battery powered drill.
I have a rope-chain roller in the transom of our dingy, that would be a strong and easy to use guiding point for the leg of the weed mower.
Any ideas ? Please don´t tell me to wear a paper bag over my head.

 

[rob2]

I think you may have hit it on the head! I also have Coppercoat, but plan to give her a wash and brush up once the water warms up a bit. I should be alright in the water with two layers of thermals and drysuit, but the trip out and back in the dinghy tends to get to me. As Coppercoat isn't giong to abrade away with a scrubbing, I think most of the hull can be done by making a scrubbing mat from a square of carpet and "keel hauling" it around the hull on ropes, but the keel itself (if it needs it) would require me to dive.

I appreciate the point about a weight belt only achieving neutral buoyancy, but I'd still like to be able to jettison it, leaving it on a lanyard for retrieval, if I want to surface in a hurry (the lungs don't have the capacity I remember)! In case anyone is thinking of diving, make sure you have someone in attendance on the surface who can haul you up should anything go wrong - someone you trust to keep watching and not get distracted.

Rob.

 

[alahol2]

One of these... http://www.screwfix.com/p/pole-sander/33586?kpid=33586?cm_mmc=Google-_-Product%20Listing%20Ads-_-Sales%20Tracking-_-sales%20tracking%20url&gclid=CPq6tqa34bUCFUnMtAodY18AQg
With a sponge or scrubbing pad tied on the end can get to quite a lot of a hull from a pontoon or dinghy. A coke bottle for a bit of buoyancy makes it easier.