Fin keel on drying piles?

[Mings74]

Hi all (again),
Not wishing to hog the forum, but thought I'd take advantage of all you clever people out there!.
I have recently bought my first yacht, a 1979 UFO 31, it is based in Eastbourne and in the next few months will need a a bottom scrub and antifoul (don't we all!). Harbour wants to charge me £300 plus for the privilege before I've even bought the anti-foul. I'm sure this is pretty standard but I wonder if there is a cheaper way.
Newhaven has scrubbing piles that would cost me £37 for a tide (about 10 miles down the coast). Would my fin keel dry out okay on these piles?, and how do you go about it?. I've read some bits about flaking anchor chains, or halyards from the mast to induce "lean".
Would I be able to scrub it off and anti-foul within a tide?. Presumably it would need two or three people. Would I need a particular anti-foul to dry quickly enough?, any recommendations please?. Cheers Ming

 

[ebbtide]

Have sent PM on the subject - it's one of my obsessions!

 

[Gin]

Sounds like Malaprop has got it covered but three things I feel I should mention.
1. Given the cost of drying out, you should consider membership of a club with a scrubbing dock as this could well be advantageous on the cost front, as well as giving you other benefits.
2. Don't overdo the ' leaning into the dock', which is all too tempting to overcome a fear of falling outwards- you could end up sliding down the dock due to the keel having kicked out from under.
3. One tide is no where near enough to scrub off, and apply antifoul

 

[sailorman]

this is your bigger sister against a wall. no probs

 

[fireball]

[ QUOTE ]
3. One tide is no where near enough to scrub off, and apply antifoul

[/ QUOTE ]
Unless you have a mini team (3 of us) and fresh water ... then it is ... cos we did it in 2006 ...

Although this year we will (hopefully) be taking advantage of Sealift2 in Cowes - under £200 for a lift, wash and hold until the next day so we can apply our own antifoul....

 

[doug748]

No doubt Malaprop has the full SP on this. Just a couple of points: Piles are the things to use, so much easier to get round than when dried alongside a wall. Before some daft buggre demolished the piles at Newton Ferrers I often scrubbed off and antifouled on one tide, singlehanded, the secret is to start scrubbing form a rubber dinghy as soon as the tide starts to fall and as soon as the water is under the full wellie get wading, Have all your painting kit ready to go in the dinghy as it can be difficult to regain the deck at low water. I normally just had time for a quick sandwich and flask of tea, but you will know you have done a days graft at the end of it.

 

[H4B]

You might want to consider coming east to Rye where a couple of tides out on a trolley will cost you a little over half( if memory serves) that of a lift out at Eastbourne.PM if interested

 

[retsina]

I used to scrub and antifoul my 30 ft roberts with a long keel in one tide in Brightlingsea leaning against the poles on my own. You need a big tide, good weather, plenty of coffee without stopping and quick drying antifouling. One hour to scrub and one hour to paint, starting to work as the tide goes out. Cheap, fun and effective

 

[l'escargot]

[ QUOTE ]
...3. One tide is no where near enough to scrub off, and apply antifoul

[/ QUOTE ]
Many people do it in one tide, I have myself and seen others do it regularly.

 

[MoodySabre]

To prevent a mess all over the boat from rollers and roller tray use the trick of putting the tray in a large carrier bag and pouring the AF on top of that. When you've finished you turn the bag inside out with all the roller and brushes inside and have a clean tray. Drop in the rubber gloves and all clean and tidy.

Just a tip for everyone really but more important on the boat.

 

[Mings74]

Thanks all for some excellent info, I had not thought about leaning to much, or about using the dinghy for a head start!. Cheers Ming

 

[Gin]

I stand corrected but, it is a very demanding schedule especially if alone and then (all?) manufacturers advise a drying off period, so I wouldn't want to do it other than in extremis, when needs must

 

[doug748]

PS.... I have a low freeboard which allows me to grip the toerail from the dinghy. As the tide drops you will struggle to get purchase and as you scrub you simply push the dinghy away from the boat. Those, cheap, cam action, rubber sticker things can help (in pairs) also a line rigged in a tight loop under the front of the keel and back to the aft of the cockpit.