Fouling and marine growth in winter

[ste7ve]

I took my boat out of the water early this year and have done all the antifouling and other hull work, due to having some nice warmish days. The boat is in a good Solent marina.
I would not normally put it back until early March, but I am wondering about getting it back before Xmas.

I always think it is better in the water where it is warmer and slightly more protected from the weather.
On the other hand my only concern is that marine growth on the hull may mean that when the sailing season starts I will already have some build up, although most people seem to think the growth is minimal in the colder months.

Does anyone have views on this ?

 

[lpdsn]

You definitely do get growth over the winter. Not surprising really as the sea temperature lags the air temperature by quite a bit so all those critters are still feeling quite snug.

The antidote is to sail regularly to allow the self-erroding anti-foul a chance to work. The difficult bit is that you may find your regular crew remember urgent appointments elsewhere in the winter months. Wimps!

 

[pvb]

My boat's in the water all year round in a marina, and I take it out for antifouling every 2 years (in the summer, when liftouts are cheaper and the weather's nicer for working on it). There'll be a bit of fouling over winter, but it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[Neeves]

If you are using a reasonable quality ablative AF and have a decent coating thickness using the yacht through the winter should keep the hull clean. If it simply sits there it will collect slime and fouling will build on the slime (so part insulated from the AF).

Success is all about allowing the coating to ablate and having a thick enough coating to start with.

Growth is lower in the winter - but will still occur.

Jonathan

 

[Plum]

I took my boat out of the water early this year and have done all the antifouling and other hull work, due to having some nice warmish days. The boat is in a good Solent marina.
I would not normally put it back until early March, but I am wondering about getting it back before Xmas.

I always think it is better in the water where it is warmer and slightly more protected from the weather.
On the other hand my only concern is that marine growth on the hull may mean that when the sailing season starts I will already have some build up, although most people seem to think the growth is minimal in the colder months.

Does anyone have views on this ?

I find the growth is significantly less in the winter and does not really get going again until early June. I stay in all year.

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[johnalison]

I once read that fouling such as barnacles 'seeds' itself around the end of March/April, and so leaving immersion until after then was advantageous. I generally wait until late April before launching, but a trip to the Baltic or Dutch canals helps.