Freshwater foul....!

paulburton44

paulburton44

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29 Jul 2004
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681
Location
Sleaford
www.withamsailingclub.co.uk
I have had my Wayfarer in a fresh water river for about 8 weeks. I didn't antifoul because I knew I would be taking out several times throughout the season. I thought it would just have a bit of slime on it......

I was wrong she has come out covered in like a lime scale type covering that has dried white(hull is red). It is tough stuff and is going to take a lot of painfull scraping with a plastic scrapper. It comes of a bit easier when wet.

Any ideas how to get it off other than painfully scraping. ?????

Think I will antifoul it next time.
 
I used Starbright Bottom Cleaner to good effect last year. Don't get it on your clothes and try not to breath when using it though. Does a good sinus clearing job.

Rub on, wait, hose off.
 
Grp hull ? Try a selection of acid based domestic limescale removers. Hydrochloric acid in the form of brick cleaner will swiftly remove limescale. I dont understand why it is covered with limescale or anything similar though.

Antifouling may not help.
 
Maybe it's a very hard water area /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Chuck some Calgon in the lake before sailing.

In fact could you make som e Calgon anodes?

Now there's a thought.
 
Yes GRP hull.....

It is not a lake it is a River. It is very close to the salt water lock....

I did try a small amount of Cillit Bang .....didn't seem to do much better than just water..

I will take a photo to see if anyone can identify what it is.
 
I suspect, despite my flippant remarks about Calgon, you will need something acidic. Something eady to try. Scrape a bit off and bung it in some vinegar. If it fizzes you know that the Starbright product or some other caustic solution will do the job.
 
101_0279.jpg
 
[ QUOTE ]
I will take a photo to see if anyone can identify what it

[/ QUOTE ] I'd rather have a sample and access to a chemistry lab! If it is calcium carbonate based I'd've expected Cillit Bang to have some effect. You did try the "Grime and Lime" variety not one of the others?
The Starbright product mentioned is acid based although I know no more than that. Our old favourite oxalic acid (or Y10) might do the job.

Any signs that an acid cleaner has any effect then I might be tempted to try brick cleaner. Keep it off stainless fittings and well away from anything galvanised though.
 
I bet you moored on the Great Ouse, but any of the Fen rivers soon leave masses of limescale on everything in the water. Some outdrive legs I've seen you wouldn't believe!

Brick cleaner my boy, and hose down afterwards. Keep it off any chrome.
 
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