Hempel hard racing antifouling.

[Lollypop]

Has anyone had any issues with the new Hempel hard racing with Teccel? We applied it to suitably rubbed down previous year's Hempel hard racing (on Etchells) but find it is not at all scrubbable and comes off as if it were the eroding stuff.

 

[Lollypop]

Has anyone had any issues with the new Hempel hard racing antifouling with Teccel? We applied it to suitably rubbed down previous year's Hempel hard racing (on Etchells) but find it is not at all scrubbable and comes off as if it were the eroding stuff.

 

[sawduster]

Yes, thought the same recently because the water goes white when brushing the huge amounts of growth off the boat that Hempel Hard seems unable to stop this year.

 

[bignick]

A friend used it this year for the first time. I don’t know about it coming off, but I do know that it doesn’t seem very effective compared to what he used previously, or to other makes. He’s having to wipe the slime off every week.

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I’ve tried it, and yes, it scrubs off. So does Nautix, and every other brand I’ve tried recently. We barely have to prep the XOD before recoating each year, just a quick wet 600 grit, it’s all gone with pre race scrubbing.

 

[LONG_KEELER]

I've not had a problem this year. I used dark blue and have been merrily scrubbing all season.

Was it only white that contained TecCel ?

I purchased it new this year from a well known chandler.

 

[Lollypop]

I used the familiar non TecCel in blue on my cruising boat and it performed well as usual and withstands scrubbing whereas the white TecCel on the Etchells is useless. Looking up Hempel's website I see they list two hard racing antifoulings. - Hard Racing 7668E and Hard Racing TecCel 7679A. So if I'm going to continue using Hempel I will need to ensure that I get the 7668E stuff as the TecCel formulation is clearly not fit for purpose. I used to use Nautix A4 T Speed which is brilliant stuff, scrubs well but is stupidly expensive. I have emailed Hempel about this. They should make it clear that the TecCel is non-scrubbable. The retailers don't know there is a difference other than that newer with a magic ingredient is surely an improvement.

 

[Neeves]

Wet Etchells here would be moored in a boat bag, for serious racing - dry sailed. Wet sailed Etchells cannot compete with dry sailed models.

The Clipper fleet used to be AF with a conventional AF and were scrubbed down half way round, in Oz. For the last iteration they used CopperCoat and needed no scrubbing in Sydney (I had a look - clean as whistle - quite impressive). (But as with all 'AF' you need to keep the yacht regularly moved (used). In the distant past we dry sailed our X-99.

Jonathan

 

[MikeCC]

Hempel Hard Racing in white is only available in the Teccel version now.

 

[Lollypop]

Neeves, what you say is true but not relevant to our Clyde Etchells fleet. Local rules are that all boats must be kept antifouled on a mooring, with hull age restriction and sail buying restrictions. This makes weekly evening racing possible and affordable on a relatively level playing field and encourages participation. We are 500 miles from the UK dry sailed fleet at Cowes and anyone who wants to race there needs another boat and lots of airline tickets. Our club mooring area is subject to quite heavy fouling and frequent scrubbing on the water is essential with occasional lift outs.

Wet Etchells here would be moored in a boat bag, for serious racing - dry sailed. Wet sailed Etchells cannot compete with dry sailed models.

The Clipper fleet used to be AF with a conventional AF and were scrubbed down half way round, in Oz. For the last iteration they used CopperCoat and needed no scrubbing in Sydney (I had a look - clean as whistle - quite impressive). (But as with all 'AF' you need to keep the yacht regularly moved (used). In the distant past we dry sailed our X-99.

Jonathan

 

[Neeves]

If you sail it regularly then I'd look seriously at CopperCoat. Etchells are small so not difficult to build a temporary tent, you could complete the application your self (or selves) and if it works - it will last a lifetime.

If you were to explore the option - start a new thread and you will find out what others think - its a well worn topic (but not as frequently as anchors ).

The downside I see is adding weight but you might be adding weight with multiple layers of AF (but if you are serious you will have abraded down to gel coat every other year . When we raced our X-99 we stripped all the old AF off, filled all the little nicks and then polished down to original gelcoat. We raced basically every weekend and the yacht was dropped into the water every Friday and lifted late every Sunday. An advantage being we carried no 'extra' as water. But this is outside your rules (which are very sensible).

I had a financial incentive for the service - it cost exactly the same for me to dry sail as to rent a pontoon/slip berth. I could have as many lifts in and out as I wanted all within the monthly rental. There were no swing moorings. This was in Hong Kong.

Jonathan