Hempel Silic One - Feedback anyone ?

Neeves said:
If AF as we currently know them are banned attitudes will need to change significantly, possibly underlined by the lack of comments for this thread. Most owners here will be lucky to achieve 6 knots and based on an 8 knot limit use of Silic will not be effective and washing in the water will be 'difficult' (owners are too old, water is too cold, owners are time poor etc.) I'm also not quite sure how silicone coatings are going to work for vessels that dry out - the coating is quite sensitive. The alternative is - we need different AF, of which silicone based coatings and CC are 2 and they are currently very niche. An option is the development of some simple method of cleaning, silicone or CC.

The uptake of Propspeed also underlines attitudes to silicone coatings (or newer technologies). My personal view of Prop Speed is that its (along with Veleox - which may be disappearing) the best of a bad bunch and not the panacea we hope for.

I checked the Clipper fleet in Sydney, so when they were half way round the world, and they are, or were, CC and their hulls were spotless. So there is an alternative to silicone - though both are expensive, if starting from a conventionally anti fouled hull and if you DIY (which would be the bulk of people here) - hard work. Both need to be on vessels that are worked hard - how many here even sail every week.

Basically I might suggest that if they ban the current batch of AF - it will decimate leisure boating.

The AF companies need to get their act together and the next generation of vessels need to be coated 'now ish' with acceptable low toxicity AF (and I see no moves at all in any direction to address the idea that conventional AF will be banned, quickly).

If we were buying from new again we would specify CC, as Elessar says - currently if you don't like the result you can slap conventional AF on top.

I commend both of you for the pioneering work you are doing and am immensely grateful you are sharing your experiences. I hope your work and investment with Silicone is a success and I will be interested in comments over the months to come. I may sound negative but am very seriously considering following in your footsteps - I need to speak to Hempel here for further advise and then weigh up the pros and cons of CC vs Silicone.

Jonathan
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If you do decide to use it then Arthurs Chandlery in Gosport offered me the best price.
 
Thanks superheat6k - I would do as you suggest - except that the delivery may be prohibited and if permissible - expensive.

I need to contact Hempel, locally, tomorrow to find out if they have local stock. They are quite big here so I am optimistic.

Jonathan.
 
Be aware that the coats wil use varying quantities. I followed Hempels guide for how much to buy.

I used for a 32' LOA / 28' LWL / 13' beam motor boat for which Hempel suggested 5 x 750ml cans per coat ...

1st coat Sealer four cans - all used very little over - dusky pink
2nd coat Tie coat - rolls on quite thin - 3 cans - mustard yellow
3rd coat First top coat - 6 cans - I used black
4th coat Second top coat 4.5 cans - I used dark blue

Using differing colour 1st & 2nd topcoats makes the application massively easier, especially when working right under the boat. Don't over roll the top coat - a generous coat that doesn't quite sag is ideal. In fact applying the top coat is actually quite a pleasureable task. For all the coats I used a low loss felt texture roller.
 
Thanks Superheat.

I was thinking of this last night.

What did you do for the parts that were covered by whatever the support structure for the boat imposed on you. For us its the underside of the mini keels, for most yachts its the underside of the keel and pads on the frame.

With normal AF they have lifted us in slings, allowed time to paint and the paint to dry and then put us back down again. I've seen something similar for yachts. But with so many coats that's not going to be terrible popular.

For us, unique solution for multihulls, they can support us under the bridge deck so all the wetted surfaces are 'free' - but this needs big supports - though most yards have anough Acrow - I think that is what they are called.

Finally - how have you found the prop treatment?

Jonathan
 
So it is 16 months since Boadicea was launched with her new bottom antifouling coatings of the Silic One system.

Sadly due to a combination of lockdowns, engine failure and other commitments I haven't done too many hours, but today Boadicea was hauled out and blasted off. The result was remarkable.

Hull

The hull areas of flat GRP were virtually fouling free, and even where a few small barnacles had formed they simply wiped off. Indeed even after a thorough blasting the paint adherence was excellent. Some very minor areas of damage where hard abrasions have occurred, mostly from slings, or where areas were obscured by supports during the application process.

Metalwork

A completely different story of utter failure. The props, P brackets, rudders, and shafts were liberally smothered in very heavy growth with literally hundreds and hundreds of barnacles app to 12mm diameter, and at least a dozen oysters ~ 40mm diameter for good measure. Nil adherence at all of the Silic One in these areas, and certainly explains the lack of speed last time out.

The hull does look like it has just been treated, although the yard staff did explain they have seen plenty where the stuff just peels off, so clearly the application conditions and instructions must be absolutely followed, as far as cure periods and temperatures are concerned.

Recommendations

Would I recommend the stuff - definitely, but not for the metalwork - Trilux, Velox, who knows, but the Silic One prop kit has not worked at all for me, and I was fastidious in following Hempel instructions.

Anyway this will be Boadicea's new owner's problem as the haul out was to join the boats presented at Boatpoint Bursledon Used Boat Show which will run from tomorrow in conjunction with the main SIBS, although she went under offer yesterday subject to contract.IMG_6547.jpgIMG_6552.jpgIMG_6554.jpgIMG_6556.jpg
 
superheat6k said:
So it is 16 months since Boadicea was launched with her new bottom antifouling coatings of the Silic One system.

Sadly due to a combination of lockdowns, engine failure and other commitments I haven't done too many hours, but today Boadicea was hauled out and blasted off. The result was remarkable.

Hull

The hull areas of flat GRP were virtually fouling free, and even where a few small barnacles had formed they simply wiped off. Indeed even after a thorough blasting the paint adherence was excellent. Some very minor areas of damage where hard abrasions have occurred, mostly from slings, or where areas were obscured by supports during the application process.

Metalwork

A completely different story of utter failure. The props, P brackets, rudders, and shafts were liberally smothered in very heavy growth with literally hundreds and hundreds of barnacles app to 12mm diameter, and at least a dozen oysters ~ 40mm diameter for good measure. Nil adherence at all of the Silic One in these areas, and certainly explains the lack of speed last time out.

The hull does look like it has just been treated, although the yard staff did explain they have seen plenty where the stuff just peels off, so clearly the application conditions and instructions must be absolutely followed, as far as cure periods and temperatures are concerned.

Recommendations

Would I recommend the stuff - definitely, but not for the metalwork - Trilux, Velox, who knows, but the Silic One prop kit has not worked at all for me, and I was fastidious in following Hempel instructions.

Anyway this will be Boadicea's new owner's problem as the haul out was to join the boats presented at Boatpoint Bursledon Used Boat Show which will run from tomorrow in conjunction with the main SIBS, although she went under offer yesterday subject to contract.View attachment 122161View attachment 122162View attachment 122163View attachment 122164
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That's been my experience with Silic One Trevor.

Fortunately, being outboard powered, I have very little metalwork underwater so any fouling on the outboard bracket makes no difference to speed etc.

I'm on my 3 rd season with the coating and I suspect that I will get it to last a 4th.

After that it will be a lift and block off and just one topcoat required. Very cost effective.

Would I use it on another boat, yes!
 
Im in my 6th year of silicon coating. originally aquacote, who went out of business, then last 3 years silic one. I used a tie coat between to be sure.
Due to the virus, not been lifted since Feb 2020, including 6 months stationary, albeit in freshwater.
Managed to snorkel to inspect anodes in June, while on our 6 weeks cruise. All still good, just a slight slime which came off with my hand.
Will lift soon and apply another top coat. Its cheaper and more importantly environmentally superior to poison. And the boat is noticably more slippery.
k
 
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