How can you tell if your hull antifoul will do another season?

DavidJ

DavidJ

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I’m in a low contamination area (Empuriabrava, Spain). After a hull jet wash it will still be blue but how do I know if the active ingredient will work for another year. The maintenance company use Seajet 033 self polishing.
The boat hasn’t been used since it’s last service a year ago. ?
 
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I dont know that any non commercial AF has any active biocide in them any more. Seajet 033 dont claim to. As such there is no active ingredient to deplete other than the paint which works by self ablation. I certainly wouldnt jet wash it, you'll remove it. Rather just scrape or wash the fouling off. So long as there is enough on it should last another year. How would you tell if there is still enough on is another issue. For me as a wholly unqualified test I use a pot scourer and check it comes off readily and do a finger nail drag test to see how thick the paint still is.
 
Thanks Bruce
I have little control over the maintenance company (and I won’t be there) so from your comment I think after they give it the usual good jet blasting I’ll be back to stage one and needing an antifoul.
Ah well! Just trying to save some cash.
 
Get it done annually .Assume any anodes will be done as well ?

You never know ( covid compliance rules ) you might have an unexpected stint later say end of Oct early Nov and experience glorious weather + Met but the boats grown a huge beard rendering the break boaty useless ? Apart from the floating home pov .
 
Portofino said:
Get it done annually .Assume any anodes will be done as well ?

You never know ( covid compliance rules ) you might have an unexpected stint later say end of Oct early Nov and experience glorious weather + Met but the boats grown a huge beard rendering the break boaty useless ? Apart from the floating home pov .
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Yes the anodes will be done as well (which is my main concern)
I’m booked in for a first week of September scrub up and hoping to drive out there shortly after.
Let’s see! Ho Hum!
 
When our boat was based in Palma, I used to go 2 seasons between antifouling the hull. The sterngear was another matter altogether; I had to arrange a local diver to clean the sterngear 2/3 times a season

I would say its a matter of speed. If you dont antifoul your hull this year and just pressure wash it and, assuming the existing anti foul paint looks solid and there's minimal loss of speed when you relaunch the boat, then you should be able to go another season
 
Generally the worst fouling is props and stern gear. Anodes were annual, hull was copper coated so no issues, but props needed twice a year attention, especially when hot and Sunny. A/F can last 2 years, depending how well applied, and the quality of the A/F.
 
After my experience this last year, I am preparing my boat to stay in the water for longer if it again becomes a hostage to lockdown. Anti fouled and even bigger anodes.
 
Bouba said:
After my experience this last year, I am preparing my boat to stay in the water for longer if it again becomes a hostage to lockdown. Anti fouled and even bigger anodes.
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Ive always wondered if you could get big anodes on long piece wire with a crocodile clip on the end and dangle it over the side, the crocodile clip connected to say the rudder inside the boat or somewhere like that ,
would the hull anodes last longer ??
 
Restoration man said:
Ive always wondered if you could get big anodes on long piece wire with a crocodile clip on the end and dangle it over the side, the crocodile clip connected to say the rudder inside the boat or somewhere like that ,
would the hull anodes last longer ??
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Yes, you ground them to the engine, they are available in chandlers
 
If a hull 'pear' anode is changed at about the half-way stage as a precaution, you can keep the old one for a hanging anode (e.g. if staying in for longer than expected); just needs a large crocodile clip and a length of cable.
 
Bouba said:
Yes, you ground them to the engine, they are available in chandlers
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Wouldn’t do that because if your neighbours have stray currents and / or there are lots of metal pilling s, then you have made a easy un necessary connection to your engine s seawater wet components and depending on the mass of the plies vs your engines and a bunch of other stuff your engines may start to fiz away .Act as an anode to galvanised or otherwise piles .Once it’s own zinc has rapidly fizzed away , which it will within days .
 
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