How do I antifoul under the pads?

[chriscorr]

Perhaps a very silly question but how do I antifoul under the 4 cradle pads, bottom of the keel and the post keeping the stern upright on my fin keel boat? i've read one article saying that boatyards can do this when the boat goes in the slings but surely the paint won't dry before it's dropped in the water?

 

[Twister_Ken]

Ask the yardies to let off one leg at a time, replacing it with a temporary prop.

Bottom of the keel should be clear for much of its length in a decent cradle. Missing bits have to be patched when in slings. Yard will do this if you leave a bit of A/F in a tin, plus a brush.

 

[Georgio]

The yard (or I) normally paints these bit's just before launch, the AF doesn't really dry but I have never had a problem with excessive weed on these areas.

 

[TiggerToo]

Same here...

and the bottom of the keel vcan be cleaned regularly by stroking the putty from time to time /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[AIDY]

You don't. It's normal to leave a pot and a brush by the keel and the yard do it.....

or if it's not in a cradle you ask them to move the props / support's before hand.

 

[Richard10002]

Last time we did Rogue there were spare props in the yard so we were able to fit one nearby and remove the others one by one for painting.

 

[AIDY]

I would suggest if anybody else tries this their could be insurance issues unless the yard has moved the props for you !

 

[Artemis_C2121]

I always ask the yard to put her in the slings as their last job of the day for launch next day which they are happy to do. gives me time for two coats on all the missed bits then launched next day.

 

[johnalison]

As I use Optima which takes a while to harden before it can be immersed, I do what Twister Ken says & get the yard to move props one at a time. Other A/Fs you can touch up just before dunking usually.

 

[Spyro]

Get a couple of wooden props and chocks either side of the pad lower the pad enough to get a brush in. Paint the bit required cover the pad with a polythene bag then raise the pad as before. The polythene bag will not stick to the new AF. Do this one at a time for each pad.

 

[pvb]

[ QUOTE ]
Get a couple of wooden props and chocks either side of the pad lower the pad enough to get a brush in. Paint the bit required cover the pad with a polythene bag then raise the pad as before. The polythene bag will not stick to the new AF. Do this one at a time for each pad.

[/ QUOTE ]I think this is reckless advice! Owners shouldn't ever mess about with cradles themselves - always get the boatyard to do it.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Agree with pvb. It's a question of insurance. The yard insurance will pay if your boat falls over and its their fault, and it will also pay for the boat next door that yours crashes into. Your insurance will probably not pay for either if you've been removing props.

 

[Strathglass]

When I was applying precautionary anti osmosis epoxy then antifouling to my hull I was faced with your problem.

I got four substantial (4" x 4) posts which were a couple of feet longer than the distance from the ground to the rubbing strip and hung the boat up with webing strops from the top of each post to stromg fixing points on the deck. I will add a photo showing this tonight.

When they were in position I was able to lower all the pads down until they all cleared the hull.

I was then able to apply all the coatings to the hull. When I required access above each pad area I temporarly lowered each pad individually for a further aix inches then set it back up to just clear the hull.

The whole process took about a week and the boat was quite stable even when suported on the legs with all four pads clear of the hull.

The boat was however in my own garden so I did not have the potential problem of anyone else fiddling with the boat or it's supporting structure.

Having said and done all that it is normal boatyard practice for someone to be welding a can of antifouling and a brush to do a Picasso on the untreated pad areas of a hull once it is on the lifting slings before it is launched.

Iain

 

[steve_l]

In my sailing club (not in the UK) everyone does everything themselves. AF is completed either by dropping each pad in turn and painting under it OR painting in the slings just before launch.
So that's 9 years x maybe 80 boats, never had any fall over...
Risks are understood, practical steps taken to counter those, no problem...

 

[Scotty_Tradewind]

If you'r in a yard your boat will probably not be insured if you start moving things. My yard will do it upon request next day and they then take responsibility and so does their insurance.