I probably shouldn’t have picked the ablative paint.

[Uricanejack]

Well coming up on a year since all this fine mess started to affect my life.
Unfortunately, it’s just over a year since I had the boat lifted and painted the bottom.

I was down on the boat for the last couple of days, scrubbing the bird shit and great slime, with my mask on chatting to the neighbours.
So with a bit of elbow grease, she is looking reasonably presentable, from a distance.
The bottom on the other hand, shows a boat which hasn’t moved in a long time.
The chap down the float with the toxic shit on the bottom of his boat is not looking quite so neglected.

Other folks have been out and about. In the end I decided to stick with local recommendations and not go anywhere.
Turns out ablative pain doesn’t work very well when you don’t get out and about. I’ve never seen so much growth on the bottom.

I guess my first voyage after this will be right back to to the boat lift. It will probably take me a while to get there.

Been a frustrating year.

 

[Neeves]

You are not alone. At the time, you and thousands of others (everyone), were not to know. We, Oz, of course can sit here smugly - there was never any restriction such that we could not get on the water - unless you kept your vessel in a marina that was closed.

Its all toxic - it would be interesting to know what you used and the man down the float used (and I don't believe he was prescient). Many people use an ablative paint (it is apparently just what we all need....but....), in normal times, and don't use the yacht enough, nor hard enough, and the ablative properties don't work if you simply potter about.

The only thing that would have worked are paints specially designed for vessels that are stationary and I assume they ARE really toxic. They do exist - but commercial use only. Jotun make one, I think International and I'm guessing Hempell - just 'we' cannot buy them. These paints are for vessels laid up - and I actually don't know how effective they are.

I'd check the ability of the prop to actually move the vessel, both forward and backward - if its really bad you might need a tow - and you don't need to discover that when the wind catches you and drives you faster than the props can counteract. Try it at your pontoon before you venture to removing the mooring lines.

You have all my sympathy.

Good luck

Stay safe, take care.

Jonathan