Keeping my bottom clean

[jon_bailey]

Now that I am moored on the Itchen, I was wondering how often and for how long I would have to keep my boat out of the water to avoid problems of growth on hull and leg. For example if I have to remove boat for 1 week in six then could well be worth it to kill off growth.

Any thoughts?

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[ccscott49]

ever heard of antifoul?

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[jon_bailey]

Yes....but antifoul is not ideal solution.

Also my boat not been antifouled for a couple of years, i.e. before I owned it and I did not have time to antifoul before mooring. Plan to do it this winter but not before.

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[ccscott49]

A scrub every six weeks should do the job amirably, I wouldn't leave it out, just pressure wash it the minute it comes out, when it's all soft, then back in. If that's what you want to do, maybe not as expensive as I thought it would be?

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[longjohnsilver]

Colin with our hot weather it will need to be done every 3 or 4 weeks, I'm amazed at how much growth appears after just one week.

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[ccscott49]

Yes, I'm sure you're right, with the warm water. That's one of the reasons I put 40 litres of antifoul on mine! Theres a chemical exclusion zone around her for the first few months!!

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[ballena]

Hi john

The good ship Ballena is antifouled, however, we still get a lot of growth due to the stillness of the marina. What I do is to dry the boat out on a sandbank every couple of months and get round with a stiff brush just as the boat is grounding.

Good opportunity to inspect anodes and get a good coat of polish on the hull.

The best bit is the beer and BBQ when its all done.


Paul R

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[Solitaire]

In Haslar marina n Gosport there is a thing called the boat scruber. Take it up there every few weeks. It won't do the outdrive, but makes a good job of the hull. Cost about £30 a time.

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[jon_bailey]

Paul

Nice idea - particularly the last bit.

Do you have any favourite beaches? At the weekend we saw a Mariah that had grounded on the beach at Calshot, problems was it was sitting on some wooden stakes and did not look very comfortable at all. Saw it leave so do not suspect any lasting damage but still a salutory lesson.

Jon

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[ROCKETSHIP_11]

Do you have any friends of the scuba diving variety, I do and my sailboat which is antifouled gets scrubbed afloat every month, takes no more than half an hour ( 28 footer with deep fin keel ) best tool for the job is a large car washing sponge as it does not remove the antifoul, as a result we have great boatspeed all season and our worst club racing result this year has been a second place !!

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[jon_bailey]

I did a scuba diving course a couple of years ago so SSI qualified. Always thought that it may come in useful one day so now could be good time to invest in some scuba gear.

I am sure that your racing results are not all down to a clean bottom, unless your scuba friends have been knobbling your competitors.

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[ballena]

We use a great lille sandbank/island just inside Langstone Harbour to the north of the old Mullbury wreck

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[duncan]

just head over to Studland and use the sandy beach in the evening when everyone has gone home - nice shelving beach. Then just anchor in 3-4 feet and go over with a brush and goggles.
In severe case (like the barnacles on mine untill Sunday) a wall paper scrapper comes in handy!

I suggest this beach beacuse the water is so much clearer than most East - if you can find one with clear water 'yor way' then use it.
Not worth beaching it in my HO - much easier to do it in the water.

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[Alistairr]

Would the pressure washer not flake the Antifoul off, Though?



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[ccscott49]

Not if you are careful and it's not flaking off in the first place. one oif those floor sponges also does a good job.

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[Alistairr]

My boat was brand new in April, it was antifouled buy the dealer with white antifoul,
I took the boat out on monday for it s first service, and what a mess.
The hull was completely green with sludge!!!
After washing it down with a sponge and hose, I now have a yellow looking hull.
Is this normal for antifoul..???

And there are a few small bits flaking, should the be touched up b/4 going back in the water next week?

Cheers...

Alistair...


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[ccscott49]

that's the trouble with white antifoul, it isn't, well not after a month or two anyway, i wouldn't bother with the bare patches now, not if you intend to scrub again and redo the antifoul later in the year, or next spring, I always leave mine to the last minute, prferably summer, then the little mussels and things have found somewhere else by then! No, I'm not silly, by the end of may/june, the fouling reduces, well barnacle type anyway. slime will always be there, but eaesy peasy to get off.

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[Alistairr]

Thanks Colin..


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