New boat running slow

[prv]

Was going to dive but SWMBO put the brakes on that plan.

Not sure why, I dived on my prop the weekend before last to scrape off a healthy crop of barnacles. No big deal, I do it most years. Boat at anchor in the Solent, 34’ with a saildrive so probably a fair bit deeper than yours. I keep a mask and snorkel on board, but no fins.

Pete

 

[Plymsea]

So, good news! Prop is still there

Little fouling to be seen on the prop, but the hull looks grim. Would this be enough to slow the boat, I guess there is considerable surface area to a fairly girthy bilge keeler.

 

[gordmac]

Looks like you have found the problem!

 

[Praxinoscope]

Looks like a drying out and heavy scrubbing/jet washing session,

 

[Plymsea]

Whats people experiences with commercial pressure washing and this level of fouling?

 

[pvb]

Whats people experiences with commercial pressure washing and this level of fouling?

People often scrape the worst off first with a garden hoe (or similar long-handled scraper) then pressure wash. A decent pressure washer will certainly clean it off.

 

[Norman_E]

That is pretty heavy fouling on the prop. That amount cuts its efficiency way down, and the hull fouling makes it much harder to move the boat through the water. It should be transformed by a good dry out and scrub. Most likely the old antifouling is no longer effective and a repaint is also needed.

 

[Plymsea]

Quick update 10 days on.....

Lifted the boat on Wed and there was indeed a good inch of fouling plus a few danglers! 50 minutes of pressure washing by 2 of the kids and all is good, next job will be top up the copper coat (for ref. 10 years old).

Not yet had chance for a sail, but looking much better and gave the prop some attention too.

Thanks for all the help and support


PS. We used a combination of commercial PW, plus scrapers and sanding blocks - worked very well indeed.