New boat warning!

[robp]

The annual lift and wash off, last year and this has revealed more and more lovely shiny bits of hull where there should be a nice smooth layer or two, (or three), of antifoul. In fact my relatively new hull looks like a relief map! A yard who is doing some other work on the boat told me, "Quite a few new yacht agents, who charge for antifouling as part of commissioning, don't bother preparing the hull properly". Faced with now completely removing the antifoul and primer after only a few seasons really is annoying and of course time consuming. Not to mention having to buy a load of new primer. It looks like they didn't even degrease the hull and remove the release agent, let alone abrade the shiny GRP to provide a key. I paid for this to be done properly!

So, all those who are looking forward to their brand new pride and joy to be lanched for this Spring, try and keep an eye on what you are paying for. If you can't get down there, get a surveyor or experienced friend to make sure everything is as it should be. New boats are being put in the water so fast at present, it's highly likely that your interests are not being put first.

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[Twister_Ken]

Doanworry

A/F falls off old boats as well.

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[boatmike]

Very common complaint I am afraid. Slap it on and chuck it in the water! Very sad but if it's a new boat and has to be redone consider doing an epoxy job under the antifoul. Make sure the hull is perfectly dry first though (moisture meter called for) You will never regret having protected your investment from the dreaded pox and properly applied antifoul will not fall off!


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[Twister_Ken]

It will eventually

>properly applied antifoul will not fall off!<

A man that worked in what he called "the marine coatings sector" explained to me once that we all apply a/f unevenly, and that it wears unevenly according to water flow. So at the end of the season some thicker patches remain. We paint over these with the new stuff and carry on doing the same year after year. Eventually the old stuff underneath is so weakened by repeatedly being overcoated with new paint containing solvents that where it's thickest it doesn't have the strength to keep clinging to the hull. Usually you notice it when you come out of the water and the pressure wash blasts scales of a/f off, or when you are repainting before going back in, and bits of old antifouling come off and cling to the roller.

My solution is to attack anything that looks dubious with a scraper to see if I can get it off, then to feather out the edges of the 'holes' with wet and dry before slapping on this year's. Other people wait for a few years then try and take everything off. You pays yer money and...

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[robp]

Re: It will eventually

I know that eventually we all have to address the general problem. I posted after my hands and bones in general had started to work again last night after another solid weekend of scratching. Trying to deal with ever widening areas of very shiny gelcoat and the realisation that I can't get it done properly in time now this year. Hoping that lumps don't fall off and cause havoc this season. Some muppet took a perfect surface and my money to treat it properly, then A/F it. They screwed it and me and it's about to happen to dozens of others.

OK, rant over! Yes, I guess epoxy is next. Thanks guys.

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[boatmike]

Re: It will eventually

I agree in principle Ken, especially after 8 or 10 years of successive coats but this guy was originally talking about a relatively new boat that was not prepared properly with antifoul being slopped on over the release agent. I still say it is a sad fact that this is all too common especially when you pay a "professional" to do the work for you. I believe you and I would do our own (otherwise you would not have any knowledge of the problem which you obviously do) so you and I would not suffer the problem perhaps, but it's sad the guy paid good money for a crappy job which brings the industry into disrepute.
There comes a time however as you say, when it is probably prudent to bite the bullet, scrape it all off and start again. My main point however was "is it not a shame that new boats are treated like this when they cost lots of pennies?" What is the real cost of removing release agent, abrading the hull, and epoxy coating the hull before applying the antifoul compared with the cost of repairing osmosis later on? Not the point you were making granted, but nevertheless worthy of thought?

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[Barry777]

Rob.

Serves yer right for buying a foreign one....you can't trust them frogs!



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[Miker]

Re: Doanworry

Too B true. But the stuff that remains is a bugger to shift.

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[robp]

Ah but Barry; I hate to say it but if it had been painted over there, it might have been done properly! lol
Rob

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