Non antifouled boat in salt water?!

[DazedConfused]

How long can you leave a non antifouled GRP boat in salt water for before it does damage.

Looking to leave a 1999 Searay Bowrider in the water (drying mooring) during Cowes week. This means it will probably be in the water for about the maximum of 10 days but used every day. Also, the mooring will dry out onto sand so it won't really be in the water for the entire length of time.

I don't want any irreversible staining of the hull or any serious long term damage to the GRP. The boat is ever only in the water for a day or maybe the odd weekend at a time so not looking to have it antifouled.

Any help really grateful.

David

 

[longjohnsilver]

Should be fine for that short period. I leave a small non antifouled RIB in the water all summer, just needs a good scrub off every month or so.

 

[Roy]

Anti F it anyway as its better to err on the side of caution and not leave such a basic requirement to chance and Murphy's Law. Good for re sale value and general appearance of a boat thats been looked after!? Small boat wont cost much - get 2.5 litres of basic antifoul for £35 approx and do it yourself with a small sponge roller or three and a roll of cheapo masking tape.

 

[markc]

About 24 hours by my reckoning - you see, after then, the enzymes found in the sea water start to eat the GRP. It is only a matter of hours after that the hull is turned into a bubbling mush - a bit like Ebola.

Be very careful


OK, I'm lying... it will be fine! Don't bother antifouling just for this trip because you will then get locked into the cycle of doing it every year when it starts looking tatty

M

 

[studgies]

I would not bother, I did not think antifoul did anything to protect the hull from anything but fouling...I could be wrong...hmm, I guess the new epoxy based stuff would protect the hull from moisture a bit but not the normal eroding stuff.

 

[hlb]

It will be fine. Might need a good wash though!

 

[DazedConfused]

Cheers people, because it is kept on a trailer and sometimes used for an hour or so on the non tidal Thames i wasn't sure of the difference between fresh and salt water.
My Sports cruiser is antifouled so not really after the added pain of doing the job twice a season!! Also, personally i think it looks better all polished up sitting on a trailer. No antifoul to hide questionable marks.

Thanks again.

David

 

[mjf]

I agree, but why not wax the hull first and then any [censored] will just power wash off after 14 days or so.

 

[tcm]

Re: well, really!

how very rude! I don't think there's any likelihood of the hull having any [censored] on it at all. And how would it get there anyway?

 

[wakeup]

Re: well, really!

crap ?

 

[tcm]

Re: nope

dunno, but the stuff that mjf envisages is MUCH ruder than crap

 

[wakeup]

Re: nope

It was a test to see if they had some swanky auto censoring software at IPC and whatsmore [censored censored censored censored censored] which proves that there are a number of words that the software doesn't know !!!!!!!

 

[tcm]

Re: wow

i imagine that must be incredibly incredibly rude OR welsh, perhaps?

 

[wakeup]

Not Welsh but Wenglish

which is a hybrid of the best of Welsh bits with the best of English bits see....

 

[mjf]

Re: wow

Well it is COWes we are discussing , no? Brown stuff and coming out backwards seems to ring something (censored).

 

[gjgm]

I leave mine in for couple weeks at a time. A quick jet wash is fine. Salt water isnt going to do any damage -modern gelcoats are pretty tough.
I really cant see any need to bother.

 

[DepSol]

My Jeanneau was in for a year with no problems. Just the longer you leave them in the longer you dry them out for.

 

[Canboria]

Have a look at this product, a well known poster on here sadly not posting now has used it and works well.

http://www.hotribs.com/03press/129-safeboatskin/safeboatskin01.asp

 

[Lakesailor]

Re: nope

[ QUOTE ]
there are a number of words that the software doesn't know !!!!!!!

[/ QUOTE ]
Does it recognise Scunthorpe? It often falls foul of auto-censoring software.

 

[wakeup]

Re: nope

and Essex also falls foul as well as Grand Canal