Remember that antifouling idea? A big 'bag' round the yacht.

[JumbleDuck]

Isn't that an exaggerated response, JD? Antifouling seems to be a significant, predictable headache for most folk - judging by forum input. And the boat-bag doesn't seem complicated - quite the reverse.

You need a frame to hold it. You need some sort of gate to let you in and out. You need to arrange a supply of whatever is in it to deter critters, even if that's just fresh water. You need to protect it from damage.

These things get invented regularly, though not as much as devices to recover MoBs, I grant you, and every single one sinks without trace after making the "new kit for the gullible" pages of the magazines.

Is it really "a couple of hundred quid", to have a 30ft sloop hauled out, and the old a/f removed by means in keeping with environmental laws, and the new paint applied?

About that, yes.

Do most owners go far enough, for long enough in the average season, to need antifouling that poisons the hull's vicinity continuously?

No, but the ones who care about fouling do. I think "poisoning the hull's vicinity" is a little emotive. We've left TBT behind, thank goodness, soit'smore gentle discouragement than active poisoning.

Cost could account for slow uptake, I agree - I haven't seen any indication of the cost - did you?

Sorry, can't remember. Antifouling costs me about fifty quid a year if I do it, seventy five more if the yard does in. At the very least a bag would cost me the two grand I save by not having a marina berth.

 

[CLB]

Cost more than a couple of grand. Think 6-10k was about the figure

See here https://www.finedesign-marine.co.uk/fab-dock.html

 

[dragonvc]

Problem in most uk marinas would be the tidal flow which would try to pull the bag off the boat and strain the mooring warps substantially.I have seen these bags in use in Sydney harbour in certain low tidal flow areas most were raceboats rather than cruisers.The J70 fleet at Hamble point are moored on Versa dock or equivalent saving cranage and antifouling.

 

[DownWest]

Uncle in St. Michaels on the Chesapeak had a boat lift. The boat was an old lift keel 27ft with probably zero value. But, to save himself hassle with AF and yards, he had the lift fitted. Dead easy, turn the key, boat lowers into water. We go for a sail, come back and gently nose into the lift. Turn the key and 'up she rises'.
Of course, being on the water with a good frontage and your own dock, along with minimal tide does help

 

[Greenheart]

Cost more than a couple of grand. Think 6-10k was about the figure

Cripes.

Okay, back to sleep with this thread. I'll wake it up again in 2024, see how the concept is doing. If I'm still here.

 

[Quandary]

When we used to do WHYW more seriously ( well not that serious, but there was a boat we wanted to beat) from Belfast Lough we tried to go via the Crinan Canal spending two nights in fresh water, it was much more effective than scrubbing.
So someone down south should find a suitable fresh water lagoon with a narrow entrance or even a lock gate and offer a hull cleaning service, feel free to exploit my genius! If you use the Crinan you also have the opportunity to strip the masthead of all superfluous appendages.

 

[jwilson]

Bag round hull used to be used by some on moorings in Hong Kong Causeway Bay typhoon shelter. Apparently did increase effectiveness of antifouling. The water in there was very "nutrient-rich" for fouling.