scrubbing off - newbie type question - any tips and equipment suggestions?

[niccapotamus]

we are staying in the water this winter (first year of boat ownership for decades).

we have a fairly fouled bottom already so I guess I need to scrub off some weed..

Thinking about doing it from the berth/boat/dinghy rather than going onto a grid or drying out


any particular tips/equipment - do you guys use a particular type of long handled brush - i'm not sure if I have seen something advertised somewhere

thanks

 

[ronsurf]

I found it nigh on impossible to scrub much further than the waterline while in the water. I usually dry out on a firm bit of bank and the can do it in about an hour or two. Also an opportunity to check the hull and log impeller too.

 

[prv]

One theory is that you tape an empty 2l coke bottle to the back of a deck brush - the buoyancy forces it up against the hull so you only need to push it back and forth from the pontoon. Won't reach the whole hull though.

Pete

 

[johnalison]

Depending on where you are, it is unlikely that you will clean the boat well enough to last through the next season. You would be much better off contriving to dry out, on bilge keels or against a wall/posts and slapping on some antifouling paint, however cheap. Loss of speed can be quite insidious, and the prop will need a proper clean as well.

 

[fireball]

There are plenty of places to dry out - some have power and water so you can use your own jetwash - although it will be blummin hard work - I've done it often enough!
Another option would be to use a lift out service - yards often offer reduced rate lifts towards the summer when they're less busy or there's the like of Sealift if you're in their operational areas.

A broom will get around the waterline cleaner, but nothing beats a full hull scrub.

 

[niccapotamus]

thanks guys so far - didn't make it clear - we will slap some antifoul on for next season in the spring - I was just going to try to improve matters a bit between now and when the weather improves again

ta

 

[NickRobinson]

Use a hoe or a wallpaper scraper, wider the better, cable tied to a broom shank.

Drying out needed to do anything like a thorough job though-

 

[ChattingLil]

a couple of years ago, I was badly fouled (losing at least 2 knots) and didn't have time, opportunity or money for a lift out so I called in a favour and put best mate into a wet suit and sent him down with scraper in hand. It was a horrid job and he came up covered in critters! In the end,we did what we could from the pontoon (as said in #7 above). Friend did what he could on the prop. we ended up drying out for it after all.

 

[simonfraser]

my barnies like the bottom end better, no way you gona reach those afloat.
the green stuff will mostly fall off in the cold water, i would not bother without drying out.

 

[niccapotamus]

Ok, ok I've got the message.

look at the stuff, mutter, then ignore it until we do it properly inna spring

 

[rwoofer]

Well I was in my dry suit on Sunday and scrubbed the bottom (about 70%) in about 30mins. Hard work but definitely restored some speed. Did it about 3 times this season as the Micron2 anti foul proved rubbish.

 

[ronsurf]

Ok, ok I've got the message.

look at the stuff, mutter, then ignore it until we do it properly inna spring

Don't forget to use it as an excuse for any poor performance, no matter what the reason!