Slightly unscientific antifouling experiment

[ruvane]

Given the high cost and low effectiveness of antifoulings, I decided to do a little experiment. I applied candle wax, bees wax, lanolin, vaseline and lithium grease in one inch wide vertical strips on plates that I hung at the waterline. The order of the various substances was switched in order to make it a little more scientific.

Now I know that the paper I write up on my results is not going to be accepted by any respectable journal, but it was interesting nonetheless.

The waxes and lanolin may as well not have been there. The growth was thick and tightly attached.

Where I'd applied vaseline and lithium grease, there was almost nothing at all and the little there was, fell off with a rinse in the water.

Before you ask, they were just substances I had to hand that I thought might provide a slippery base so that nothing could get a foothold.

Now I'm looking for a bulk supplier of vaseline!

 

[Simes]

We are going to add chilli powder to the a/foul this year onthe basis that it cannot be any worse.
Ultimatly we will probably use one of th copper/epoxy 10 year life span products.

 

[curve]

How long would vaseline actually last on the hull in regular weather?

 

[chrishelen]

What if you mixed it with grease?

 

[reginaldon]

I thought it was grease!

 

[TonyS]

I use Superlube (waterproof grease) on the log. Just a trace. The log stays in for the season and doesn't foul. I tried it on the propeller but it doesn't work at all!

 

[jb2006]

We have a bronze folding prop with a zinc anode right nearby - so far the prop has been perfectly clean but the anodes need replacing 2 - 3 times a season at £50 a time. I wonder if the electolytic couple is preventing the prop from fouling ? /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[jfkal]

Urban myth. I tried it but it has no effect. We have to face it. Antifouling has to be toxic in order to work. Since that option is only available to the big guys there is not much we can do except trading the little sailboat for an oil tanker. Then you are officially allowed to poison the sea and the air.