Steerage issues and Covid-19

[Ostyposty]

Can anyone help re; our 28 ft fin keel racer - cruiser kept on the East Coast and that's not been sailed or out of the water for a while. ...and is now showing us the down side boating! We power washed the bottom two years ago but didn't anti-foul at the time as it looked okay. We're now hoping to do this job soon and in preparation took her out for a solo motor but found we had almost no steerage in forward or reverse and could barely reach about 2knots ahead. This makes her pretty much unsailable. Engine is running fine. We feel that this has happened as perhaps the prop and or hull including rudder and keel may be so badly fouled we can't get any way on. Would other boaters also suggest that this is the issue?

 

[Stemar]

When I first bought Jissel, she'd been antifouled for the season and we used her then left her on the mooring over winter. When we came to move her, we couldn't manage one knot flat out. I came to the conclusion that the antifoul said Growmore on the tin! I think it's highly likely that your problem is an excess of growth.

Scrub off quick before some idiot declares it a Site of Special Scientific Interest

To get to wherever you'll be scrubbing, I'd have a go with a garden hoe on anywhere you can reach first, but especially around prop and rudder.

 

[duncan99210]

It’ll almost certainly be fouling. We once spent a winter in San Carles de la Rapita in Spain, which is notorious for the level of fouling. Whilst we weren’t affected too badly, quite a few people had to be towed to the liftout berth because their props were so heavily fouled.
I‘ve also encountered the same problem of a lack of steering when the boat got heavily fouled: the rudder was so covered with growth that it had trouble getting enough grip to control the boat.

 

[RJJ]

Two years that wasn't even on fresh antifoul? Sounds highly likely.

Worse, financially, could be the anodes and damage to the propeller.

It's the right time of year for a swim and a go with a scraper. Concentrate on prop, rudder and keel.

 

[neilf39]

You may find your prop looks like a ball if the tubeworm have got to it. It is amazing how much speed you can lose if the prop is even slightly fouled.

 

[Ostyposty]

When I first bought Jissel, she'd been antifouled for the season and we used her then left her on the mooring over winter. When we came to move her, we couldn't manage one knot flat out. I came to the conclusion that the antifoul said Growmore on the tin! I think it's highly likely that your problem is an excess of growth.

Scrub off quick before some idiot declares it a Site of Special Scientific Interest

To get to wherever you'll be scrubbing, I'd have a go with a garden hoe on anywhere you can reach first, but especially around prop and rudder.

Hi,
Thanks for your quick response. Maybe I could charge a fee for entry to the SSI to pay for the crane out! Anyway, really helpful to confirm out worst fears! Much appreciated

 

[Ostyposty]

It’ll almost certainly be fouling. We once spent a winter in San Carles de la Rapita in Spain, which is notorious for the level of fouling. Whilst we weren’t affected too badly, quite a few people had to be towed to the liftout berth because their props were so heavily fouled.
I‘ve also encountered the same problem of a lack of steering when the boat got heavily fouled: the rudder was so covered with growth that it had trouble getting enough grip to control the boat.

Thank you for your response. Think a crane out is now long overdue!

 

[Ostyposty]

You may find your prop looks like a ball if the tubeworm have got to it. It is amazing how much speed you can lose if the prop is even slightly fouled.

Thanks for your response. I guess some wire wool will be coming in handy? Anything else you could recommend?

 

[Catalina36]

Thanks for your response. I guess some wire wool will be coming in handy? Anything else you could recommend?

Taking a new look at the reality of boating?

 

[johnalison]

It is almost certainly the prop, as people say, but it is surprising how much difference a fouled rudder can make. A few years ago we went out late in the season, mid Sept perhaps, and I found that the boat was pulling strongly to port while sailing, enough to detract from the pleasure. This persisted under power, even at very low speeds of under 2 kn. I was puzzled about this and a bit concerned. I did not get a chance to see the boat lifted, but it appeared, after the yard had pressure-washed it, that the rudder had more fouling on one side. I was relieved to find no evidence of damage, and the problem had vanished when we re-launched with a clean bottom.

 

[Ostyposty]

Taking a new look at the reality of boating?

Yes indeed!

 

[pcatterall]

Can anyone help re; our 28 ft fin keel racer - cruiser kept on the East Coast and that's not been sailed or out of the water for a while. ...and is now showing us the down side boating! We power washed the bottom two years ago but didn't anti-foul at the time as it looked okay. We're now hoping to do this job soon and in preparation took her out for a solo motor but found we had almost no steerage in forward or reverse and could barely reach about 2knots ahead. This makes her pretty much unsailable. Engine is running fine. We feel that this has happened as perhaps the prop and or hull including rudder and keel may be so badly fouled we can't get any way on. Would other boaters also suggest that this is the issue?

Yes deffo!

 

[Mudisox]

Absolutely true. But a rope keel hauling from the bow to the fin and from the stern to the back of the fin will do much to remove most of your drag, if you don't fancy a swim. The prop however will need different attention.
Worked for me when I couldn't even move away in Canal de Midi.

 

[GHA]

Thanks for your response. I guess some wire wool will be coming in handy? Anything else you could recommend?

I've had similar in a muddy river in south america, paint scraper on the prop was enough to get movement again.