Ultrasonic anti-fouling

There was quite a long thread on this subject- mainly the commercially available kit - a little while ago.

Some people are convinced, I'm one of those who definitely isn't...
 
Well at leat......

Seajet said:
There was quite a long thread on this subject- mainly the commercially available kit - a little while ago.

Some people are convinced, I'm one of those who definitely isn't...
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Please cut them some slack :-) . At least they are honest and tell you straight away on which type of hull it will not work. I agree with you on the doubts on other hulls but what the hell for that money you can use them as Tweeters in your home entertainment system :-))) if it turns out not to be effective.
 
cool

Rogershaw said:
Found this article on how to make an ultrasonic anti-fouling for boats.
Part 1 http://siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_112107/article.html

Part 2 http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_112180/article.html

Its in an Australian electronics mag and I have found that some Oz electronics shops sell kits so items published in this mag.
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super cool and a nice winter project

thx,


update:

just bought one :)
http://www.jaycarelectronics.co.uk/productView.asp?ID=KC5498&SPECIAL=NEW&form=SPECIAL
 
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Pls let us know how you get on with the kit.

I may get one for a winter project also but I have lots of summer sailing to do first.
 
Rogershaw said:
Pls let us know how you get on with the kit.
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yep , will do

Rogershaw said:
I may get one for a winter project also but I have lots of summer sailing to do first.
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talking with sailors of gordon bay sailing club (close to kaapstad) they told me that sailing in the winter was actually better (less wind) ;)

i did the gaul regetta in 2009
 
As you can see from my profile I sail out of Durban and except when the cold fronts come through from Cape Town the sailing can be better at the weather is cooler in Durban in winter.

If the guys from Gordons Bay think there is less wind in winter I would like to know what they are smoking. Ask then about the Cape Doctor ?
 
It took only 3.5 hours for me to pot the transducer and assemble the kit, so one will go onto the (34 ft) sailboat next week. However it will take a while to see if it works, the boat was antifouled and prop speed treated last March and is still clean in November, so maybe the toxins in Sydney Harbour are helping :-). I will post a report next March when I woul normally slip and antifoul. Will still have to slip to service the saildrive - maybe that is a good reason to have a shaft drive if the ultrasonic system really does work.
 
Even if the ultrasonic kit works - if you read the long thread on the subject a few weeks ago on Scuttlebutt that is at best dubious - one still has to maintain anodes & skin fittings...
 
Ultrasonics - giving it a go

I have also just ordered a kit because at the same price as a can of antifoul it's got to be worth trying. Fed up with useles antifoul so will fit this and use the cheapest can of antifoul to see if the combination works. Will report back next Oct!

Yoda
 
White_Lady said:
Thanks for the shout.Have just ordered 2 for a try.

2 @£69.75 each ( 44' boat ) ! ( plus del and insurance ) £164.50 in total

Will report back soon!

Phil
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Have you thought of fitting just one for the moment. If fitted near the stern for example if its working there should be more growth near the bow. Not a great control, but better than nothing.
Looking forward to the reports from yourself and others either way. Keep us informed.

Interlude said:
. Will still have to slip to service the saildrive - maybe that is a good reason to have a shaft drive if the ultrasonic system really does work.
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Brave comments, the saildrive aficionados will be after you :) :)
 
I looked at the website, it says all goods are shipped from Sydney, which means that you are liable to be charged VAT, possibly import duty and VAT on that, plus a handling fee from the UK Post Office for the privilege of being charged. Even so it still looks a good bargain.

P.S. Has anyone here looked at the circuit diagram to see if all the parts could be bought in the UK?
 
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Ultrasonic Antifoul.

One of my mates is selling a unit called 2 B sure. They are ultrasonic devices that you plug in to the mains and dngle in the sea. Then using some scientific trickery the weed doesnt grow on your boat. I dont know how it works but it is pretty cool and the one we borrowed off him to test seemed to work pretty well. www.versadock.co.uk are the people who sold them. Let em know if anyone has used these in anger?
 
Versadock.

Yeah i see what you mean they dont mention it. Chris Barrow is the guy in charge of Versa dock UK and if you look on the website link you sent me the Uk distributor is Barrow International. Same guy. I know Scott at Versadock really well and it is him who showed it to me. I will ask him to register for teh forum and post the details for the unit.
 
Norman_E said:
I looked at the website, it says all goods are shipped from Sydney, which means that you are liable to be charged VAT, possibly import duty and VAT on that, plus a handling fee from the UK Post Office for the privilege of being charged. Even so it still looks a good bargain.

P.S. Has anyone here looked at the circuit diagram to see if all the parts could be bought in the UK?
Click to expand...

However you should get a 10% discount by not paying Oz GST (VAT by another name)
I can attest that Jaycar are a huge electronics supplier with big shops in all capital cities. olewill
 
The 2 B Sure is not an ultrasonic system. It claims to distribute copper ions into the water, and therefore presumably has the same effect as coppercoat.

I would have expected the two electrodes to be different materials and the copper electrode to be consumable, but there is no mention of it on the blurb I read.

I haven't a clue if this will work, but I really would like it to. Like ultrasonic, it won't be a replacement for traditional antifoul but if it works it will keep the hull cleaner for longer and should protect the hard-to-reach places like props and saildrives. I didn't see how much it costs either, or what the power consumption is.

It would be very interesting to learn more.
 
DIY rant

[rant]

Mama mia, what a bunch of negative people here on this forum… Makes me sad and gives me to think of moving on.

For a couple pounds and some hours of fun building during the winter you can have a system that works or may be not. Even if it doesn’t work for 100% still its fun to build your own gear instead of running to a shop and just buy it. I have seen the same with the guy who tried to build a lightweight generator. For some people boating is also having the pleasure of experimenting and building your own things for your boat.

Sure you will need to keep maintaining your anodes as that has nothing to do with antifouling. Also every thing you buy outside the EU might have import tax due by Customs as that is normal. For that I will take the risk of paying some tax. It’s still much cheaper then the factory ultrasonic kits.

May be some should listen to Steve Gibson his podcast “The Portable Dog Killer”; http://twit.tv/sn248 to get an idea of why doing it your self is such a fun...

[/rant]
 
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