Ultrasonic antifouling - now fitted!!

[Ianqv]

After a year of deliberating if I should or shouldn't fit it - I gone and done it!!
A two sensor system is now up and running on the boat!!
It was very easy to install, from start to finish approx 5 hours.
You can hear the sensors clicking away, but with the system I got you can simply switch off at night if you find it too intrusive.
It's very early days... but so far my hull is 100% clean!!

I think the true test will be in a few more weeks time... I will keep you all posted!!

Pics to follow!!

Ian and Sarah

 

[MoodySabre]

Did you have the hull scrubbed first so you have something to gauge it on? Be interested to know what the payback period is compared to Antifoul.

 

[Ianqv]

ultrasonic

Hi Roger,

We have calculated that we should make a saving during the second year (providing it works!!!).
We gave the hull a good scrub down (not pressure wash) - so we have a good base line to start with.

Pics of the installation now attached.....

Regards

Ian

 

[MoodySabre]

We have calculated that we should make a saving during the second year (providing it works!!!).

That presumably assumes that you save the cost of an annual lift and a summer scrub and £120 of A/f. Be interested to see how that works out - I could get away with one transducer, being of modest proportions Hmmm

 

[Ianqv]

ultrasonic

That presumably assumes that you save the cost of an annual lift and a summer scrub and £120 of A/f. Be interested to see how that works out - I could get away with one transducer, being of modest proportions Hmmm

Yes it doe include those costs - however it does allow for one of Bradwells summers specials - 1 week ashore in june, just for a check over and replace anodes... and what ever!!

The system I used was http://www.ultrasonic-antifouling.com/index.html
Very helpful!!

I'll keep you posted!! Mind you... just have a look (and a listen) when you walk past!

 

[Ianqv]

Ultrasonic

Dear All,

Just another update re the antifouling……
Still nothing on the hull (what so ever!)

I have also left the impellor log in, and it's still working fine - normally after 3 weeks it would have stopped working by now and would need cleaning.

So far… so good!!!

Ian and Sarah

 

[tillergirl]

So does that work (is it supposed to work) against slime/weed as well?

 

[TimfromMersea]

Is this system from Ultrasonic Antifouling Ltd, based in Poole, UK? I was looking at their web site this morning and particularly at the solar powered version (my boat is on a swinging mooring at West Mersea).

Currently I have Coppercoat which really does not work at all and in fact after some years of correspondence with and complaints to the makers, they eventually settled with me on an agreed basis, involving a refund of the cost of the treatment and also what I had spent over the years on scrubs etc.

The problem is now what to do? This year I left the Coppercoat on, but it is really useless as an antifouling and the boat needs 'a scrub a month' from May to November, and a scrub every fortnight during June, July, August and September. For example, she was lifted and scrubbed by the yard in the week commencing 12th September, and when I went aboard on Saturday last, from the dinghy I could run my hand along the underside of the hull and pull off handfuls of weed.

On the basis that something is going to have to be done, I had planned to rub the Coppercoat down thoroughly (which may have involved professional help with high power tools) and then prime and paint. As to which paint to use, I suppose you get what you pay for and thus I'd planned to use Micron Extra, but I'd probably need 2-3 tins and at £95 a time that's a lot of money. All told, with professional abrading of the hull, then with priming and painting myself, I had envisaged it would be the thick end of £1,000 by the time it was done. Mind you, a scrub a month throughout the season isn't cheap either, and if that kept the boat clean then I'd go for it, but when it needs a scrub a fortnight then it becomes a bit excessive......

However if the Ultrasonic system works then it might be a better use of the money. I'd be interested to hear any other comments that anyone may have.

 

[bitman]

home made ultrasonic antifouling

i have made (kit from down under) a ultrasonic antifouling but my boat is not yet in the water so cannot give any results yet...

this whole kit costed me about £160 and i cannot buy any antifouling paint for that to cover the whole boat.

but time will tell

 

[tillergirl]

I have found that Seajet Shogun 033 is the best for me at West Mersea. Lasted the longest before needing a scrub.

 

[Ianqv]

ultrasonic

Hi All,

Yes the company I used was Ultrasonic antifouling in poole.
I dealt with Nick who was very very helpful.

I can only report what my boat is like.... and I guess it may vary from boat to boat, marina to marina.... and also how it is installed!!! (it is v v v important to get the sensor on to the hull correctly).

I was at the boat late this afternoon - and there is still NOTHING on my my hull! and yes it also keeps the weed off!!

Also, the antifouling I used was about as nasty as you can get and still remain legal!!
I bought a 25ltr can of it, and divided it up in to 5ltr cans, I than sold the remainder off to other Bradwellites.

Link the the biocide antifouling...
http://www.yachtpaint.com/LiteratureCentre/M66_GBR_ENG.pdf

If anyone wants to see the unltrasonic installation... let me know (I'm in Bradwell).

I hope this helps

Regards

Ian

 

[ex-Gladys]

I have found that Seajet Shogun 033 is the best for me at West Mersea. Lasted the longest before needing a scrub.

As I recall following my experience Roger! Gladys is now only starting to feel sluggish having launched on 4th May and having a pack of 5 John Welham underwater scrubs.... The SHogun seems to work quite well at Mersea

I'm VERY interested in the ultrasonic approach, which caught my eye at SIBS 2010, but not quite enough to be the Mersea Guinea Pig....

 

[Fr J Hackett]

I posted this on the PBO part of the forum but just in case anyones missed it, the boat was in Shotley.
I fitted two of Jaycars units early this year, the hull having been antifouled in March 2010 with International Cruiser Uno was lifted and washed off in April this year no further antifoul paint was applied. Apart from a week or so to Holland in early June she has only been out of her bearth 3 times this year.

She was lifted on Friday and whilst I was not there the report is slight weed growth at the waterline with only slight slime growth over the hull. I did notice a couple of weeks ago a large growth of weed on the immersed (ultrasonically uncoupled) Hydrovane shaft, so there appears to be opportunity for significant fouling on unprotected surfaces.

Conclussion there seems to be reason to believe that Ultrasonic Antifouling works and has a positive effect, pictures to follow when I get them.

 

[bendyone]

I've had it for about 2 years now the only weed is around the waterline and on the anode on the rudder.

 

[Ianqv]

Anti foul

Hi All,

Just another up date regarding the ultrasonic anti fouling.
I'm pleased to say that my hull is still clean!!
I appreciated water temps are now starting to drop, so weed growth should be slowing, But I also have not had to clean the log impeller for almost 8 weeks!!

Hope this helps...

Regards

Ian

 

[LONG_KEELER]

Many thanks for the update.

Keep em coming.

Following with interest.

 

[TimfromMersea]

I had the hull of my previously Coppercoated boat abraded hard and then 2 coats of Seajet underwater primer applied. I intend to use Seajet Shogun 033 this coming year, as various posters have found that to be the best for West Mersea and that was the one recommended by the Seajet man at the LIBS.

Meawhile and back to the thread, I have also purchased ultrasonic antifouling at LIBS. The system I bought was Sonihull from NRG Marine and with the solar panel, which they assured me would power it on a swinging mooring as well as charge the battery, and solar panel control box it was £695. That's a single unit system which is apparently good for up to a 32 ft boat - mine is 29 ft so it should be fine.

Let's see if it works! I must admit that I am very sceptical indeed, and the system suppliers were not claiming that it replaced antifouling completely, but in conjunction with a good quality anti fouling paint system, I hope that it may help. At that sort of price it was worth a try, I believed.

If it works - or of course if it doesn't! - I'll advise.

 

[Ianqv]

I had the hull of my previously Coppercoated boat abraded hard and then 2 coats of Seajet underwater primer applied. I intend to use Seajet Shogun 033 this coming year, as various posters have found that to be the best for West Mersea and that was the one recommended by the Seajet man at the LIBS.

Meawhile and back to the thread, I have also purchased ultrasonic antifouling at LIBS. The system I bought was Sonihull from NRG Marine and with the solar panel, which they assured me would power it on a swinging mooring as well as charge the battery, and solar panel control box it was £695. That's a single unit system which is apparently good for up to a 32 ft boat - mine is 29 ft so it should be fine.

Let's see if it works! I must admit that I am very sceptical indeed, and the system suppliers were not claiming that it replaced antifouling completely, but in conjunction with a good quality anti fouling paint system, I hope that it may help. At that sort of price it was worth a try, I believed.

If it works - or of course if it doesn't! - I'll advise.

Hi Tim,

Hope it works for you!! and please do keep us posted!!

Not much more of an update on mine as the water is pretty cold so nothing is growing!
Since fitting mine I have had to go around the water line with the broom once only! So far...... it appears to be working very very well for me at Bradwell.

Regards

Ian

 

[ex-Gladys]

I'm really interested to see your results as well Tim. I'm very interested in something that reduces the work over the winter or keeps the boat going better in the summer... The deal you have including a panel seems very good, a 34W panel is nearly £500.

I put solar on (2x34W) last year and have been delighted with the results. Didn't plug into mains all season

 

[iainbluk]

ultrasonic antifoulling and coppercoat

Very interesting to hear Tims comments on coppercoat as I have experienced similar results with my coating applied in 2004. My boat is on a swinging mooring on the Orwell and I have to scrub every 4 weeks or so..I thought I was the only boat with coppercoat that didnt work and reading their adverts you would think it was the panacea for antifouling.
Consequently I purchased 2 Jaycar units last year and installed them on my 40' fin keeler. The results have been mixed in 2011, not many barnacles, but the hull stilll gets weed on it and when I lifted at levington in september there was a uniform coating of about 6mm of weed, mud and some very strange creatures which the yard crew at SYH called 'men in black'. The only positive aspect is that it was easy to clean the hull, albeit with a steam cleaner, but the surface was quite smooth afterward.
I had the boat out for a week in June to abrade the coppercoat which appeared to have gone inert so I have to say I was disappointed with the results of coppercoat/ultrasonic this year and am thinking of antifouling conventionally this year. I suppose I could also try and rebond the ultrasonic transducers into the hull but they seem to be transmittiing their pulses into the hull as you can hear them if you are underwater(i dived under the boat last year).
On a separate note Tim I would be grateful if you could PM me regarding your experience with coppercoat.