Ultrasonic Antifouling Report

[Interlude]

I have good news and bad news: We were able to inspect the hull 9 months after antifouling (34ft fibreglass, the single transducer of the original Jaycar kit is mounted just aft of the saildrive). In previous years, there would be small barnacles on the hull by this time. There was easily removable slime on the hull, but no barnacles - that was the good news.

The bad news is that the (SD20) saildrive and (Flexi-fold) prop had lots of small barnacles, which is probably not surprising when you consider it is mechanically isolated from the hull by the double annular salt water seal.

So now I am looking at the saildrive and working out how to mount another transducer to the saildrive. One question is whether ultrasonically agitating the oil inside the saildrive will cause it to aerate or otherwise worsen in lubricating properties.

Any thoughts??

 

[KAL]

I have good news and bad news: We were able to inspect the hull 9 months after antifouling (34ft fibreglass, the single transducer of the original Jaycar kit is mounted just aft of the saildrive). In previous years, there would be small barnacles on the hull by this time. There was easily removable slime on the hull, but no barnacles - that was the good news.

The bad news is that the (SD20) saildrive and (Flexi-fold) prop had lots of small barnacles, which is probably not surprising when you consider it is mechanically isolated from the hull by the double annular salt water seal.

So now I am looking at the saildrive and working out how to mount another transducer to the saildrive. One question is whether ultrasonically agitating the oil inside the saildrive will cause it to aerate or otherwise worsen in lubricating properties.

Any thoughts??

I'm trying udder salve (from farm supplies) on my prop, ropecutter and shaft this year, on the strength of a recommendation from another forumite. Will update on results later this year. If it sucks I will let you know. I promise not to milk it if the results are positive. I just hope to cream along nicely with a barnacle-free prop this season.

 

[pvb]

I'm trying udder salve (from farm supplies) on my prop, ropecutter and shaft this year, on the strength of a recommendation from another forumite. Will update on results later this year. If it sucks I will let you know. I promise not to milk it if the results are positive. I just hope to cream along nicely with a barnacle-free prop this season.

I was going to try that, but I bottled out.

 

[reeac]

I'm trying udder salve (from farm supplies) on my prop, ropecutter and shaft this year, on the strength of a recommendation from another forumite. Will update on results later this year. If it sucks I will let you know. I promise not to milk it if the results are positive. I just hope to cream along nicely with a barnacle-free prop this season.

That's an udder story.

 

[Bosun Higgs]

I'm trying udder salve (from farm supplies) on my prop, ropecutter and shaft this year, on the strength of a recommendation from another forumite. Will update on results later this year. If it sucks I will let you know. I promise not to milk it if the results are positive. I just hope to cream along nicely with a barnacle-free prop this season.

What a cheesy set of comments!

 

[Tranona]

See that the creme de la creme of posters are up early today - perhaps been milking the cows.

To the OP suggest you use Trilux on your saildrive housing and possibly prop. Works well on the housing, but props are always difficult, mainly because of the problems of getting anything to stick to it that will not come off when the prop is in use.

 

[pampas]

I do not think it will work and may possibly damage the bearings,

 

[KAL]

I was going to try that, but I bottled out.

You shouldn't let an opportunity go "past your eyes"...

 

[jbweston]

As long as you can moove the barnacles, who cares?

A couple of tips. It's OK following the herd, butter big mistake to apply the cream when it's freezian. If you heffer do that, you can't steer.

 

[Galena]

I'm new to this group but I have some experience with ultrasonic antifouling. I'm located in South Florida and own a 36ft. Seahawk with twin diesels. Around one year ago I took a chance on installing an ultrasonic antifouling system on my boat. I did this because a friend of mine in New York had good results with it. Mine has two transducers that operate 24/7. I'm on shore power so this didn't affect me. The deciding factor was that they offered me a 90 day money back guarantee. The installed price was $1500. So if it did what they said it would I could eliminate monthly hull cleanings and the end of year bottom painting. I had just had my hull painted so it seemed like a good time to do it. This way I could start knowing it was clean. At the end of the third month I personally dove the hull to inspect it. I thought it wasn't working because I had some slime on the hull. It turned out to be dead algae that came off when I wiped it. But there was also no growth on my props or shafts. So I kept it going and at the end of 9 months I dove the hull again and saw pretty much the same results. I use the boat around 4 times a month. I'm keeping an eye on it, but so far I'm good to go. I was tired of paying a diver monthly along with the end of year haul-out. So at this point I'm pretty much break even as far as costs go. I'm also hoping that because no one is scrubbing the hull, that the paint will last longer. I'll stay in touch with future results.