Ultrasonic Antifouling

benjenbav said:
When I read about these systems I quite liked the idea of bluegreen controlling the installation, because I could imagine a disappointed customer being told that the product hadn't worked because it hadn't been installed correctly. I would have thought that it would be possible to agree to have bluegreen's installer supervised by someone you did trust, although that would result in paying twice for the work element of the package.
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Agreed, though you then have to legislate who wins when the installer wants to run the wires as he thinks and I want them run the way I think in the trunking I want with the clips I want and I want that panel removed so you can run the wire along there and so on! Too much hassle agreeing all those things I reckon. I'm happy to take the risk the product doesn't work due to my bad install, and not complain to BG, but they wont even sell on that basis. It would be nice if this stuff works but it's hardly bad news if it doesn't :-) Much easier imho to buy the Ultra20 product. all just imho
 
Old thread, but I have an update. I have installed the BlueGreen system. After 6 months we took the boat out and there was virtually no marine growth on the hull, just a little slime that I thought would come off with a bit of fast sailing and wave bashing. It did just that on our trip to France in October.

Oops, just realised I am on the Motor Boat forum. Do I get shot for this?
 
SolentBoy said:
Old thread, but I have an update. I have installed the BlueGreen system. After 6 months we took the boat out and there was virtually no marine growth on the hull, just a little slime that I thought would come off with a bit of fast sailing and wave bashing. It did just that on our trip to France in October.

Oops, just realised I am on the Motor Boat forum. Do I get shot for this?
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How did you manage to obtain a BlueGreen system ?

I tried very hard to purchase one of these installations but was told that they were still in the process of developing the system.

Are you connected with BlueGreen ?
 
SolentBoy said:
Old thread, but I have an update. I have installed the BlueGreen system. After 6 months we took the boat out and there was virtually no marine growth on the hull, just a little slime that I thought would come off with a bit of fast sailing and wave bashing. It did just that on our trip to France in October.

Oops, just realised I am on the Motor Boat forum. Do I get shot for this?
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Thanks for update. What about barnacles on props and metal parts?

In the current issue of PBO it says they will be reporting on their test in the March issue and that they will have the info by LIBS (so might share it if one asks on their stand?). I think (but not sure) they have had two dinghies moored all 2009 at Poole, one with Ultrasonicantifouling and one with BlueGreen
 
DougH said:
How did you manage to obtain a BlueGreen system ?

I tried very hard to purchase one of these installations but was told that they were still in the process of developing the system.

Are you connected with BlueGreen ?
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I got my system direct from Blue Green and had it installed by the boat-builder. (it is a new boat first launched this Spring).

No connection to BlueGreen apart from being a customer.
 
DougH said:
How did you manage to obtain a BlueGreen system ?

I tried very hard to purchase one of these installations but was told that they were still in the process of developing the system.

Are you connected with BlueGreen ?
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jfm said:
Thanks for update. What about barnacles on props and metal parts?

In the current issue of PBO it says they will be reporting on their test in the March issue and that they will have the info by LIBS (so might share it if one asks on their stand?). I think (but not sure) they have had two dinghies moored all 2009 at Poole, one with Ultrasonicantifouling and one with BlueGreen
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We do have a few components that are metal and have no treatments on them, e.g. the cooling plates for the fridge and freezer. These did have a few barnacles on them. The guy from BlueGreen was there when we hauled out and he was not surprised to see those so not sure what that means.

I have a gut feeling that the system does reduce growth, but does not completely prevent it, so if anyone is looking to use this as a way of not hauling out or never anti-fouling I suspect they may be disappointed.

I still have to haul out to check anodes etc. and most places near me throw in the pressure wash for "free" with the lift, so to me the incremental cost of the painting is not too much of an issue.

It will be good to see the PBO test, but in my experience fouling can vary considerably from place to place, even a few hundred metres, so if it stops fouling in Poole that may weel not be proof it will do so elsewhere.
 
I fitted an Ultrasonic 20 Antifoul system to my Hunter 340 in early October when the strands of weed where about 4 to 6 inches long I then had a diver down to check and scrub the bottom in December when he found no weed and it took him about 40 minutes to rub off the slime he found two small barnacles on the prop which he removed I purchased the boat in late November 2008 when I had the hull power washed but not antifouled. It had had what appears to be a hard antifoulind comleted in March 2008.

The diver checked the anodes and found them satisfactory I plan to have him look again next December.

Now the interesting bit my boat is in Queensland Australia and the amount of weed and growth to be expected in a sub tropical climate is very high, so this is probably a fair test of the product
 
Interesting reading as we are about to fit an ultrasonic system to a new build Outer Reef 80 (have not decided on which system yet, just waiting for quotations) . Yacht will be based initially in SoF and then later in Turkey so will be interesting to see what the results are. Will keep you posted on outcome at 3 months, 6 months and 1 year.
 
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Ultasonic Antifouling

During 10th-14th January 2010 the installation engineer from Ultrasonic Antifouling will be in Mallorca installing 2 x Ultra 20 and 1 x Ultra 10 on my Sunseeker Manhattan 60 in Cala d'Or.

If anyone is around during these dates you are most welcome to call to see him and look at the installation.

Please PM me for directions and boat name.

Doug
 
I have the Ultra 20 installed in a 50 foot sports boat for the past four months. The boat was recently lifted for shipping and it didnt look good. There werent a lot of barnacles but a lot of algae, so it did make some difference but the hull and props were not sparkling clean.
 
Longranger5 said:
I have the Ultra 20 installed in a 50 foot sports boat for the past four months. The boat was recently lifted for shipping and it didnt look good. There werent a lot of barnacles but a lot of algae, so it did make some difference but the hull and props were not sparkling clean.
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Thanks for the input. Where are you based, UK or Med? How much speed have you lost over those 4 months? Is there any improvement over the amount of fouling generally you would expect had you not fitted the U20?
 
And to add to Mike's question, how recently was it lifted? If you're in the N Hemisphere, then the last 4 months have been winter, when you wouldn't expect much growth anyway.
 
Now been running for a couple of months. I certainly have less weed growing than the boat next door. The old weed where I can see it has turned more brown and with a light brush falls off.
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I plan to lift and wash off maybe at the end of April and not put any new AF on so will see what happens.
 
Looks good. Will be interested to see more pics when you lift

Mine is fitted. Boat was lifted last week, antifouled etc, and relaunched. USAF was fitted at the same time so it's too early for me to have any results yet. Will report back!
 
I have been involved with a distributor of ultrasonic antifouling products. I can assure you that these devices are unproven. I have seen photographs of the boats of unhappy customers, seriously damaged by weed and barnacle growth.
Don't believe what you read on websites and forums. Talk to people for yourself, watch their boats over a period of 6-12 months....

Please, it was heartbreaking seeing the trust of so many proud boat owners shattered, and their unprotected and/or unmaintained hulls covered with parasites. I don't wish that upon anyone.

There's a massive shroud of uncertainty, falsified (or too early to tell) testimonials and misleading scientific reports. I hope I can make a difference and clear the waters a bit. I'm speaking the truth and without malice.

Thanks for reading.
 
nocks said:
I have been involved with a distributor of ultrasonic antifouling products. I can assure you that these devices are unproven. I have seen photographs of the boats of unhappy customers, seriously damaged by weed and barnacle growth.
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I am very firmly in the non believer camp but fail to see how boats can be seriously damaged by weedsand barnacle growth.
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nocks said:
I have been involved with a distributor of ultrasonic antifouling products. I can assure you that these devices are unproven. I have seen photographs of the boats of unhappy customers, seriously damaged by weed and barnacle growth.
Don't believe what you read on websites and forums. Talk to people for yourself, watch their boats over a period of 6-12 months....

Please, it was heartbreaking seeing the trust of so many proud boat owners shattered, and their unprotected and/or unmaintained hulls covered with parasites. I don't wish that upon anyone.

There's a massive shroud of uncertainty, falsified (or too early to tell) testimonials and misleading scientific reports. I hope I can make a difference and clear the waters a bit. I'm speaking the truth and without malice.

Thanks for reading.
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Before you start grinding that axe round here, Nocks, let us all know a bit more about where you're coming from, please? The CEO of a conventional Antifouling paint company or someone who makes a living from applying said stuff might have a vested interest in this...
 
nocks said:
I have been involved with a distributor of ultrasonic antifouling products. I can assure you that these devices are unproven. I have seen photographs of the boats of unhappy customers, seriously damaged by weed and barnacle growth.
Don't believe what you read on websites and forums. Talk to people for yourself, watch their boats over a period of 6-12 months....

Please, it was heartbreaking seeing the trust of so many proud boat owners shattered, and their unprotected and/or unmaintained hulls covered with parasites. I don't wish that upon anyone.

There's a massive shroud of uncertainty, falsified (or too early to tell) testimonials and misleading scientific reports. I hope I can make a difference and clear the waters a bit. I'm speaking the truth and without malice.

Thanks for reading.
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Agree with Wiggo. It's bad form to come on this forum slagging off something or somebody without explaining your background and knowledge of the subject. I too am sceptical about these products but as far as I'm concerned, they're just unproven. Somebody on this forum is testing the product on his boat presently and I'd rather trust his judgement that somebody who comes on here just to badmouth it. You do shoot yourself in the foot as well. Weeds and barnacles do not damage boats unless you're seriously suggesting that some u/s product buyers decided not to apply standard antifoul paint to their hulls believing that the u/s product would work so well that they wouldn't need to, in which case they probably deserved what they got
 
I worked for a regional distributor and part of my job was to keep a close eye on competitors and international companies. That was the only job I've ever held in the marine/electronic/chemical industry.

I have heard of boats going in the water for months at a time with no bottom paint, at the recommendation of ultrasonic antifouling distributors. Extreme growth of crustaceans, algae and coral will damage a hull.

A major UK distributor (and other companies) started off by promoting their product as a complete alternative to antifouling. Then, when it didn't seem to be working, they changed their product claims and recommended that you still antifoul. Then, they tell you that one Transducer isn't enough - you'll need two, good sir, thank you, see you in six months.

I'm happy to wait and see how it goes for those other forum users. I'm not being paranoid when I say, don't trust everything you read on forums. It's far too easy to create an account and post false information... which you've been eager to point out about my post.

It was a harsh post but I feel morally obliged to alert potential buyers that they should do a lot of research before they buy this product.

Thanks for your time.
 
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