Ultrasonic antifouling

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jiris

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After frustrating experience with a variety of antifouling paints over a 10 years period I finally bit the bullet and installed an ultrasonic antifouling device last year. Today - almost 7 months after, I put on my diving gear and had a look at the results. I won't comment, leave it up to you ;-). The first photo is my boat after only 4 months in the water without the ultrasonic. Can you spot any difference? :-)
 

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As I had some doubts about the project (there are some really negative comments about it around) I decided for the cheapest option I could find - Jaycar "build yourself" kit that cost me, if I remember well, A$350 (2 channels) and took me about 3 hours to solder together.
At this point I have no doubts about its effectiveness (beyond my expectations, actually) and I am sure it is money well spent. After 7 months there is no single barnacle on the hull, the prop is sparkling clean and the only sign the boat was ever in the water is a few lonely pieces seaweed and thin layer of some brown slime that you wipe off effortlessly by the palm of your hand. Magic!
 
Well, I have the same and I am as happy as can be. Where is the difference? What material is your hull? Do you ever switch the system off? How sure are you the transducers are installed properly? Did you start using it on a clean, antifouled hull?
 
Somewhere on here is a very long thread started about 5 or 6 years ago by NormanE many of us bought the Jaycar kits and installed them with very mixed results. In my case they were very effective I ran them permanently except when underway. My view is that there are too many variables including how the kits are built, where and how the transponders are located to say they do or don't work based on what is said.
 
Fr J Hackett said:
Somewhere on here is a very long thread started about 5 or 6 years ago by NormanE many of us bought the Jaycar kits and installed them with very mixed results. In my case they were very effective I ran them permanently except when underway. My view is that there are too many variables including how the kits are built, where and how the transponders are located to say they do or don't work based on what is said.
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I believe it is not random at all. I can see a very clear pattern. First, not every hull material is suitable. Any kind of "sandwich" with some layer of a soft material is simply out. I would suspect wood wouldn't work too well either. The second part is based on my assumption, only a small percentage of the growth is actually being killed by the ultrasound. The wast majority is just being discouraged to attach itself to a surface vibrating at a high frequency. BUT if once attached (and they don't need too much time to do it), they grow happily ever after - ultrasound or not. I also believe quite a few of the poorly performing systems owe their lack of success to sloppily installed transducers, namely with air bubbles underneath.
The system works for me because I installed it properly, on a freshly cleaned hull and I switched it on even before the boat went back to the water. Furthermore, I NEVER switch it off. It may be possible turning it off while the boat is under way is O.K. as your experience indicates, but I wouldn't tempt it myself.
 
jiris said:
Well, I have the same and I am as happy as can be. Where is the difference? What material is your hull? Do you ever switch the system off? How sure are you the transducers are installed properly? Did you start using it on a clean, antifouled hull?
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Solid GPS hull, antifouled, never off. Tended to deplete the battery even with solar panels. I suspect that with a 32’ boat then two sets would have been far more effective. I haven’t put it on for a couple of years, I have a mild dread of battery problems.
 
Fr J Hackett said:
Somewhere on here is a very long thread started about 5 or 6 years ago by NormanE many of us bought the Jaycar kits and installed them with very mixed results. In my case they were very effective I ran them permanently except when underway. My view is that there are too many variables including how the kits are built, where and how the transponders are located to say they do or don't work based on what is said.
Click to expand...

Here is the thread. http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthread.php?258391-Building-the-Ultrasonic-Antifouling-Kit-from-Jaycar
I believe it holds the record for number of views on the PBO forum.
 
Champagne Murphy said:
Solid GPS hull, antifouled, never off. Tended to deplete the battery even with solar panels. I suspect that with a 32’ boat then two sets would have been far more effective. I haven’t put it on for a couple of years, I have a mild dread of battery problems.
Click to expand...

As for the effectiveness, you are probably right about the 2 channels. I have a 40 ft hull and use 2 channels. Also, the installation of the transducers is extremely important. Any air bubble in the epoxy can reduce the efficiency close to zero. Also, they should be placed at a reasonable distance from any reinforcing parts of the hull - ribs etc.
The battery drain - it should be a straight maths. My 2 channels system uses about 6 W (1/2 A) and that's a consumption you simply have to cover one way or another. I can see this part as the only setback of the system.
 
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