Wow, Rafiki has lost 10 kn in 6 weeks due to fouling!

This is my first year of Mobo ownership and I have been really surprised how fouling has impacted speed and economy compared to my raggie that I also have. I have done 3 scrubs already this season (using a Snorkel, so maybe not the best job)! Anyway I'm slightly reassured that everyone is saying it is a bad year, as I was starting to think about Drystack as the only practical option for keeping sensible performance. Will see how it goes next year.
 
Deleted User said:
Where are you based because I reckon we all want to base our boats there? I've had boats based in SoF, Costa Blanca, Majorca, Croatia and now, Italy and without exception, the sterngear gets fouled in only a few weeks in the water and speed/rpm is lost. Have you got sterndrives or outboard engines on your boat and do you lift the props clear of the water when you leave the boat?
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Based in port adriano, like I say in the water 365 days of the year. Boat is a sterndrive boat, and the props (and everything else ) stay in the water. They get a bit of fouling, but nothing significant and no significant change in top speed, maybe 1 knot at most, but top speed varies by a couple of knots anyway depending on fuel load, people on board, wind direction etc, so hard to tell for sure, but certainly not a significant reduction from the 38knot max . I have friends in the same marina and its the same for them. Was the same on my previous boat which was also based here.

Ive always found it odd that people on here talk of mid season lift outs for a clean, certainly no need for that for me, but looks like im in the minority.
 
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Couple of weeks ago went to alum bay and swam round the boat with a scrubbing brush, certainly burned a few calories as treading water while scrubbing a hull is like an endurance challenge, however results were a gain of 3 knots…
 
Whitelighter said:
Surely you mean decreased?
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Yes I meant decreased. I wrote it in a hurry .

Revised below:

It certainly affects fast planing boats more than 20 knot boats and more than displacement boats, what is scary is what it does to your MPG which Plumets.

MBM took a boat that had been in the water for 12 months it was a 42ft mobo and at cruising speed it lost 3.3knots the MPG Decreases by 29%.

I would say on a fast planing boat with say a clean cruise speed of 27 knots the fuel burn as MPG would probably Decrease by considerably more, probably northwards of 40%.

A mid season lift and pressure wash makes a considerable difference in fuel burn reducing your fuel burn considerably.
 
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It looks like there is a lot of worm on the props, shafts and rudders. It looks like a coral reef is growing. Apparently this is most unusual for Portishead.
 
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We were travelling with Rafiki.

Our boat, Athena was lifted 2 weeks ago and hull cleaned to remove worm as shown per attached photo. Athena last lifted in march.

Over an inch of worm.

Normally we can get 18 months between lifts in Portishead, but not this year.

Speed improvement from 22knts before lift up to 29knts after lift.

Athena is a late sealine 410, but F43 spec with 63p's.
 
Who said:
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We were travelling with Rafiki.

Our boat, Athena was lifted 2 weeks ago and hull cleaned to remove worm as shown per attached photo. Athena last lifted in march.

Over an inch of worm.

Normally we can get 18 months between lifts in Portishead, but not this year.

Speed improvement from 22knts before lift up to 29knts after lift.

Athena is a late sealine 410, but F43 spec with 63p's.
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Athena is skippered by a top bloke, and ably crewed by his lovely wife. :D

Athena was flying yesterday, and held back by a slow Rafiki
 
rafiki_ said:
Athena is skippered by a top bloke, and ably crewed by his lovely wife. :D

Athena was flying yesterday, and held back by a slow Rafiki
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And he makes mean bacon buttie.
Davnic Row was quite bad last time we took her out and we have copper coat. It's been bad in that area for a couple of years although for various reasons the old girl didn't go out much which didn't help. Don't know what the Thames will be like, where we are now.
 
boatingdave said:
And he makes mean bacon buttie.
Davnic Row was quite bad last time we took her out and we have copper coat. It's been bad in that area for a couple of years although for various reasons the old girl didn't go out much which didn't help. Don't know what the Thames will be like, where we are now.
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Is Shepperton fresh or salt water?
 
rafiki_ said:
Is Shepperton fresh or salt water?
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Oh definitely fresh, on the Thames :-). We really liked Penarth, thinking about going back. Portishead and Penarth both have merits and were not much difference in time to travel for us. We used to be moored a couple of boats down from Mike in Portishead in case you don't remember.
 
boatingdave said:
Oh definitely fresh, on the Thames :-). We really liked Penarth, thinking about going back. Portishead and Penarth both have merits and were not much difference in time to travel for us. We used to be moored a couple of boats down from Mike in Portishead in case you don't remember.
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Sorry Dave, I don't. Which side of Mike?
 
boatingdave said:
The old Princess 415 that used to be alongside the main pontoon same leg and side as Mike. We haven't been there for a year or so. next to 'Hero' (I think, from memory, may not be the correct name). Dave.
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Ok, understand. Ballyhoo has been on your position since we arrived a year ago. We are on Mike's stbd side, Gary on his port.
 
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