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MrW
14 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Aug 2012 : 20:36:38
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Can someone please give a pointer on this please?
Coming up for my second winter on my first boat & literally don't have a clue!
How often?
How expensive?
How much work involved?
Best type to use?
Etc etc.
Cheers |
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Deano
United Kingdom
1843 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2012 : 11:10:27
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There are a number of schools of thought when it comes to antifouling.
Just remember why you are doing it and that will help to tell you what to do.
Basic:-
Pull the boat out of the water and pressure wash the bottom immediately.
Scrape off any loose paint and crap that the jet wash missed.
Slap one coat of budget freshwater anti foul around the waterline and up to about a foot under the boat. Do all the bow section for about 2-3 foot. When dry put another coat on the bow section and any areas that may rub.
Wait an hour or so and put back in the water.
You do not need to do the total underneath of the hull every year, it is a waste of paint unless you are in a bad area for fouling and you will know that when you get the boat out - it will be covered with growth.
Advanced:-
Remove all the existing anti foul before priming and repainting the whole hull with new anti foul. Expensive and pointless.
For most inland use, "Flag" anti foul is as good as you ned to go. Usually about £30 a tin, but you may get 2 years worth out of that with a 20 footer.
Paint using an old roller and tray, use a brush and masking tape for the waterline. Remove the tape before the paint dries. Wear plastic gloves and bin the lot when you have finished. Don't bother trying to clean the brushes and roller.
Dean - Boating on the Great Ouse.
Freeman 30 "Silver Gem"
See the photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/54758027@N00/ |
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Peter Walker
United Kingdom
58 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2012 : 11:17:57
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Hi
I'm afraid that your question is a bit like the length of the proverbial bit of string! Boats need antifouling as often as they need antifouling! It all depends - Some waterways have a lot more living in them than others
- There is a lot more stuff in the sea that will live on your boat than there is in fresh water
- Cold waters have less fouling than warmer water
- Folk who race their boats are concerned about the first signs of muck and slime, work boats sometimes carry around a small forest underwater
- And if you dry sail your boat, ie keep it on a trailer between each outing, then you may never have to use toxic chemicals on your hull at all
What does the bottom of your boat look like? If you have thick green algae visible around the waterline then this coming Winter it might be good to pull your boat out onto the shore for a few months. Clean it off, make any minor repairs, antifoul and return to the water about Easter time.
You probably won't need to do this every year unless you keep her in seawater. I use the cheapest Copper based antifouling that I can find, I got a good deal on Flag Cruiser Antifouling last Winter, it comes in 2.5L tins and I used a tin and a half to apply 2 coats. (In my case the underside (22ft) had never been painted before, so I sanded it first, then gave it a coat of primer before the 2 coats of antifoul.) But if your boat is not too badly fouled, you could possibly manage with just a jet wash, then one coat of antifoul.
The way I did it took many days wearing a dust mask, sanding and preparing the bottom. It's up to you - are you a perfectionist?
Norman 22 on the river Avon, Warwickshire |
Edited by - Peter Walker on 30 Aug 2012 11:47:20 |
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MrW
14 Posts |
Posted - 30 Aug 2012 : 20:49:25
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| Thanks for the info. |
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Anti Fouling?????
