Hull antifouling

[ncanteiro]

I am a proud owner of a 4,5m Humber Assault, and recently got a place in the local Marina. It´s the first time I have the boat in the water permanently. Do I really need to paint the hull with antifouling ??
I´m a diver, can´t I clean the hull frequently ?? will the hull get damaged with sea water, is the antifouling just to prevent build up of marine vegetation ?? Any info welcomed

[chewy]

Walruz on here cleans his off with some acid, a quick search sould tell you what type. His boat does dry out though.

I've antifouled mine but some people don't like it as they think your trying to cover up a bodged repair, so it may affect resale value?

You will get growth on the hull if you leave it in. Don't the Assaults tubes touch the water at rest too.

[walruz]

15% hydrochloric about 3 or 4 times a season takes care of the vegetation. They use the same stuff to clean all the quays around the islands.

Mind you I found a new method this morning. Just run the boat onto a sand bank . Not really to be recommended.

LOL

Ian

[chewy]

Originally Posted by walruz

15% hydrochloric about 3 or 4 times a season takes care of the vegetation. They use the same stuff to clean all the quays around the islands.

Mind you I found a new method this morning. Just run the boat onto a sand bank . Not really to be recommended.

LOL

Ian

You should get an SR4, me and a mate can drag mine on the sand to clean it!

[pault]

Hi,

First post so forgive the multiple daft questions - I have a similar situation to ncanteiro - I have the option of a couple of moorings for my boat very close to the house so silly not to take them up. The problem I have is that the tubes on the boat are done and will need replaced. I've decided that will be a winter project (so mooring for next year) but thought that taking the tubes off would be a good opportunity to do some 'tidying' on the hull.

The boat is a late 90's Viking with a Mercury 60. Inside, the hull has some light marks in the gelcoat and a good few dings around the anchor well so I was thinking of giving it a respray with pu 2 pack. Underneath it needs a good clean, but I also thought maybe sticking a 2 pack epoxy primer on, then antifouling. Does this sound a) feasible and b) worthwhile, or should I just accept that the hull will never look great again and just sort the tubes.

Advice gratefully received, as I know it will not be a small job.

Cheers

[Tim M]

This is what will happen if you don't antifoul or scrub regularly. I wouldn't worry too much about the tubes; a soft scouring pad used regularly on any bit of tube that lives in the water will keep the nasty stuff off.

PS. With a really good pressure wash, all of that crap came off

[chewy]

Waxing the tubes will help keep growth off or you can get antifouling for tubes.

[alystra]

Originally Posted by ncanteiro

I am a proud owner of a 4,5m Humber Assault, and recently got a place in the local Marina. It´s the first time I have the boat in the water permanently. Do I really need to paint the hull with antifouling ??
I´m a diver, can´t I clean the hull frequently ?? will the hull get damaged with sea water, is the antifouling just to prevent build up of marine vegetation ?? Any info welcomed

My boat is kept on a mooring all season. I need antifouling. As a diver you could clean the hull, but I can tell you it's very hard work doing it underwater. The hull will not normally be damaged by sea water (osmosis has been a problem on older boats left afloat for years, all year round). To my mind antifouling is the best option. Ordinary a/f paint will last a season. If you go for something like 'Coppercoat' it will last at least ten years, but it's pricey. It is just to prevent the growth of weed and barnacles and stuff.

I didn't bother with 'keying the surface' with emery paper (so the gell coat is undamaged and the paint is easier to remove should I want to), or primer. Just washed the hull and applied the antifouling with a roller. Hardly any came off the whole season and the boat was clean underneath. Now on my fourth antifouled season.

A fair length of the tubes on my boat are in the water. Last year, after getting fed up of weed and barnacles, I antifouled them too with ordinary International UNO a/f exactly the same colour as the tubes, so invisible. No barnacles, no weed - more miles per litre. I use 3/4 of a tin on mine, maybe £30 worth and three hours work. Well worth it.

[BogMonster]

Originally Posted by walruz

Just run the boat onto a sand bank . Not really to be recommended.

Quick, though

[ncanteiro]

Many thanks for your replies