Safe Boat Skin - Beware!

Chris Murray · 09 July 2006, 17:07

I had Aries IV's hull polished with Safe Boat Skin before it was launched, as I wasn't sure if it would stay in a marina or be dry-berthed. Now I am!

After six weeks, the fouling was such that it had to be high pressure hosed. It was lifted yesterday at Hamble Point Marina ("Summer Scrub" deal - very professionally done and lifted using its own strops, so no risk to the tubes).

There hull was severely "slimed" and the barnacles were there to stay.

The slime was hosed off and I immediately got back 7 knots. There is probably another 7 knots to be obtained, once I can get the barnacles removed as well. Fortunately, my boat will be lifted again in 2-3 weeks, to be epoxied and antifouled, so thousands of the little critters will be made homeless!

The point of my posting is to say that if you are thinking of trying this as an alternative to antifouling, I would strongly advise you to THINK AGAIN!

I shall post some pictures shortly, which I think you will find are pretty conclusive.

One good point about this product ... As a hull polish, it's great! The part of the hull that is above the water is really shiney.

Chris.

Chris Murray · 11 July 2006, 20:42

I have attached some "before" and "after" pictures.

Not sure if they might be too small to see the difference but I have tried 3 times to get the file size under 200k per picture. Enough is enough!

Chris.

Chris Murray · 11 July 2006, 20:43

Having cut down the image sizes to conform with Forum requirements, they are rubbish! Nowhere near enough detail. Pathetic.

Jonny Fuller · 11 July 2006, 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Murray

Having cut down the image sizes to conform with Forum requirements, they are rubbish! Nowhere near enough detail. Pathetic.

You've only got nto get the compression right!

these pics are both under 70k. and they were taken with a 'snap camera' (canon ixus 50)

John Kennett · 11 July 2006, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Murray

Having cut down the image sizes to conform with Forum requirements, they are rubbish! Nowhere near enough detail. Pathetic.

They are way smaller than they need to be. Yours are 400 x 300 when they could be 640 x 480 which is about two and a half times the size.

As Jonny says, it looks like you need to set the compression a bit higher as 200Kb is more than ample. What software are you using?

John

PS If you're still stuck then email me the pictures and I'll resize them for you

codprawn · 11 July 2006, 22:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Murray

Having cut down the image sizes to conform with Forum requirements, they are rubbish! Nowhere near enough detail. Pathetic.

use this and choose 640x480

http://download.microsoft.com/downlo...ertoySetup.exe

Easiest I have ever found and you can do loads at once!!!

Jonny Fuller · 11 July 2006, 22:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

PS If you're still stuck then email me the pictures and I'll resize them for you

What a lovely bloke!

You wouldn't think from your posting, that you're actually the 'Brighton Ripper', would you!

Chris Murray · 13 July 2006, 19:58

I've made this 560 (ish) wide, so as to permit max quality - at least that is what it says in Photoshop Elements 3!

Let's see if it works ... It seems OK.

Thank you to all of you who have kindly offered to help, including the RIBnetter who PM'd me.

Chris.

codprawn · 13 July 2006, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Murray

I've made this 560 wide, so as to permit max quality - at least that is what it says in Photoshop Elements 3!

Let's see if it works.

Much better but try the powertoys resizer - so much easier!!!

jyasaki · 18 July 2006, 20:16

Was the lower unit left in the water or pulled up and out?

I ask because it looks awfully clean; if it was left in the water, I'd say your hull prep stuff actually encourages growth...

jky

Chris Murray · 18 July 2006, 22:09

The outboard had been left down but I cleaned it a couple of weeks before the boat was lifted, so it would not have anything like the growth as on the bottom.

I now share the space between finger pontoons with a trimaran, so there is not a lot of room between us. It also sticks out a long way, so I now leave the drive up as it is protected to a large extent by the boat next to me. This should be good for both the outboard and the propeller (which is due to be changed again soon).

Chris.