Should I antifoul?

timw · 15 September 2006, 10:33

Boat's on the tidal Thames. Never been antifouled, winters are ashore. I clean it thoroughly when it comes out once a year but gets very dirty when in the water. Thames water is slightly brackish, dirt and muck the problem rather than barnacle growth.

Planning to leave on the river for much longer periods this year. Will antifouling reject the dirt, and make the bottom look much cleaner?

Any advice welcome

craig_c · 15 September 2006, 12:54

anti fouling is very uncool!

timw · 15 September 2006, 13:00

why's that then?

craig_c · 15 September 2006, 13:22

a previous boat we had came second hand with anti fouling. it did keep the weed and scum off the boat but ended up looking like blue and orange camoflage. im not a great fan of the up keep either. our boat has been in the water since late may and has had the bottom scrubbed twice. was a lot muckier this time(sunny weather) but still comes off easily.

Biggles · 15 September 2006, 13:33

I take it once you've applied antifoul there is no going back to a nice shiny hull. Or am I wrong.
I'm considering it but don't want to ruin the look of my hull when it comes to resale time.

Nos4r2 · 15 September 2006, 14:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biggles

I take it once you've applied antifoul there is no going back to a nice shiny hull. Or am I wrong.
I'm considering it but don't want to ruin the look of my hull when it comes to resale time.

You've got to rub the gelcoat down to get it to stick so you'll never get rid of all of it.

Matt · 15 September 2006, 14:33

You will, but it's a whole lot of effort.

alystra · 15 September 2006, 15:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

You've got to rub the gelcoat down to get it to stick so you'll never get rid of all of it.

Everyone told me that too, but that bothered me as I didn't want my shiny white hull ruined. However, antifouling a must here or there's barnacles and weed everywhere within six weeks.

I bit the bullet for this season, ordered a can of white International Interspeed Ultra. Washed the hull to get rid of last season's wax and just rolled the paint on - no sanding the gel coat, no undercoat. That was early May when the boat was launched. She's out now in expectation of the September gales (where are they?). Ninety five percent of the antifoul is still on the boat and it's worked well. There's barnacles and things on the elephants trunk and the rear end of the tubes, which sit in the water, but the hull is clean and smooth. No regrets on that score. However...

I ordered white. The paint came labelled 'Dover white', looked OK, but when applied was grey :-(. The submerged bit turned 'almost white' after a while, but the bit at the bow in the 'splash zone' turned greenish. I have seen pure white antifoul on yachts and that's what I thought I'd got. Still, it should be fairly easy to get off and I'll find some 'whiter than white' next time.

So, if you moor in a place with heavy fouling then antifoul. You'll get much more ribbing in, I think - but check the colour properly. :-)

Tony

BogMonster · 15 September 2006, 15:16

I've recently had the same question and I have decided to give it a season without antifouling and see what happens, on the basis that it is going to be a lot easier to scrub the boat and antifoul it in nine months time, than try and remove the antifouling if it isn't required and I change my mind, and it also saves doing any work now which appeals to my sense of inertia

Also it seems to be a subject that violently divides opinion which with most things usually means there are pros and cons so I guess I'll find out for myself

I wonder if just polishing the hull with a wax polish would make much difference to how much muck sticks to it. It certainly makes a difference when you polish a vehicle.

Endeavour · 15 September 2006, 15:39

won't a mold release wax work? or maybe a semi permanent relase agent like frecote or chemlease???

Andy Moore · 15 September 2006, 17:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by alystra

I ordered white. The paint came labelled 'Dover white', looked OK, but when applied was grey :-(. The submerged bit turned 'almost white' after a while, but the bit at the bow in the 'splash zone' turned greenish. I have seen pure white antifoul on yachts and that's what I thought I'd got. Still, it should be fairly easy to get off and I'll find some 'whiter than white' next time.

The chap at International told me the other day that if I wanted *white* then I should go for Trilux.

alystra · 16 September 2006, 10:34

Cheers Andy.

steedthrust · 16 September 2006, 10:51

Sounds like you got 'Dover White' see the photo. White below green at the front/top.

Lostboy · 18 September 2006, 10:53

This has been done to death recently, search the forums and you will find it all.

I have done it, it makes no difference to the performance of the boat (I burnished it with w&d to a smooth finish, it was Blakes Hard Racing) except that it will not deteriorate as I leave it in the water!!!!

I have undoubtedly saved the cost of doing already because of fuel usage will remain regular, not affected by a bikini line!

Andy Moore · 18 September 2006, 10:59

I have decided -I think

- not to antifoul, but rather spend the £££ on having her jetted off more often.

That's this weeks plan anyway!

richardjawilson · 18 September 2006, 11:23

Snapper

My Rib is antifouled and its does make a difference. My previous rib wasnt and after six months in the river its was very slimey etc and as i'm in the same postion as you its a real pain sorting out trailers and lauching etc in central London.

I spoke to some guys from Copper Coat at Southampton who recon their product is good for up to 10 yrs depending on application and works out at £55.00 per litre, but I didnt enquire about their colour range.

regards richard

timw · 21 September 2006, 00:34

Thanks mate i think the unique characteristics of the tidal thames points towards antifouling.

There's a guy up at south dock marina who will happily do it for me at a price. I'll look in to the best white high speed antifoul

cheers Snapper

Lostboy · 21 September 2006, 09:14

It won't be the anti-foul that offers high speed it is how it is applied and finished that will decide how little of the performance is lost. That is why, after extensive research (and because I am a yacht racer so slightly paranoid about achieving excellent performance), I chose a hard racing antifoul that I could wet and dry smooth. It was well worth the effort as the performance effects are non-existant (except that it is consistent regardless of how long it's been in the water!).