tophatyachts.com

hi all
does anyone know or hear anything about BARNACLE RID...NO MORE ANYI -FOULING
cheers
8philip8

There are plenty on the market, but not a lot of praise apart from those who have left glowing testimonials.

http://www.hitekbarnaclean.webs.com/ $2400 for a 25 footer.
http://www.ultrasonic-antifouling.com.au/ No pricing listed, and isn't DIY, must be installed by a pro, so it's going to be expensive. I emailed them to get a price. It's also designed to lengthen the period between antifoul, not completely remove necessity.
http://www.boatsonic.com.au/antifoulinggoldcoast.html This mob have the exact same FAQ as the Ultrasonic people, although do allow DIY, no pricing though.
http://www.globalmarinegroup.com.au/2b-sure.html is more like the HiTek Barnaclean, but $2900.

There are lots more if you search using your favourite search engine, and they seem to be two different types. 1) transducers stuck inside the hull that emit some kind of noise or electronic current or 2) the copper electrodes dropped fore and aft when you park the boat. (adding another thing to do when you arrive or depart the mooring )

It seems to me that over a longer period, you might save some money by lengthening the time between slip, wash and antifoul, but it also lengthens the time between below waterline inspections.

If you do some numbers and pay $3k for an electronic system, it's going to take 6 years or so to break even at $1k per slip and stretching to 2 years between slips. Of course if you can stretch slips further out, it will pay back much more quickly.

The biggest bug bear for me is that at this stage, we're still paying for the Intellectual Property, not the actual cost of goods or installation. IF they work, they will get cheaper over time and be worth buying for such a small and inexpensive (comparitively) boat like the Top Hat, but until they do get within the realms of decent pricing, the jury is out for me.

Michael.

Silicone Chip has a do it yourself kit for under $300

http://www.siliconchip.com.au/cms/A_112107/article.html

My concern it that the lead in the keel might dampen out the vibrations and only the remainder of the hull may stay clean?

Tom

One of the other things I've considered but never really did anything about is the fact that the mooring line usually has fouling on it, big beasties and when they decide to cast off their offspring the next stop is downstream which is...your hull !
I wonder how much of an effect that has?
Greg.

The Silicon Chip product says it's the same gear as the other more expensive models, but you do need to put it together yourself, as it comes in kit form.

Still, if you're handy with solder and able to follow instructions, $249 is a worthwile investment to test and see whether it actually works. I think I'll be looking more seriously at that once I get over the last outlay for the slipping last week.

As for the mooring line, I have no idea how you would prevent algae and barnacle build up on that, but yes the first stop for their spawn is your hull.....

Michael.

Now I'm not a tree hugging greenie but what frequencies and how does this thing operate.
Does anyone know? Does it have an effect on the whales and dolphins and other marine life?
Greg the greenie.

hi Greg
from my understanding of these type of products
when the is unattented( on the mooring),a battery is hook up to 2 copper bars (through a control box ) hang from both ends of the boat that creates a electric field ONLY covers the size of the hull , copper+ electricity = a chemical reaction. which kill barnacles
any sicence teacher in this group? please explain
8philip8
btw copper conductors need to be replace down the track.

Hi Hatters


Hey if you wind up the frequency high enough fish should float to the surface ? say
1.0 = bait fish
4.0 = nice bream / flathead
6.0 = 2kg snapper

If you like whale well wind the dial all the way might pick-up the local FM Stations too



BEAR