DIY anti fouling

[Allen]

Hi All,

I'm overdue for antifouling and am wondering what most people do.

When I bought the boat and she came out for survey, it made sense to get the boatyard to do it, but if it only takes a couple of hours and needs doing every year then I guess I should learn, esp if the cost is in the $1100 area.

With my old powerboat the yard would gerni the hull, scrape the prop, replace the shaft anode, mask the bootline and roll the new paint on. They used acid solution (bucket and broom) to remove the old green algae stains that take a year to creep up over the bootline, then rinse, paint, let it all dry and off you go.

On my boat the antifoul was last done in Oct 2009 and I hope that a pressure wash/paint scraper is all it needs.

While she's on the hard I've also got to fix/replace the thru-hull speed transducer.

I'd be grateful for some idea of what everyone else does, it seems sensible not to spend so much on a little boat like mine, but if the process is total pain - it's best left to the boatyard.

Thanks in advance.
cheers,
Allen

[bearmcnally]

Hello Allan


Yeah it's that time of the year again eh !! You will need a whole weekend and that includes a polish to the topsides.I've done my Top Hat plus larger yachts for the past 30 odd years.I believe doing it yourself keeps you in touch on whats happening below the waterline along with other issues, and it saves money.


Cheers Bear

[Shaun]

Gday Allen,
The process is a total pain, but i reckon Bear has made a very important point, about keeping in touch with whats happening under the waterline, you can only do that by DIY.
Waterblasting can often injure your shoulder muscles if your not used to the constant repetetive movement of using one (maybe get the yard to do that, if at a reasonable cost!), & you'll most likely find a few little extra jobs that will unexpectedly need doing while she's out too.
Have the materials for anything that may arise, ie epoxy for small hull repairs etc, as it will probably be cheaper to just buy those items beforehand, than losing time searching around & going shopping while she's sitting on the hard with 'the meter ticking'. (unless youve got your own slipway in the backyard hey bear im soo jealous).
Allow a full (hardworking) weekend, if your doing it on your own.
Having said that its still good fun, go for it
cheers
shaun
ps, if its one of those paddle wheel type speed log gizmo's....personally I would just remove it & glass up the hole, get your speed from a GPS if you have to.

[8philip8]

hi
I've booked in at Cammeray Marina
the job cost $1007 plus whatever els might needs doing
Clontarf Marina quoted 1252.10
8philip8

[Dolphin]

G'Day Allen,
I agree with Bear and Shaun, also the few times I have had it done by "Profesionals" it hasn't lasted anywhere as long as doing it yourself. You really can't stuff it up and if you do when it goes back in the water no one will see it. Be prepared for a mess and throw your clothes away after it's finished.

Can I also suggest, to speed things up, that if you are on a slip that has a lot of people passing by, that you put out a blackboard with the type of antifoul, engine size and type, when you bought the boat and what type it is. It should save a lot of time talking to people. Still, you do get to meet a lot of people. Someone may be able to give you a detailed rundown on how to do it if you need to or have any questions.

By the way I use an ablating antifoul Altex, you don't get any build up and washes off with each gurneying. It works like soap. I'm up to 16months and now looking to antifoul, and get an insurance survey too.

Greg.

[Phillip]

Philip,

I spent $400 on the slip for 3 days plus the materials [I use Altex].

Did it myself [and I've still got my clothes ].

At those prices you could afford to sail up to Laurieton and do the job yourself and have a holiday! .

Phillip.

[bearmcnally]

Hi Top Hatters

My Dad tells a story ,Once a upon a time ...... Only kidding ! My Dad tells a story about Swanson Brothers and the late Jimmy O' Rourke working on the 1965 Admirals Cup Yacht "Camille " on the slips beside the Middle Harbour 16 Ft Skiff club .You guessed it about 1965, and they had a blackboard beside the slips with all the details about Swansons "Camille " It's length ,beam ,weight you name it it was written about this yacht . And the legend has it on the very bottom it read " both Swanson and O'Rourke are stone bloody deaf !"

Mr Greg is right !
But I Reckon you should take the village idiot wth you to answer all the questions or a donaton box It's a bit like when tele-marketers ring up at dinner time and ask to speak to the head of the house 'I used to put my 2 year daughter on ,to have a yak to them .Don't get many these days ?:lol:

Just remember people do ask questions ! and normally the bloody obvious ones

Cheers Bear

Bears Disclaimer " I'm only a bear"

[Dolphin]

Allan, if you need to replace your log transducer I'd do that rather than remove it. As Shaun said you can get a GPS to replace it, but if you use both you can see if you are in current for or against you.
Greg.

[8philip8]

hi all
has anyone know about a product call "Barnacle Rid"
info@barnaclerid.com.au
does it work
ckeers
8philip8

[SeaLady]

I use Gladesville Bridge Marina Ph 9181 2014

Last time in January 2010
Slip clean and antifoul cost $947.00

I also get them to tow the boat from my mooring at Tarban Creek and return it at an additional $132.00

These prices are subject to an extra 10% GST.

They have shipwrights, engine repair people and riggers who can come and do whatever other work is required

That marina does not let you do any work yourself. Due to insurance reasons. They won't even let me walk around to take a look at the bottom.

So I just have to trust them.

They have been doing it for me for the last 5 years.

I have had them do a polish as well in the past but that was not worth the money as I could not see any difference.