Soft antifoul

[storm petrel]

Hi All,

What is the collective wisdom re cleaning soft anti foul? Probably not environmentally friendly and may take too much af off but I have friends who slide a broom over the hull to remove slime between anti fouls.

Cheers,
Mark

[Tales]

Hi Mark,

I guess the theory of soft (ablative) antifoul is that it wears off as you sail, offering a fresh active surface to prevent growth.

Most of us don't use our boats near enough for that to happen so I think it is necessary to wipe/brush off (soft brush) the slime before more serious growth (including shell) gets a purchase.

We normally clean every month in the marina at Brighton when we are racing regularly. Even cruising, the boat performs so much better with a clean hull and rudder.

However the growth build up seems to be affected quite a lot by the boats location and water temperature. On the swing mooring at St Kilda it did not grow near as quickly as (I think) there was more water flowing past.

We usually get 2 years from each antifoul but there are bare patches toward the end and 2 week scrubbing those areas is the norm. This year I put extra paint on those areas so it will be interesting to see what happens.

Usually only clean every 2 months in winter.

Cheers,
Tom

[storm petrel]

Thanks Tom. How do you clean the slime off? Do you dive or just use a long handled brush from the surface? I am surprised that you get so much growth given the much cooler water temp you must have in Melbourne.

Cheers,
Mark

[Tales]

Hi Mark,

I think the water doesn't change as much at the marina at Brighton. Very sheltered spot next to the hard stand. Now back on the swing mooring at St Kilda so we'll see what happens over the next few months.

To remove the slime I just use a soft brush from a plastic brush and pan set. The bottom face of the keel usually doesn't get such a good coat of antifoul so is more inclined to get shell so I use a wooden scrubbing brush. Either the bristles or the back of the brush to scrape them off.

Got a wet suit and a vest to go under it but since my heart valve repair I have not got back in the water and have been paying a friend to do it for me!

Cheers,

Tom

[KJD13]

Hi Mark,
I am on a swing mooring at Wiliamstown and find that the growth is considerably more than that I experienced on Tom's mooring at St.Kilda. I think that the close proximity of the gas fired electricity generation plant in the area is responsible, as the water temperature can be higher at Williamstown.
My ablative anti-foul tends to last 18 months, but I need to get a friend to dive and give the bottow a clean (and de-barnacle the propeller) every 3-5 months (at a cost of $60 per dive). If I don't do this, I find that the propeller loses traction and will not perform anywhere near its best.
I irregularly give the above water-line a brush to keep it clean, using a soft-bristle brush.
Hope this helps
Kevin
Wayward Lady (mk111)
Williamstown, Vic

[storm petrel]

Kevin and Tom,

Is swimming around under the boat a worry with anti foul in the water when you brush the hull. I have used a soft broom from the dinghy and it creates a bit of a blue cloud in the water. Not sure I would like to be swimming in it.

Cheers,
Mark

[Tales]

Hi Mark,
Hadn't really thought about it I must admit!
In order to see what you are doing though it's good to work on the shade side (so the sun doesn't reflect on the debris) and work so that the tide takes the plume away from you.
Cheers,
Tom

[Dolphin]

G'day Tom, Last time I use a rolled up old bath towel and it polished the antifoul It was hard to see in the water and I had to wait to see the bits I missed. The soft broom seems good. I think I'll try that.
Felicite comes out on Monday. Its been about 26 months. That's with only one rub earlier this year. I find I get a lot of krill all over me. Its more of a worry than the anti foul in the water. Just got to keep my mouth shut. I'm more worried about the blue ringed occies hiding in the crevices and intakes than anything else.
When you brush how do you stop yourself from pushing away from the boat?

[Tales]

Hi Greg,

Some folk use flippers to keep position but I don't have any of those.

I usually run a sheet rope under the keel tied off to the cabin top handrails. This is to help get down and stay down but it does rub the anti foul off the bottom corners of the keel.

If you can manage to have the tide pushing you against the boat it is very useful.

In the Brighton mooring I could plant my feet on the bottom (very squelchy if barefoot!) and hook my left hand under the keel bottom.

An old mate with a Mottle 33 doesn't use any of the above (or weights with his wet suit) and is still quicker than me but perhaps I am a bit of a woos!

Cheers,
Tom

[KJD13]

HI Mark, Greg and Tom,
As I said earlier, I get a diver to give the bottom and prop a scrub about 3 or 4 times a year, depending on the degree of barnacles on the prop. When I give the sides a wipe down, I usually use one of those household scrubbers, with the built in handle to get the slime off at water level. To get to this, I use an inflatable dinghy (which does not mark the fibreglass) and simply hook on a caribineer type fixture to the lifelines. I find that this keeps me in place. When I have to dive to clean the prop myself, I don goggles and gloves and dive to catch hold of the rudder (hence the need for gloves as the barnacles are very sharp!) and then use a paint scaper to get off the barnacles. I find that it usually takes me 4 or 5 dives to get the job done (both sides of the prop).
Cheers,
Kevin
Wayward Lady (Mk 111)
Williamstown, Vic