Ultrasonic anti-fouling device

[mystery117]

I just stumbled across this interesting item and the following web site has information on it, an Ultrasonic anti-fouling system.

http://www.ultrasonic-antifouling-us.com/

I found a few vendors on-line with prices for a single transducer ranging from $1600 to $2195

There is a photo gallery of a 38' Beneteau after a year in the water with the system, no periodic bottom cleaning and no other anti-fouling employed.

Anyone seen this before? It its anywhere near as effective as the claims and lasts a few years, it would a huge saving on anti-fouling and bottom cleaning.

 

[Delezynski]

Interesting that if it works that well it says: Warranty: 1 year.
In that time frame, almost any bottom paint will work.

BUT, some day????

Greg

 

[kloudie1]

Most of the independent work on studying the effectiveness showed that the system did not work very well. I think that last one I read about it was Practical Sailor's test where they put into a little Cape Dory. They had two things to say about it.. one was that it did not work to keep the bottom clean and two the transducer could be heard and it was annoying when on board .. I think that in special applications, it might work, but placement of transducers would be critical and it would take a lot more of 'em than they are talking.. If you try it, let us know how it works.

 

[Bill Roosa]

$1600-$2200 that would be 4-6 bottom paintings at 3 years each or 12-18 years of protection. Do you think it is going to go 12+ times the warranty period?

 

[joker460]

Practical Sailor did a test in their August 2012 issue. They weren't impressed, actually disappointed.

Here is the article address:
http://www.practical-sailor.com/iss...trasonic-antifouling-test-update_10858-1.html

I have a subscription and the link may not work. Give it a try.

 

[fstbttms]

These things are snake oil, IMHO. If they actually worked, we'd see them on the shelf in every West Marine in the country. And the test boat pix from the web site? Dubai? Seriously? Could they have found a less popular sailing ground to test the device? And since we do not know what a boat with identical paint, uncleaned for the same amount of time would have looked like when it was hauled, these pix are essentially useless, as are the products they are meant to represent, I suspect.

BTW- to the OP; the Beneteau in question does have anti fouling paint and in fact, the FAQ section indicates that anti fouling paint is still necessary when using Sonihull (although the reason they give for this is either made out of real ignorance or possibly to simply keep Sonihull users from finding out exactly how ineffective the product really is.)

WILL I STILL NEED TO PAINT MY BOAT WITH ANTIFOULING PAINT?
Painting the hull is not only for purpose of antifouling. it is also an important waterproofing barrier, protecting the gel coat from the effects (and immense cost) of osmosis. Therefore we would still recommend that the boat is protected under the water line. In some cases to maximize performance some yacht owners who have installed the sonihull system have opted to use a harder grade of antifouling paint, as apposed to the soft self polishing versions which have a higher drag factor through the water. So although there is still a need for painting below the water line, when using the sonihull system the need to do so will be greatly reduced.

http://www.ultrasonic-antifouling-us.com/page/FAQ.html

 

[justsomeguy]

My thoughts exactly, fstbttms, except for the Dubai part.
Why did you write that, may I ask?

 

[fstbttms]

My thoughts exactly, fstbttms, except for the Dubai part.
Why did you write that, may I ask?

The place you pick to show how effective your anti fouling product is is a place that almost no one sails in or knows anything about, especially the fouling conditions? Why would you do that? If the product worked as advertised, why would you not install it on a boat where there is an actual need and market for it? San Diego, for instance. I'll tell you why- because if you used it in a place where fouling is an honest-to-God concern, you'd likely find out that it doesn't work.

 

[justsomeguy]

Thanks.

 

[fstbttms]

Rant over.

 

[Chris Patterson]

The theory does SOUND kind of good, but like the rest, It sounds like it's got BS written all over it. Soot, I could build a device that 'rattled' the boat, not unlike a pager/phone vibration. But I remember Practical Sailor as well saying it was very noisy, that alone would shoot it down for me. And it seems anything that 'ultrasonically' shakes the boat enough to prevent growth, why hell yeah you're gonna hear it. Probably feel it as well.

Yeah, the statement about needing antifouling for whatever reason again says crap. I could be wrong, but I was under the opinion that antifouling did little to nothing to actually protect the bottom from blisters or whatnot, that's the job of barrier coats.

Truth is, like a lot of people I truly wished it would work. And I'm betting the company hopes many others feel the same way and falls for it. My wife's motto and creed about every problem imaginable is, "I'll write a check"! But I doubt I could sell her on this one. Unless maybe I lied like hell about the results. Seems to be a lot of that going around anyway..

 

[Caravelle]

Barnicles or abaloney

There are several of these products on the market and if they all didn't have some success surely by now there would be multiple court cases and they would all be out of business. It's not a new idea.

 

[Chief RA]

The concepts involved with this antifouling device reminds me of the fact that much of this approach is what the US Navy is investigating with regard to whales. The frequency and level of power are major factors here. While the frequency can be readily attained, the needed wattage output cannot. Navy sonar boils the surrounding water thats against the transducer! Chief

 

[fstbttms]

...if they all didn't have some success surely by now there would be multiple court cases and they would all be out of business.

That's the criteria by which you judge the effectiveness of a product? The fact that the company that makes it hasn't been sued out of existence?

 

[zeehag]

navy sonar also produces headaches and confusion in those being pinged, btw.
used to be in san diego they were for a short term, allowed to super sonar....it hurt for 2 days. sorry. no i would not go for these overpriced bits.

and folks wonder why whales become disoriented.....

if you do not agree, try being subjected to it over a few hours, as they did in middle of nights in san diego bay for a few weeks a few years ago.(2006, i believe, or 2007--i was in my ericson..).

 

[Chief RA]

zeehag: Hard to imagine what that sonar subjection could do to any living thing if exposed to it for some time. Also, how long before permanent damage is "some time"?
I was trained by the US Navy many years ago in sonar technology. We could hear the ping signals as they bounced around in the test tank at Great Lakes Naval training center, Ill.(ET/A school,I later taught there) Of course the signal strength was nothing compared to todays sonar.
Happy Holidays! Chief

 

[zeehag]

zeehag: Hard to imagine what that sonar subjection could do to any living thing if exposed to it for some time. Also, how long before permanent damage is "some time"?
I was trained by the US Navy many years ago in sonar technology. We could hear the ping signals as they bounced around in the test tank at Great Lakes Naval training center, Ill.(ET/A school,I later taught there) Of course the signal strength was nothing compared to todays sonar.
Happy Holidays! Chief

i was happy when they ceased the practice, as my resulting migraine and disorientation lasted 2 days... is not a fun trip and i can see how whales become confused and disoriented. yay navy.... but, it thank goodness was a short term project. if it had been long term, the problems would have been greater.
as for ultrasonic underwater cleaning--i would not try this as i will not go for anything with such a grande price and lack of consumer testing.


meoury treesmass from bubba daboatkat and me....

 

[Hello Below]

Ouch, 23 watts that's approximately 40 Ah/day. Big continuous load when your off shore power.

 

[Caravelle]

That's the criteria by which you judge the effectiveness of a product? The fact that the company that makes it hasn't been sued out of existence?

That's the only criteria that proves anything works. Think about it.

 

[fstbttms]

That's the only criteria that proves anything works. Think about it.

That's ridiculous. By that logic, no inferior products would ever last on the marketplace for any length of time, and that is empirically not the case. I can name any number of boating related products (and more specifically; anti fouling products) that do not perform as advertised yet have been available for purchase for decades.