Bottom cleaning in SC

[Ed]

I just moved my boat to Charleston SC from Mystic CT. had ablative paint applied to the bottom in CT before launch in June. How often do I need to have some one clean the bottom? The paint is good for two years and I thought that was all I needed to do - now I doubt that especially in these warmer climnes. Any input appreciated. Boat is 42 feet if that make any difference to the answer (can't see how?) Thanks Ed

 

[Bill]

It depends

Ed, welcome to the sunny South. I have my H34 here on Hilton Head Island, and need to clean it every month. The location I'm at seems to be the most prolific in terms of growth--others at different locations here on HHI don't seem to need it as often. So I got scuba gear and certification, and do it myself. Paid for itself in less than two seasons. Which BTW is 10 months, unlike up North where I grew up sailing (Lake Ontario).

 

[Fred G]

Cleaning service

Bill's technique is what we use as well, except we hire a diver to clean our hull (at least twice a season). The guy we use charges about $1.50/ft unless he encounters "difficulty", which he hasn't claimed yet, and we have used him for several years. I may get dive certified in the future, but for now it is a cheap way to keep things clean on our 81' H30. Fouling can get real bad as well in the warmer climates. I normally motor at 5-6 knots, but if the prop and hull are dirty, I will be blowing black smoke and straining to make 3 knots. One call to the diver and all is back to normal, it is amazing both how fast it grows, and the difference it makes. I would think that you could find a similar dive service near you.

 

[Dave]

bottom growth

Ed,My first response to you is to say that you need to clean it even more often than you think. I moved mine from St. Petersburg last June, where I had it cleaned every month. Here in HH, I find that every 2 to 3 weeks is necessary. Apparently, the rivers bring a lot of nutrients downstream with them which makes the water an ideal environment for all kinds of aquatic plant life - most of which seems to end up on the bottom of my boat. My suggestion is to check it fairly often until you find what works in your area.Hope this helps.Dave...