Not that I am an avid racer, but how much will a bottom with growth on it effect performance ? Will a simple dive ans scrub every month or so during the summer keep most of the growth off ? Just wondering..... Thanks !
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Bayard Gross
Keep that bottom clean!
Yes, performance is effected by that wonderful growth on your bottom. How much depends upon the amount of growth and the overall smoothness and condition of your anti-fouling paint. Generally, non-racers like to avoid scrubbing their bottoms, however, it does make haul-out operations simplier by leaving less to wash off in the fall. How often scrubbing is required depends a lot on water temperature. Early in the season when water temperatures are low, scrubbing may be only needed once a month. However, as September comes along, scrubbing may be required once a week as the water temperature has been much warmer for a period of time. I personally just use a pivoting head stiff brush on a pole pressing upon my dinghy's gunnal and against the bottom of my Catalina 22. This gets most of the stuff growing about the first foot or so along the water line. Below that, I usually do not experience "horible" growth, although for a racer it would be. I also usually get out early in September as I have discovered that the frequency of requied scrubbings increases so greatly, that it is better to haul early and get a head start for the following season. Remember in the spring the water is still cold and growth is a small issue. I also ship my rudder after each sail, so I never have any growth to scrub off there and consequently always have a smooth and clean rudder.
Yes, performance is effected by that wonderful growth on your bottom. How much depends upon the amount of growth and the overall smoothness and condition of your anti-fouling paint. Generally, non-racers like to avoid scrubbing their bottoms, however, it does make haul-out operations simplier by leaving less to wash off in the fall. How often scrubbing is required depends a lot on water temperature. Early in the season when water temperatures are low, scrubbing may be only needed once a month. However, as September comes along, scrubbing may be required once a week as the water temperature has been much warmer for a period of time. I personally just use a pivoting head stiff brush on a pole pressing upon my dinghy's gunnal and against the bottom of my Catalina 22. This gets most of the stuff growing about the first foot or so along the water line. Below that, I usually do not experience "horible" growth, although for a racer it would be. I also usually get out early in September as I have discovered that the frequency of requied scrubbings increases so greatly, that it is better to haul early and get a head start for the following season. Remember in the spring the water is still cold and growth is a small issue. I also ship my rudder after each sail, so I never have any growth to scrub off there and consequently always have a smooth and clean rudder.
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Steve
What about unprotected small dinghies
Just got the dinghy, which does not have bottom paint on it. After about a month in the water (Puget Sound), I found it had a few barnacles on it... very light, but they left dimples in the gelcoat, or so they looked, when they were taken off. What should I repair the dimples with? Steve
Just got the dinghy, which does not have bottom paint on it. After about a month in the water (Puget Sound), I found it had a few barnacles on it... very light, but they left dimples in the gelcoat, or so they looked, when they were taken off. What should I repair the dimples with? Steve
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Alan
Are you kidding???
Even slime on the bottom of your boat will cost a half knot. If you are growing a beard you can forget the word performance including motoring. I dive my boat every week to clean off the slime growth. My boat is 35ft and it takes about 30 minutes to do the job because you can easily wipe away the slime with a sponge. As you wait longer intervals the job takes much longer.
Even slime on the bottom of your boat will cost a half knot. If you are growing a beard you can forget the word performance including motoring. I dive my boat every week to clean off the slime growth. My boat is 35ft and it takes about 30 minutes to do the job because you can easily wipe away the slime with a sponge. As you wait longer intervals the job takes much longer.
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Fred G
big difference
At the beginning of this season, I went to take some friends out for a sail, and quickly returned to the dock because I thought something was wrong with the motor. The boat usually will do 5.5-6 knots under power, but at 2.8 knots it was blowing black smoke and straining terribly. I later realized that the hull had not been cleaned yet, so I called a diver figuring that even if it was mechanical trouble, a clean bottom is still a good thing. $45 later, all problems had disappeared. I was amazed at the difference.
At the beginning of this season, I went to take some friends out for a sail, and quickly returned to the dock because I thought something was wrong with the motor. The boat usually will do 5.5-6 knots under power, but at 2.8 knots it was blowing black smoke and straining terribly. I later realized that the hull had not been cleaned yet, so I called a diver figuring that even if it was mechanical trouble, a clean bottom is still a good thing. $45 later, all problems had disappeared. I was amazed at the difference.
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Steve
Dri-Diver
If you're racing, invest $75 in a Dri-Diver. It's a scrub pad over a styrofoam paddding that you slip under the hull of your boat. The soft styrofoam padding tries to float, putting pressure on the bottom of the hull. Not as good as diving the boat, but it will certainly buff out the bottom right before a race. You can find this in the West Marine catalog, the current catalog has them on page 406.
If you're racing, invest $75 in a Dri-Diver. It's a scrub pad over a styrofoam paddding that you slip under the hull of your boat. The soft styrofoam padding tries to float, putting pressure on the bottom of the hull. Not as good as diving the boat, but it will certainly buff out the bottom right before a race. You can find this in the West Marine catalog, the current catalog has them on page 406.
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Bill O'Donovan
Try my diver
Michael, York River Yacht Haven is served by a diver who goes from boat to boat underwater, driving down the cost of cleaning. He does mine every 30 days, which I recommend. Charges me only $20. If you'd like his name and number, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
Michael, York River Yacht Haven is served by a diver who goes from boat to boat underwater, driving down the cost of cleaning. He does mine every 30 days, which I recommend. Charges me only $20. If you'd like his name and number, email me at bodonovan@vagazette.com
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Ric
scrub to go fast
I race all season on a J-44 and we scrub her every week. Skipped a week last season and the entire crew could feel the affect. I would guess that we lost a 1/2 knot. Ric
I race all season on a J-44 and we scrub her every week. Skipped a week last season and the entire crew could feel the affect. I would guess that we lost a 1/2 knot. Ric
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David
Clean Bottom is a must now
I have a C30 and had the bottom powerwashed this summer. After the quickhaul, I gained over two knots underpower. Two weeks later I had the bottom painted. In that short time, I lost all the speed from the slime growth. After the bottom was done, I consistently sail at 7knots in 15knots of wind and have seen as high as 8.9 in a gust going upwind. You tell me, is the bottom important?
I have a C30 and had the bottom powerwashed this summer. After the quickhaul, I gained over two knots underpower. Two weeks later I had the bottom painted. In that short time, I lost all the speed from the slime growth. After the bottom was done, I consistently sail at 7knots in 15knots of wind and have seen as high as 8.9 in a gust going upwind. You tell me, is the bottom important?
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Alan
I think ....
...that most cruiser's simply don't want ot face the reality that a dirty bottom is very slow. Racers have know this forever and they constantly clean because they know the importance of it. The set it and forget it group dont want to think about it because that means having to dive and clean or pay someone to do it. They argue against cleaning as their rational to avoid the job. Hey, to each his/her own, slow or fast, set it and forget it or trim and adjust. Just me throwing out ideas...
...that most cruiser's simply don't want ot face the reality that a dirty bottom is very slow. Racers have know this forever and they constantly clean because they know the importance of it. The set it and forget it group dont want to think about it because that means having to dive and clean or pay someone to do it. They argue against cleaning as their rational to avoid the job. Hey, to each his/her own, slow or fast, set it and forget it or trim and adjust. Just me throwing out ideas...
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David Guthridge
Had a dirty bottom...........
last year and everybody went buy me. Got a clean bottom and new paint this year. Now I go by almost everybody. Going fast alone is good but passing larger boats just feels sooooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!! David
last year and everybody went buy me. Got a clean bottom and new paint this year. Now I go by almost everybody. Going fast alone is good but passing larger boats just feels sooooooo good!!!!!!!!!!!! David
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