Is there a service that exists or can anyone recommend a way of cleaning my sailboat bottom while in the water. I freshly painted the bottom of my boat last spring with an ablative anti-fouling paint. The boat was in the water for only three months. Last week I hauled my boat out and the bottom was completely cover with some sort of brown gook, sea life that looked like snails w/o shells and just a hand full of barnicles. There must have been at least 80lbs of life on the bottom and the marina told me that was clean compared to other boats. I realize now the performance of this boat wained in the last month or so chances are because of the extra weight and friction. Any suggestions are appreciated, thank you.
- Status
clean bottoms
Hi I have noticed with my boat a good long fast sail will remove a lot of the slime build up that accumulates. I also have cleaned my bottom cleaned using a diver and a bush mid season, also a local guy on the dock used a small pressure washer under water and it worked real well. with a diver it is a good time to check zincs and my neighbour in the next slip go together and it costs about 50.00 each for the diver. I think different geographical areas ae subject to different growth rates
Hi I have noticed with my boat a good long fast sail will remove a lot of the slime build up that accumulates. I also have cleaned my bottom cleaned using a diver and a bush mid season, also a local guy on the dock used a small pressure washer under water and it worked real well. with a diver it is a good time to check zincs and my neighbour in the next slip go together and it costs about 50.00 each for the diver. I think different geographical areas ae subject to different growth rates
Bottom cleaning
Check with your marina service department. There are bound to be divers in the area that will clean your bottom on a regular basis. Lots of folks here on the Chesapeake use the service. Larry Wilson
Check with your marina service department. There are bound to be divers in the area that will clean your bottom on a regular basis. Lots of folks here on the Chesapeake use the service. Larry Wilson
Bottom cleaning
I have a shoal draft boat in Florida that I leave in the water year round. I am only there Jan - March. It had some growth and a few barnacles when I arrived last Jan. I ran it into shallow water at low tide and used a long handled brush and a nylon scrub pad to clean the bottom. It was a tiring job, but the worst part was that there were a zillion tiny crab-like critters living in the bottom gunk, and when they were scrubbed off, many of them migrated to my body. They gave me a slight rash and an a short lived itch that could drive you crazy. There are a number of divers around Naples (and I assume at most southern boating areas) that will do the job at your dock in order to save a haul-out. I have not seen anyone do that around Erie PA where I do my summer sailing. nt
I have a shoal draft boat in Florida that I leave in the water year round. I am only there Jan - March. It had some growth and a few barnacles when I arrived last Jan. I ran it into shallow water at low tide and used a long handled brush and a nylon scrub pad to clean the bottom. It was a tiring job, but the worst part was that there were a zillion tiny crab-like critters living in the bottom gunk, and when they were scrubbed off, many of them migrated to my body. They gave me a slight rash and an a short lived itch that could drive you crazy. There are a number of divers around Naples (and I assume at most southern boating areas) that will do the job at your dock in order to save a haul-out. I have not seen anyone do that around Erie PA where I do my summer sailing. nt
We keep the boats in year round here and
diver cleans once a month usually with a scotchbrite type pad. About $35 for 30' boat, it is true the more and faster the boat moves thru the water the cleaner it stays. I may be more anal than many but I really notice the effect when it needs cleaning. Don't know about ablative paint however, my impression was it was "self-cleaning" in that it would "slough" off a layer as needed. Never used it so maybe you just power wash when you haul, check with some pros.
diver cleans once a month usually with a scotchbrite type pad. About $35 for 30' boat, it is true the more and faster the boat moves thru the water the cleaner it stays. I may be more anal than many but I really notice the effect when it needs cleaning. Don't know about ablative paint however, my impression was it was "self-cleaning" in that it would "slough" off a layer as needed. Never used it so maybe you just power wash when you haul, check with some pros.
DriDiver
DriDiver is an inexpensive product made to clean hulls while in the water,while the operator stands on the dock or on the boat. It is a couple of plastic foam pads on the end of a collapsible pole, that has a mild form of Scotchbrite pad attached with velcro and zip ties. It works very well on ablative paint, less well when there is no bottom paint. I've used one for the last three boats and do courrently. Replacement pads are available, but the original lasted 6 years. Google DriDiver. I'd guess the hull width reachable is probably eleven feet, and it will not clean the vertical keel or rudders If yiou can't see them to manipulate the pads.
DriDiver is an inexpensive product made to clean hulls while in the water,while the operator stands on the dock or on the boat. It is a couple of plastic foam pads on the end of a collapsible pole, that has a mild form of Scotchbrite pad attached with velcro and zip ties. It works very well on ablative paint, less well when there is no bottom paint. I've used one for the last three boats and do courrently. Replacement pads are available, but the original lasted 6 years. Google DriDiver. I'd guess the hull width reachable is probably eleven feet, and it will not clean the vertical keel or rudders If yiou can't see them to manipulate the pads.
Diver for zincs
I use a diver in SD as well - maybe it is a California thing? Costs $1/foot and he cleans the hull well every month. Best of all is that I get a zinc check. It can be a neighbor doing ??? that burns up zincs. Whatever you do, keep a zinc check in the back of your mind. IMHO
I use a diver in SD as well - maybe it is a California thing? Costs $1/foot and he cleans the hull well every month. Best of all is that I get a zinc check. It can be a neighbor doing ??? that burns up zincs. Whatever you do, keep a zinc check in the back of your mind. IMHO
In the Northeast...
...it is very common for the brown slime(algae) to grow on the painted bottoms. I've seen it a month after launch. It is a way of life. It's not that your bottom paint isn't working. It is healthy waters. In September and October, it seems that more growth will happen, also. So if you don't use the boat as much after Labor Day, then it may not be worth getting it cleaned. It's usually pressure-washed when hauled for the winter. Generally, up here in the NE it's easy enough to hire a diver to do the bottom for you. Check a local Dive shop for contacts.
...it is very common for the brown slime(algae) to grow on the painted bottoms. I've seen it a month after launch. It is a way of life. It's not that your bottom paint isn't working. It is healthy waters. In September and October, it seems that more growth will happen, also. So if you don't use the boat as much after Labor Day, then it may not be worth getting it cleaned. It's usually pressure-washed when hauled for the winter. Generally, up here in the NE it's easy enough to hire a diver to do the bottom for you. Check a local Dive shop for contacts.
Pressure washer?
How does the pressure washer work that JD mentions? Does it have a long nozzle to reach under the boat, or does he get in the water? It sounds like this could really work for the for the bulk of the hull.
How does the pressure washer work that JD mentions? Does it have a long nozzle to reach under the boat, or does he get in the water? It sounds like this could really work for the for the bulk of the hull.
cleaning bubbles???
I have scrubbed using a snorkle and a sponge. It doesn't take much to knock off the scumm and I don't want to remove paint. It is easy to get the part that's an arm's length from the surface but getting the lower part of the keel is more work!!! Just thinking has anyone tried using pressurized air to knock off the scum??? Just a long pipe,a air pump and let a bunch of bubbles do the work. Diving I've noticed that my air bubbles will often knock loose scum from overhanging structures such a a ship wreck or tree trunk. Tom
I have scrubbed using a snorkle and a sponge. It doesn't take much to knock off the scumm and I don't want to remove paint. It is easy to get the part that's an arm's length from the surface but getting the lower part of the keel is more work!!! Just thinking has anyone tried using pressurized air to knock off the scum??? Just a long pipe,a air pump and let a bunch of bubbles do the work. Diving I've noticed that my air bubbles will often knock loose scum from overhanging structures such a a ship wreck or tree trunk. Tom
Speaking of pressure washers......
has anybody tried washing their hull with the dock hose? I know, it seems like a tremendous waste of water, but what do they use when they haul the boat? A pressure washer! I'm about to call the boat washer for the first time, and I'd really like to find a practical alternative to paying $30 or more each month. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
has anybody tried washing their hull with the dock hose? I know, it seems like a tremendous waste of water, but what do they use when they haul the boat? A pressure washer! I'm about to call the boat washer for the first time, and I'd really like to find a practical alternative to paying $30 or more each month. Cheers, Bob s/v X SAIL R 8
cleaning ablative
Just because it is ablative, doesn't mean that nothing will grow on it. However, it does mean the bottom is much easier to clean. Still, you do have to be careful, because when you clean it some of the ablative will do what it is designed to do: "ablate" or slough off. So the harder you scrub or apply pressure, the more of the paint will be removed. That's why you want to use a very soft brush or a natural, soft sponge. I just dive and remove the slime every few weeks with a soft sponge and minimal paint is lost. Of course, the more often you do this, the more often you need to repaint the bottom.
Just because it is ablative, doesn't mean that nothing will grow on it. However, it does mean the bottom is much easier to clean. Still, you do have to be careful, because when you clean it some of the ablative will do what it is designed to do: "ablate" or slough off. So the harder you scrub or apply pressure, the more of the paint will be removed. That's why you want to use a very soft brush or a natural, soft sponge. I just dive and remove the slime every few weeks with a soft sponge and minimal paint is lost. Of course, the more often you do this, the more often you need to repaint the bottom.
electric snorke
Hi, I have an Oday39 and live in miami so the growth is rampant and it would be expensive to have the boat bottom cleaned as often as I would like so I bought the sea breathe 12 volt presurized snorkel. I just hook it up to my house bank and go under myself. I use a wooden block to knock off the barnacles and then go over the area with medium abrazion scotch brite pad. the pad gets the slime and brown growth off and also reactivates the paint to slow future growth. a knife or similar is good to have as well to get barnacles out of through hulls and other tight spots. I keep the wooden block, scotch pad and knife tethered to my weight belt so I have them all handy while I'm down there. good luck Jules S/V Providencia
Hi, I have an Oday39 and live in miami so the growth is rampant and it would be expensive to have the boat bottom cleaned as often as I would like so I bought the sea breathe 12 volt presurized snorkel. I just hook it up to my house bank and go under myself. I use a wooden block to knock off the barnacles and then go over the area with medium abrazion scotch brite pad. the pad gets the slime and brown growth off and also reactivates the paint to slow future growth. a knife or similar is good to have as well to get barnacles out of through hulls and other tight spots. I keep the wooden block, scotch pad and knife tethered to my weight belt so I have them all handy while I'm down there. good luck Jules S/V Providencia
Another trick
In the Puget Sound where we keep our boat, they have this set of locks so as to be able to get to the Seattle lakes that are fresh water, of course. Well, we learned many years ago that if one plans a saltwater trip to include a beginning stopover on the lakes for a couple of days, (Seafair hydros and Blue Angels) our bottom is perfectly clean before we return to the sea 48 hours later. So that lead to another idea. Has anyone strung a tarp under their boat that is kept on saltwater? I was thinking that for long term storing, the tarp would be secured just above saltwater and filled with fresh. That sure would put an end to the critters. If there was just an easy way,,,,, I've GOT IT! Block off Puget Sound right at the entrance, with a seawall. Build locks for ships just like at the lake. The rivers will flush the salt and there will be no tide. Property values will go through the roof and the entire nations population will shift to the former Puget Sound. Well, that would be a problem. But still, why not? What a great way to clean your bottom! Might cost a little though,,,
In the Puget Sound where we keep our boat, they have this set of locks so as to be able to get to the Seattle lakes that are fresh water, of course. Well, we learned many years ago that if one plans a saltwater trip to include a beginning stopover on the lakes for a couple of days, (Seafair hydros and Blue Angels) our bottom is perfectly clean before we return to the sea 48 hours later. So that lead to another idea. Has anyone strung a tarp under their boat that is kept on saltwater? I was thinking that for long term storing, the tarp would be secured just above saltwater and filled with fresh. That sure would put an end to the critters. If there was just an easy way,,,,, I've GOT IT! Block off Puget Sound right at the entrance, with a seawall. Build locks for ships just like at the lake. The rivers will flush the salt and there will be no tide. Property values will go through the roof and the entire nations population will shift to the former Puget Sound. Well, that would be a problem. But still, why not? What a great way to clean your bottom! Might cost a little though,,,
The "Boat Bath" was very popular out here
in the 60's, a plastic slip liner as Fred describes (your own personal lock) and every time you put the boat back in you'd dump a bottle of bleach in, very effective but a capital offense in 2005. Still a few around, I think now the idea is to fill with freshwater from a hose (saltwater floats out top) but they don't seem effective for the effort & water. Wish I could get my boat to freshwater for a couple days that sounds like a great way to clean the bottom.
in the 60's, a plastic slip liner as Fred describes (your own personal lock) and every time you put the boat back in you'd dump a bottle of bleach in, very effective but a capital offense in 2005. Still a few around, I think now the idea is to fill with freshwater from a hose (saltwater floats out top) but they don't seem effective for the effort & water. Wish I could get my boat to freshwater for a couple days that sounds like a great way to clean the bottom.
Slip Liner
Great concept until you find out that funny green stuff grows in fresh water too. Then the idea came to add chlorine to the water. Soon after that the tree huggers had that outlawed because they didn't want fresh water or chlorine mixed in their harbor water
Great concept until you find out that funny green stuff grows in fresh water too. Then the idea came to add chlorine to the water. Soon after that the tree huggers had that outlawed because they didn't want fresh water or chlorine mixed in their harbor water
Dri Diver
Many years ago, I bought a Dri Diver. I think they still sell them through West marine. It is like a big toothbrush that you can manipulate from the dock. I can scrub the hull of my Hunter 26, both sides, in about a half an hour. First, I have to be sure that there are no barnacles, but regular brushing after that, maybe once every few weeks, and you can stay in the water indefinately. I use it to procrastinate on hauling out. David King, "Molly"
Many years ago, I bought a Dri Diver. I think they still sell them through West marine. It is like a big toothbrush that you can manipulate from the dock. I can scrub the hull of my Hunter 26, both sides, in about a half an hour. First, I have to be sure that there are no barnacles, but regular brushing after that, maybe once every few weeks, and you can stay in the water indefinately. I use it to procrastinate on hauling out. David King, "Molly"
In-water bottom cleaning reply
I have heard of a new device that crawls on the bottom of boats with brushes and high pressure, don't know if it is in use yet or not, anyone heard of this?
I have heard of a new device that crawls on the bottom of boats with brushes and high pressure, don't know if it is in use yet or not, anyone heard of this?
- Status