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Hull Cleaning

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av8rOC
Navigator

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USA
121 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/18/2012 : 10:23:03

How many of you guys do periodic hull cleanings throughout the year?

My boat was stored in the water this past winter and is in need of a good cleaning. I found an affordable diver that recommends a monthly cleaning once the water warms up. His price drops considerably if I sign on to the monthly plan.

My hull was painted in 2010 and I was hoping to make it through this summer to dry storage for this winter without having to short haul and paint.

Let me know what you guys think.

Sean

Sean
Hyde Aweigh 4
1984 SRFK #4152
LINY

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2012 : 11:55:35

It depends on lots of factors. On the inland lake, where I used to sail, I jumped in the water and scrubbed it periodically. On the Chesapeake Bay, I don't, because I don't race my own boat, and we have jellyfish, and marinas aren't the cleanest places to swim.

Now, I never clean the bottom during the summer, but I store it on the hard all winter, and have it pressure washed when it is hauled. I use a very good quality ablative antifouling paint, and if it is sailed regularly, it stays reasonably clean during the summer.

If you race, frequent cleaning is very important. If you only day sail, it isn't that critical, and frequent cleaning erodes your antifouling paint quickly.

It seems to me it's a question of cost, and how dirty the bottom is, and how clean it needs to be for your style of sailing. I'm not sure we can answer those questions.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9081 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2012 : 13:52:46

It also helps to use one of the dual-biocide ablative (copolymer) paints. In addition to the normal copper, Pettit's anti-slime additive is Irgarol, and Interlux's is Biolux. (WM's paints are by Pettit, and their PCA Gold is a good buy, especially if you catch a sale.) I've found them to be very beneficial in L.I.S. waters--I've never cleaned a bottom while in the water, and since I started using a dual-biocide, the bottom was mostly just discolored a little when she came out in the fall.

As Steve says, if you race, things are different. Then you might want something like VC Offshore (and a cleaning before each race).

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 03/18/2012 13:53:37

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/18/2012 : 18:26:57

A buddy of mine had a J109 and was BIG into racing. He kept it on the hard, using the crane to launch it on Friday nights and pull it Sunday afternoon. He paid alot of money to have the keel faired and had no paint on the bottom, just the gelcoat. During the week he'd clean it, wax/buff it. Every week. It was like an obsession. He'd get new sails every season. It was nothing for him to have it trucked down to Galveston for a weekend of offshore racing, then back to the Boat Club.

Serious amount of time and $$$$$ went into his "hobby"......

Edited by - on

Sam001
Vice Commodore

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USA
441 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2012 : 10:26:18

now that is a real racer--not crusing!!

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2012 : 12:39:32

Sean, Since we are in the same waters and your boat was left in the water all winter it will more than likly need a cleaning to start the season. If you use the boat one or two days per week it wont need a monthly cleaning. I start the season clean then when the water warms up enough sometime in June I will motor out and jump in with one of those suction cup handles you can stick to the sides and brush the bottom. I can reach it all except the wing and usually takes me 15 min. to do then I will do it again Beginning of Aug. and again end of Sept. I wouldn't want a monthly cleaning because it not neccesary if you use the boat regularly and it would remove a lot of paint if its Ablative. I find giving the bottom a a quick brushing is not a hard thing to do.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2012 : 12:57:09

I uhhh borrowed a "raised floor tile puller" from my job. Has a handle, gobs of suction power, and a quick release.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 03/19/2012 12:57:49

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2012 : 13:17:21

Several of our guys who race regularly, and we don't have good haul-out facilities, use a bottom brush they made out of conduit. It acts a lot like a large exterior house paint roller, only the "roller" is a boat fender covered with a scrubber fabric. works quite well!

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 03/19/2012 : 20:33:48

I found one of these in my dumpster. I've never used it but it looks like it might work.

I'd never pay what they are asking because for $10 in PVC you could build you own.

http://dridiver.com/default.htm

Edited by - GaryB on 03/19/2012 20:34:03

av8rOC
Navigator

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USA
121 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2012 : 04:48:19

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by islander
 Sean, Since we are in the same waters and your boat was left in the water all winter it will more than likly need a cleaning to start the season. If you use the boat one or two days per week it wont need a monthly cleaning. I start the season clean then when the water warms up enough sometime in June I will motor out and jump in with one of those suction cup handles you can stick to the sides and brush the bottom. I can reach it all except the wing and usually takes me 15 min. to do then I will do it again Beginning of Aug. and again end of Sept. I wouldn't want a monthly cleaning because it not neccesary if you use the boat regularly and it would remove a lot of paint if its Ablative. I find giving the bottom a a quick brushing is not a hard thing to do.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I'm starting to think that's the way to go too. Thanks Scott

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5902 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2012 : 07:29:22

At my marina they will do what I think they call a short haul. They hoist the boat with a travelift and pressure wash the bottom, and launch it for a very reduced cost, as long as they don't have to put it on jackstands. If you schedule it in advance, they'll hoist it and wash it in the late afternoon, and leave it hanging in the straps for the night, and you can touch up any thin paint before they relaunch it the next day. You might ask if your marina will do that for you. That would get it clean and give you a chance to refresh the paint enough to get you through the season, until you can do a haul and a proper bottom job before the next season.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3467 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2012 : 16:32:45

Steve, We have similar deal in my area. The Washington Sailing Marina has what they call a "Tuesday Race Special" (because Tuesday is when the bigger boats race). For years, they have charged $75 no matter what size sailboat to lift it up, pressure wash it while it hangs in the slings and lower it back in.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2012 : 17:11:24

I don't think it will be that cheap around here. I think my Marina charges $150 for a short haul and $3.75 per foot (28ft LOA) to pressure wash.

Edited by - on

Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2012 : 12:41:00

Scott - if you'd like a better price, give Brewers Stratford Marina a call at 203-377-4477 in August. As I recall I got a quote for about $110 for Passage.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 03/24/2012 : 13:57:40

Thanks Bruce but its not me who needs his bottom cleaned ( Why does that sound just wrong) its Sean. I'm now part of the Brewers Glen Cove family (UGH

) and my boat gets pressure washed at the end of the season.

Edited by - islander on 03/24/2012 14:01:11

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