Bottom Growth

V

van lafermine

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Feb 18, 2008
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29446
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476
Anyone else experiencing excess bottom growth this year? I usually have to pull my boat middle to late august because of growth. I did not use my boat for 3 weeks and went away for the weekend. When I tried putting it on plane it was very slow in doing so and I was burning about 7 gl. p/hr more than normal. When I got to my destination I had the marina pull it and saw quite a few barnacles. It doesnt take much to kill the fuel economy. On my way up I was burning 34 gphr and the return 26.5 gphr

I do know that many marina's have specials this time of year for a short haul. If you hear of any deals pass them on. I had to do mine on more of an emergency situation so the price represented that. I have to say that they did take very good care of me by getting me in as I came into the marina. So the price was very fair in my mind $8 p/f
 
Yeah, it's growing big-time this year. I put fresh paint on when we got back from our Bahamas trip in early June, fixed some blisters, and hauled out in late June to check the blisters and fix more. I was amazed at how much growth I had on my outboard brackets and zincs. My bottom paint was holding up well, but still. I've also got a friend with a large express cruiser who's having all kinds of growth issues in his intakes. I guess it never got cold enough last winter to kill the little buggers.

$8/ft? I think I pay about $4 at Pasadena Yacht Yard here in Rock Creek. They have two lifts and my boat can use the small one, so perhaps rates differ, but give Rich a call if you are curious: 410-360-2027
 
Exscessive growth in Annapolis area. I had boat pulled in Narrows in April and bottom cleaned and zincs replaced. Kids and I dove down last week and spent 1 hour cleaning 47 feet. Typically don't have to do that until mid-late August. Put Prop Speed on props and shafts 3 years ago, props were fine, but shafts only so so. Remainder of hull was terrible.
 
Warm winter followed by early heatwaves in the spring and summer leads to critters growing now. Fortunately for us there has been just enough rain to keep the saltline south of us for now so we're barnacle free for the moment.
 
I am having mine pulled and cleaned weekend after next. I noticed the same thing this weekend. Slow to plane, slower overall speed by a couple. Probably used more fuel too. Lucky for me I get two free hauls and wash a year with my slip. I will report what I find down there.
 
We'll be moving our boat to Great Oak on August 10th for the rest of the season. We're near Philadelphia now. While we anticipate moving the boat each weekend I'm wondering how long the boat can sit before it starts to accumulate growth that affects performance. Any ideas?
Keith
 
Keith, I let mine sit for just under 3 weeks and could tell the difference as soon as I tried putting her on plane. I dont think I would let it sit for more than 2 weeks right now. I have fuel monitors and was burning 34gph vs. 26gph after I had the bottom cleaned. huge difference.
 
Sounds good. The goal is to be there each week but we might miss one here and there. Thanks Van.
 
How bad is algae growth in the upper Chesapeake? I was at the boat about a week and a half ago. Cleaned all strainers prior to departure as I always do. This time when we returned we left the air on set at 80 since it has been so hot. Returned to the boat yesterday and the discharge hose was baring putting out anything to either unit. Went below and the hose from the strainer to the pump was collapsed so I figured something had been sucked up to the thru hull. When back flushing did not work I pulled the strainer. Clean to this in 10 days. Of course I am sure the rain had a bit to do with it too. Can't wait to see what the bottom looks like next weekend.

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I think I'm going to stick with outboards when/if we up-size the boat. It's nice to be able to keep them tilted out of the water especially this year.

Isn't it interesting that there are no sea nettles around? We were in Solomons 2 weeks ago and I only saw one. Usually, this time of year, you can walk across them. The water is certainly warm enough. It must be, as Mike said, how much fresh water there is in the Bay. At my house in Carroll County we got 4 inches of rain this past Thursday night. And it's been raining non-stop most of the weekend in downtown Baltimore.
 
Being only my second summer here I can not really comment on the nettles. However, I was warned they are really bad in June and July. Did not see any last year or this year. After I ran my bottle brush around inside the strainer, i opened the sea cock a bit to flush it out. I did notice the water was almost a luke warm bath water.

I don't know how hard it rained Friday night but it was hard enough to get inside ever crack in the bimini and wet the cockpit carpet pretty good. After doing a few tasks I wanted to get done I packed it in and called it a day. Next weekend I am getting it hauled and the bottom cleaned. I am betting it is just as bad as the strainer.
 
John,

I had 4 inches at my house Friday. Harbor East was flooded from what I hear. It was a deluge! :-)
 
Still Pond Creek was a bit salty today which surprised me after all the rain. So far my bottom and OD are clean.
 
Not in MD but here in LI (North Shore) the barnacles have been really bad. I painted the drive with the Primocon primer and 2 coats of brushed on Trilux and then could not use the boat for 2 weeks. Came back and the drive was covered with growth. Mostly barnacles. I wish I could find an antifouling paint for aluminum that actually works. Even though I like I/Os my next boat will be an outboard to not have to deal with this chronic headache unless the paints get better. I even made a tool out of thick stiff wire to rod out out the water intakes in the drive. I had to remove the screen there because I had barnacles growing behind that screen. I then use the wire to rod out the opening.
 
Okay so I had my haul this weekend. It wasn't pretty but pretty much what I expected after seeing my a/c strainer. Lots of growth and banacles. We have been out 4 weekends since the last haul on March 30th. Five if you include the triap to the new marina on April 1st. I guess we just need to get out more. Zincs looked good though.

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What's the best/easiest way to remove barnacles? The boat is in the yard having tranny work done and I'd like to clean the shafts and props while it's out. Thanks.
 
Elbow grease and a good scraper.
 
Watching the guys cleaning my bottom I agree with Kurt. They came off relatively easy and quickly with the scrapper. Powerwashing just made them easier to see.
 
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