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Old 01-12-2012, 13:32   #1
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How Often do you Clean the Bottom?

How often do you get your bottom scrubbed? Our diver's recommendation is once a month. With my limited spanish I have a hard time conversing with him. I trust him, he is well known around the marina as one of the best.

But is once a month overkill?

Some pics of the process may be seen in our latest post.
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Old 01-12-2012, 14:09   #2
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

We do not. We use antifouling paint.

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Old 01-12-2012, 14:18   #3
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

Depends on the health of your bottom paint, your location, and the season.

On the Gulf I have mine done about every three weeks in the summer and about every 6 weeks now that the water has cooled off.
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Old 01-12-2012, 14:19   #4
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

If you scrub once a month your antifoul won't last long.
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Old 01-12-2012, 15:08   #5
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

Mike

If you are in Paradise Village, diving the bottom once a month is probably reasonable since the marina is incredibly hot and burns zincs like crazy...

If you are anywhere else in Banderas Bay, we found that 60 days was a good number.

If your bottom paint is tired or you aren't moving the boat, you may have to adjust the timing.
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Old 01-12-2012, 15:30   #6
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Depends on where you are. You'd be better asking local yachties than asking an international forum.


I go once a month in the summer but every other month in the winter because around here growth rates are seasonal. If you need something more than once a month, regardless of where you're keeping the boat, you're not sailing enough.
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Old 01-12-2012, 15:54   #7
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

Every time I take a shower.
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Old 01-12-2012, 16:25   #8
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

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Every time I take a shower.
We'll put you down for once a month then.


And didn't we pretty much agree that except for 2-3 Trinidad users, and a couple of Copper*** whatevers, we mostly use ablative paints?
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Old 01-12-2012, 16:33   #9
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

If you think a dirty bottom slows you down .... think what it does to your boat.

Stolen from an unknown wit
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Old 01-12-2012, 16:37   #10
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

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We'll put you down for once a month then.
Whether I need it or not.
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Old 01-12-2012, 17:47   #11
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Interlux Micron Extra, bottom paint.

I clean on a yearly pull out with a pressure washer, trying not to get too close. Too close, and every layer comes off.

Each season / clean cycle, takes off one layer of paint. One layer on a 32' boat costs about $100.00

Seems there should be a better way.

(These are the folks that make nanothermite for the gvt, hope they never have a mixup in the labeling dept)
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Old 01-12-2012, 19:51   #12
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

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How often do you get your bottom scrubbed? Our diver's recommendation is once a month.
You should have your hull cleaned when it is foul. Just how often that is is completely dependant on the fouling conditions where your boat lives, the anti fouling paint you have on your hull and the conditon that paint is in.

Some here apparently believe that anti fouling paint completely eliminates the need for in-water hull cleaning. That is a fallacy, as anybody who keeps their boat in anything but extremely low fouling waters knows. Anti fouling paints retard fouling growth, they do not eliminate it.

Others believe that frequent hull cleaning will destroy your anti fouling paint. That is also a fallacy. Relatively frequent, gentle hull cleaning using the softest possible cleaning media will actually extend your paint's lifespan as opposed to less frequent, more abrasive hull cleaning. If you let your hull become even moderately foul, something other than a soft pad or carpet will need to be used to remove the growth. And that will dramatically shorten your paint's lifespan, not to mention increase fuel consumption and carbon emissions and reduce performance under sail.

The bottom line is- clean your hull as often as it needs it. A good rule of thumb is; if the slime is thick enough that you can't tell what color the paint is underneath, you've waited too long.
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Old 01-12-2012, 20:26   #13
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

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How often do you get your bottom scrubbed?
The thought of it sounds horribly painful! I can't imagine what bristles feel like scraping against one of the most sensitive parts of one's body. Even worse, you are implying it is not you who does this painful chore but someone else? Eeeeek! You make the hairs on my back stand up!

But if you are referring to a boat, that's another story.

Once a month is excessive under any circumstances. This so-called expert diver is milking you for his diving fees and will proceed to refer you to his buddy at the boat yard who offers you a "killer deal" on bottom job and cuts this diver a check ensuring more "recommended" return business.

Whoever tells you scrubbing the bottom of your boat once a month is a good thing is either attempting to milk you or has rocks in his head. Just my two cents...
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Old 01-12-2012, 21:19   #14
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

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Once a month is excessive under any circumstances.
Sorry, but you clearly don't know what you're talking about.
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Old 01-12-2012, 21:24   #15
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Re: How often do you clean the bottom?

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Sorry, but you clearly don't know what you're talking about.
Coming from someone who incurs financial gain from those who believe monthly bottom scrubbings are necessary, I find your accusation highly suspect.
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