Not Another Electronic Antifouling Thread !

[Johnny Cruiser]

Not another electronic antifouling thread!
Have read the 10 open/closed threads and over 430 posts already here but have a few? and comments regarding possible application of same to our new boat.
Depending on your point of view on the issue to me after reading the posts it appears that it is either
A) Snake oil
B) Slicker than sliced bread
C) Somewhere in between
Realize there are many brands but am dealing with specifically an UK manufactured brand Ultrasonic Antifouling Ltd. At closing last Friday on our new boat I became the owner of 3 dual units and solar array power supplies via a Chattel receipt from the prev owner & bank. (boat was repo from original owner) Meet the owner of one of their testimonials whose Megayacht gave a testimonial. (It limped into the boatyard where we had been pulled out and where being surveyed at. They had hit a submerged container about 55 miles NW of Isola di Pantelloria between Tunis & Sicily. It impacted them 10’5” below the waterline and for 5 ft down your could see the paint dinged and scraped. It made a pretzel of the port shaft and prop. Made us appreciate our steel hull also!)
He installed slightly different then the manufacturer’s instructions as he felt since he was over 35’ beam he installed his units 6.6 meters/20’ apart versus their recommended 10 meters/30’ to compensate for his increased volume area. Needless to say he loves them but my problem is I don’t have enough units to cover my length. Can cover 2/3rds which would be the back to cover the props but is that a fair test if I do not cover the entire boat? Units are still brand new in their boxes and under warranty but he paid 6,671 Euros incl VAT for what he purchased and do not want to outlay any money foolishly if they are not functional. Draws 0.7amps X 3=2.1amps. Didn’t seem to be any middle ground in the posts.
Would be zero labor for install as have 6 crew-my 3 full time hires and 3 p/t for the crossing only so have 3 full 2 man shifts, 4on/8off for the trip to the Caymans via Florida (2 stops for security install and lightning protection upgrade.) Just had bottom painted and waxed so is very clean & shiny. Had barefoot chartered a 14 month old Outremer 49 & a 3 yr old Lagoon 46 in the last 2 months in the Caribbean and this boat which had been in the Med for 7 years only had a small amount of crap on it compared to the Caribbean boats where the water is avg 24 degrees F warmer. Boat will be based in Caymans making 3 biz trips a year to Florida. Enough background here is my ?
1) How can I fairly test if these things work if I do not cover the entire underwater area or is that a good test to see if stuff grows on the one side of the boat and not the other?
2) Seems like a pretty large amp draw and as yet do not have any solar panels or wind devices though am planning on a wind generator atop the main mast and 2 wind turbines (smaller blades) atop the other mast. Will also put some solar panels on the flybridge but has none currently.
3) Not many new testimonials found on any site but the Megayacht owner called 2 of his friends for me and they also told me how great they worked on their Megayachts. But why would they say anything else? Then again only the 3 Wise Men came to Bethlehem for a visit.
4) Is there any more factual evidence Pro or Con? (Not opinions) there is a HUGE difference.
5) What would you do if you were me?
Thanking you in advance for your comments Pro or Con.
John & Carol

[atoll]

since the vessel is newly antifouled,any test is going to be skewed by this,untill the anti fouling starts to loose its effectiveness.

i suggest fitting the units as reccomended by the manufacturer on the aft 2/3 of the vessel,then assess in 12 months time,by which time there should be a noticable difference in fouling.

then decide on whether to invest the other $4000 for the rest of the units to protect the whole vessel.

power consuption on a 140 ft vessel is irrelevant,since you will be more than likely running gensets 24/7 to keep up with "house" demands when not on the dock.

as they say "nothing ventured nothing gained" worth giving them a try as i assume the mfg wont take them back!
cheers atoll

[Don Lucas]

please post your results with the system in a few years

[Johnny Cruiser]

Originally Posted by Don Lucas

please post your results with the system in a few years

Don,
Just saw this but have added your request to the ship's electronic log book for "Things To Be Done" for 1 & 2 yrs from install date.
FYI
Johnny

[bobconnie]

I really look forward to the results of your test ! This tho expensive, is something we could all use in the future!! I would think that if they do work well that others will bring out stuff that will be a little cheaper !at least it has worked that way on all other boat electronics LOL

[atoll]

with only ineffective,expensive anti foulings available for alumilium boats these day i would welcome any feedback!