Anti-Fouling for Hull and Outdrive

[Cornfed]

Last year, I found out what it was like to leave my boat in the saltwater for three months without applying any anti-fouling wax or paint to it. It took numerous hours with some really nasty Starbrite hull cleaner to get the hull white again. That stuff says "spray on and wipe away"....Yea, I don't think so. They failed to mention the part about elbow grease. Not only did the kelp and little sea creatures attach themself to the hull, but the outdrive as well.

Now, I am not going to paint my hull, so I am looking for a sloughing wax or anti-fouling wax. i was wondering if any of you have a preferred wax or what not. The way the wax works (from what I have been told) is you apply the wax and it lasts about 3 to 4 months. As stuff may try to grow on the hull, the wax comes off in thin layers, not allowing growth on the hull.

I would like to find something I can put on my outdrive as well....

What is the best wax or anit-fouling application to use?

[Keta]

Did you check to see if barnacles thought your cooling water intake was a good place to live?

[Hoghunter]

Originally Posted by Cornfed_King

Last year, I found out what it was like to leave my boat in the saltwater for three months without applying any anti-fouling wax or paint to it. It took numerous hours with some really nasty Starbrite hull cleaner to get the hull white again. That stuff says "spray on and wipe away"....Yea, I don't think so. They failed to mention the part about elbow grease. Not only did the kelp and little sea creatures attach themself to the hull, but the outdrive as well.

Now, I am not going to paint my hull, so I am looking for a sloughing wax or anti-fouling wax. i was wondering if any of you have a preferred wax or what not. The way the wax works (from what I have been told) is you apply the wax and it lasts about 3 to 4 months. As stuff may try to grow on the hull, the wax comes off in thin layers, not allowing growth on the hull.

I would like to find something I can put on my outdrive as well....

What is the best wax or anit-fouling application to use?

Anti-fouling wax? I've never heard of such a thing and would have a hard time believing it if I did. Even with bottom paint you get scum on your hull after it sits for a few months especially in the warmer summer months. And some areas are worse than others. Good luck with your quest.

[bajadan2000]

Yeah, what Lee and Jeff said.

Not sure this is the best, however, I have had my best results to date with Collinite's wax #885. Google and order on line.

[Keta]

A "wax" anti fowling coating that comes off in layers sounds like a good thing, keep us posted on what you find out about this.

[Hoghunter]

Originally Posted by bajadan2000

Yeah, what Lee and Jeff said.

Not sure this is the best, however, I have had my best results to date with Collinite's wax #885. Google and order on line.

Ditto on the Collinite for wax. It's hands down the best boat wax on the market. I've been using it for year's and it works great. Powerboat reports did a test several years ago with a bunch of waxes. The Collinite spanked the rest of them. It was still there long after the other's had faded to nothing.

[Siv]

I have been there Tommy when I left my boat in the marina at Des Moines..I tried every type of wax I could get and none really do the job. You need to go with anti-fouling paint..Lots of them on the market, I prefer Interlux. If applied right they work great and while you will get some slime after a long sit in the water as mentioned above , it will be nothing like what you experienced last year. Keep in mind the stuff is 150$ a gallon and the first application calls for sanding/buffing the hull to get rid of any old wax so the product adheres.

Tight Lines

[Pau Hana]

No easy fix here, brother- it's either paint the boat now, or muscle up later to scrub the adhered crap off the hull.

I'd suggest that you paint the thing- as the boat is on a trailer, it won't be too difficult.

There are bottom liners that you may consider instead of painting- but they're not a mobile option:

Bottom Paint No More! Use an ARMOREDHULL Boat Shield!

[Tower Todd]

Sounds like someone needs to use his boat more often!

Another option might be that since you live so close to your marina, why not bring your trailer down every now and then and wash the boat out of the water, instead of waiting for 3 months of growth.

If antifouling wax were a good choice, many others would be using it now. I don't think such a product exists, but maybe you'll find one and inform the rest of us. I hope you do find something.

TT

[gecsr1]

This is a funny post..... " anti fouling wax " ....... either a bottom liner or paint the bottom...

[Hoghunter]

I actually did a little web research and found several companies that are actually selling wax that they claim "doesn't allow growth on the boat bottom."

I've never heard of the wax products they refer to before. That leads me to believe they don't really work or marine stores would be selling the stuff right and left.

I do believe wax will retard growth to a certain degree over a very short period of time. I would think that if your going to rely on wax you better be planning to pull your boat at least once a month and pressure washing.

[Keta]

Interlx products work. I prefer ablative anti fowling paint but make sure whatever you end up using it's made for planing hulls.