Isn't Life just sooo amazing!!!! (and how to get rid of it!)

BrAinZ · 24 July 2012, 20:11

Fascinates me how "life" manages to get a foothold at every opportunity, including our lovely previously clean and shiny RIB, that's now been in the Marina for only three weeks.

Hull is at the best, dirty... but the engine itself is now greener and thicker with weed than my lawn is at home

Had a deep conversation today about whether life in space was similar and floats around on Comets, waiting to leap onto planets, but that's not important right now

So... boat is only in the water for another couple of weeks. So any tips on how to clean it all off once it's out of the water. Although I love life and the seaweed is a very nice green colour, I really don't think our engine is the best place for it to live.

C2 RIBS · 24 July 2012, 21:03

High pressure the hull will remove all dirt but not the gloss back on GRP so will need a cleaner. Carefull with tubes and only light pressure these and then soapy water normally works. Then use a tube proprietry cleaner and after 3 M tube sun protector.

If you know a good valet guy/girl on the Wight i would pay the extra for a yearly clean and shine

DGR · 24 July 2012, 21:05

Use a decent jet wash - but if it's a powerful one, be careful of damaging the tubes... Start cleaning a fair distance away, and keep edging closer until it cleans off the 'life' - and make sure that you don't lift the glued edges with the jet (i.e. go from the other direction!!).

Blast the hull as best you can - 3 or 4 weeks shouldn't be long enough for barnacles to get a really good grip - unless your marina is barnacle central...!!...so a jet wash should be good enough.

D...

BrAinZ · 24 July 2012, 21:17

Do you think a pressure wash will get the seaweed off that has taken residence on the lower part of the engine leg? Shame that the engine doesn't lift fully out of the water.

DGR · 24 July 2012, 21:18

Yes - I've got a Bravo 2X leg - so none of it comes out of the water - and the jet wash cleans that off a treat. It's probably the most satisfying bit......

Bigmuz7 · 24 July 2012, 22:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by DGR

Yes - I've got a Bravo 2X leg - so none of it comes out of the water - and the jet wash cleans that off a treat. It's probably the most satisfying bit......

Aye to that .. thats why I dont mind hoovering

infact I am a demon with one, and no house proud woman can hold a candle to my suction antics

Wightdiver · 25 July 2012, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinZ

Do you think a pressure wash will get the seaweed off that has taken residence on the lower part of the engine leg? Shame that the engine doesn't lift fully out of the water.

Yes it will but wash it as soon as you take it out of the water, let the weed dry and it is much more difficult!!!

BrAinZ · 04 August 2012, 07:54

Well, this is what the hull looks like after only 33 days in the water, amazes me!!!

blueboy758 · 04 August 2012, 08:01

Now that is some growth..... We get that off a yacht in about 18months.

ribber · 04 August 2012, 13:04

Just looking at your photo, it looks like your engine is left in the up position tilted to the right. The weed line is higher on your right side.

My ribeye has the engine tilted up to the left, thereby balancing the boat dead level. That in effect makes both tubes at the back just miss the water by millimetres. If tilted the other way or dead centre, the right tube sits down in water and gets weeded. However, I cannot get the engine leg entirely out the water, but the bit touching is only very small.

Also make sure you are not filled with water in the inner hull as this will make you 'hang low' at the back. If not pulled up at a slip way anytime soon, undo the inner bung at sea, excelerate just keeping the nose high, water will then drain into the area housing the bilge pump. Re bung when bilge pump running dry/empty.

Boatnomad · 05 August 2012, 19:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrAinZ

Well, this is what the hull looks like after only 33 days in the water, amazes me!!!

Very heavy for only 33 days! Looks more like 3 months,but there are a lot of variables that can make a big difference from one place to another,local temp,fresh water content,sunlight,ect.Have even seen a big difference from year to year on the exact same mooring