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Author Topic:   Wax as Short Term Antifouling???

aquaman posted 05-07-2004 06:26 PM ET (US)
Has anyone ever heard of using a heavy paste wax on your hull below the waterline as a short term anti fouling in leiu of anti-fouling paint. I really don't want to put paint on my boat if at all possible. I had heard of several people who put a heavy coat of paste wax on gelcoat and do not buff it off. As you run the boat some of the wax will be removed. For a period of 4-6 weeks in a slow growth salt water fouling area like the Pacific NW, I have heard this works. Pull the boat after a month or so any growth that has attached is easily removed with a power washer. If I could do this process several times during the summer to keep from painting the boat it might be worth it. Has anyone heard the same?
Thanks,
John
LHG posted 05-07-2004 08:46 PM ET (US)
I have often put a quick application of Collinite 925 Boat wax on my hull at & below the waterline to avoid staining for short periods of time in brackish/tannin stained water. And it seems to work. Starbrite's Instant Hull cleaner will get rid of any hull yellowing in addition, so bottom paint is not needed as long as the hull is not going to sit for extended periods.
In clean salt water, warm (Bahamas) or cool (Maine, Canadian PNW), I have found no hull yellowing or growth for as long as two weeks, when boat is being used every day.
aquaman posted 05-08-2004 12:36 AM ET (US)
LHG,
Thanks for the response, any ideas who sells Collinite 925 as I am not familiar with that product. Do you think West Marine or Boaters World stock it?
Regards,
John
erik selis posted 05-08-2004 07:08 AM ET (US)
I have used "Starbrite Premium Marine Polish with Teflon" on my boat before leaving her 2 weeks in the warm salt waters of the Costa Dorada in Spain. I had a bit of a stain on the waterline but no real barnacle growth on the hull. Anything more than 2 weeks in salt water would require a more efficient protection IMO.
Erik
MantyMonty posted 05-08-2004 11:47 AM ET (US)
Aquaman, I am planning on doing the same thing with my '04 Montauk. I have had several face to face discussions with Al and Sue and Geno at Twin Cities Marine ht elast couple of weeks about this very subject. Their feelings are that if I pull it from my Lake Michigan slip every three weeks or so, and pressure wash it before it dries on the hull, there should be no concerns. Al stated I should put a good Carnuba wax on her and all will be fine. They had several large whalers sitting on the street by their shop one day, and none of them had bottom paint on their hulls. They were of the size where trailering them on a regular basis probably wasn't an option. The main thing they mentioned was to clean it before the dirt had a chance to dry on it. They all said if that happens, it wouldn't be much of a decision then to paint it or not to paint it, after having to scrub it to get the dried stuff off. I am just finishing today, buffing, polishing and applying a carnuba wax on her so she can go in the big pond next week. I also just finished installing a Mills Mooring cover on her yesterday. It was a little tough drilling 30 holes, but it was worth it for the protection it provides. Mills is a fine product. As far as wax application methods, I use a 10 inch polisher purchased from West Marine. It was just on sale last week. Happy boating!
erik selis posted 05-08-2004 01:00 PM ET (US)
Monty,
I think there is a big difference between the fresh water of Lake Michigan and the salt water of the NW Pacific.
Erik
mfrymier posted 05-10-2004 10:21 AM ET (US)
The best thing I've found is a product called "McLube SailKote". It is a polymer based product that we use on the bottom of racing sailbots -- very slick stuff that discourages growth for short periods of time. It's not cheap but it really really works....
From their website:
TEAM MCLUBE HULL APPLICATION GUIDE:
The benefits of coating racing hulls with Sailkote are listed below:
• Minimize friction and maintain a clean, slick racing hull surface
• Repel dirt, oil deposits and grime from hull waterline area and below (no more dirty, black, slow waterline debris stripe)
• Significantly minimize growth adhesion to hull
• Any growth that does actually manage to adhere to hull easily wipes away
Online vendor:
http://www.apsltd.com/Tree/d3000/e2072.asp

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Author	Topic: Wax as Short Term Antifouling???
aquaman	posted 05-07-2004 06:26 PM ET (US) Has anyone ever heard of using a heavy paste wax on your hull below the waterline as a short term anti fouling in leiu of anti-fouling paint. I really don't want to put paint on my boat if at all possible. I had heard of several people who put a heavy coat of paste wax on gelcoat and do not buff it off. As you run the boat some of the wax will be removed. For a period of 4-6 weeks in a slow growth salt water fouling area like the Pacific NW, I have heard this works. Pull the boat after a month or so any growth that has attached is easily removed with a power washer. If I could do this process several times during the summer to keep from painting the boat it might be worth it. Has anyone heard the same? Thanks, John
LHG	posted 05-07-2004 08:46 PM ET (US) I have often put a quick application of Collinite 925 Boat wax on my hull at & below the waterline to avoid staining for short periods of time in brackish/tannin stained water. And it seems to work. Starbrite's Instant Hull cleaner will get rid of any hull yellowing in addition, so bottom paint is not needed as long as the hull is not going to sit for extended periods. In clean salt water, warm (Bahamas) or cool (Maine, Canadian PNW), I have found no hull yellowing or growth for as long as two weeks, when boat is being used every day.
aquaman	posted 05-08-2004 12:36 AM ET (US) LHG, Thanks for the response, any ideas who sells Collinite 925 as I am not familiar with that product. Do you think West Marine or Boaters World stock it? Regards, John
erik selis	posted 05-08-2004 07:08 AM ET (US) I have used "Starbrite Premium Marine Polish with Teflon" on my boat before leaving her 2 weeks in the warm salt waters of the Costa Dorada in Spain. I had a bit of a stain on the waterline but no real barnacle growth on the hull. Anything more than 2 weeks in salt water would require a more efficient protection IMO. Erik
MantyMonty	posted 05-08-2004 11:47 AM ET (US) Aquaman, I am planning on doing the same thing with my '04 Montauk. I have had several face to face discussions with Al and Sue and Geno at Twin Cities Marine ht elast couple of weeks about this very subject. Their feelings are that if I pull it from my Lake Michigan slip every three weeks or so, and pressure wash it before it dries on the hull, there should be no concerns. Al stated I should put a good Carnuba wax on her and all will be fine. They had several large whalers sitting on the street by their shop one day, and none of them had bottom paint on their hulls. They were of the size where trailering them on a regular basis probably wasn't an option. The main thing they mentioned was to clean it before the dirt had a chance to dry on it. They all said if that happens, it wouldn't be much of a decision then to paint it or not to paint it, after having to scrub it to get the dried stuff off. I am just finishing today, buffing, polishing and applying a carnuba wax on her so she can go in the big pond next week. I also just finished installing a Mills Mooring cover on her yesterday. It was a little tough drilling 30 holes, but it was worth it for the protection it provides. Mills is a fine product. As far as wax application methods, I use a 10 inch polisher purchased from West Marine. It was just on sale last week. Happy boating!
erik selis	posted 05-08-2004 01:00 PM ET (US) Monty, I think there is a big difference between the fresh water of Lake Michigan and the salt water of the NW Pacific. Erik
mfrymier	posted 05-10-2004 10:21 AM ET (US) The best thing I've found is a product called "McLube SailKote". It is a polymer based product that we use on the bottom of racing sailbots -- very slick stuff that discourages growth for short periods of time. It's not cheap but it really really works.... From their website: TEAM MCLUBE HULL APPLICATION GUIDE: The benefits of coating racing hulls with Sailkote are listed below: • Minimize friction and maintain a clean, slick racing hull surface • Repel dirt, oil deposits and grime from hull waterline area and below (no more dirty, black, slow waterline debris stripe) • Significantly minimize growth adhesion to hull • Any growth that does actually manage to adhere to hull easily wipes away Online vendor: http://www.apsltd.com/Tree/d3000/e2072.asp