So you’ve bought your boat, your pride and joy – 15 metres of luxury boating pleasure is now yours and bobbing happily up and down on the ‘oggin. Life is good and you need never concern yourself with anything other than enjoying your floating gin palace right?? WRONG!!!
Boat ownership comes with the responsibility of maintaining your vessel to ensure its longevity and optimal performance. One crucial aspect of boat maintenance is taking care of the boat keel. It comes as no surprise that owning a boat is very much like owning a car, a motorbike or an aeroplane even. Look after it, service it and perform those routine tasks to keep it operating at optimal performance. Neglect these and it all slips, performance and even safety are ultimately compromised. In the words of that famous philosopher Alan Partridge, your boat’s performance becomes sub-optimal!
Nobody wants a sub-optimal boat!!
Aesthetics aside, without a doubt one of the most important considerations is basic and routine hull maintenance and this is due to the constant onslaught of nature. The rate at which fouling builds up on a boat hull in UK waters can vary depending on various factors such as water temperature, location, and the type of boat hull material however typically, fouling starts accumulating on a boat hull within a matter of weeks, starting first as a slime or film before becoming more entrenched.
The stages of marine growth on a boat hull in water can vary, but generally, they follow a four-stage process and start the moment the boat is in the water. First, during the initial “slime” stage, microorganisms such as bacteria, algae, and protozoa attach to the boat hull, forming a thin film that can be easily washed off.
A good jet spray and good old elbow grease for the early stages of fouling
In the second stage, known as “microfouling,” more advanced organisms like barnacles, hydroids, and tube worms start to settle. These organisms release adhesive substances, creating a rougher surface that encourages more growth. At this stage, regular cleaning and anti-fouling measures are often required to prevent excessive build-up.
The third stage is called “macrofouling” and involves larger marine organisms attaching to the hull. Barnacles, mussels, oysters, and other creatures with hard shells become prominent. This stage can greatly affect a boat’s performance due to increased drag and decreased fuel efficiency.
Finally, the fourth stage is known as “bioerosion.” This involves organisms like mollusks and boring sponges that penetrate into the boat’s material, potentially causing structural damage over time. Regular maintenance and inspection are crucial during this stage to prevent further deterioration. Quite simply, no self-respecting boat owner should be allowing the keel to get anywhere near this stage just as no soldier would allow his weapon to get rusty!
Ppphhewwwww – that’s knackered guv…
It’s important to note that the rate and severity of marine growth can vary depending on factors such as water temperature, salinity, location, and the type of hull material. Regular maintenance and anti-fouling treatments are typically recommended to mitigate the effects of marine growth on boat hulls but the 4 stages can be achieved over the course of a boating season – a scary prospect.
Traditionally there have been only 2 ways to deal with this most routine of taskings. Lifting, scrubbing and relaunching or cleaning in situ with divers. As with everything in boating, neither comes cheap and each comes with its own pros and cons. Lifting option is incredibly efficient however time-consuming in both owners’ effort and labour costs and all of this racks up the bill. Accidents do occasionally happen, a cracked keel noticed on a lift is a legal nightmare of conflicting obligations and liability normally covered by very well-drafted legal disclaimers. Add to that the fact that boatyards always seem to find those extra little jobs that need doing and that budget gets blown out of the water! Divers avoid some of these issues however again come with their own. As they say, nothing is perfect.
And then, KeelKrab came along!!!!
