ultrasonic antifouling system

[hoohaah]

Has anyone installed one of these systems on there Marinette? If you did what size boat & how many transducers did you use & which system did you purchase? did it keep your hull clean of barnicals ? I am going to strip & paint the hull of my 39' sedan & was wondering if any Marrinette owners have done this? You are suppose to save bunches of money in painting your hull down the road.
Wally

[javalin390]

Read some articles online about these devices. One, published in Sail Magazine (sailmagazine.com) covers one that was installed on an aluminum sail boat with promising results. Neat idea, but wow...very expensive, $1500-2000.

[jralbert]

Seriously thought about buying a system at the boat show once and decided against it because I couldn't find any user endorsements (in that pre-internet era). I was also leary of claims that low freq sounds discourage barnacles.

[Fastjeff]

It wouldn't do a thing to repel that green slimy growth--one needs to keep that away as well.

Jeff

[barkleydave]

Hi Hoohaah been to Saugatuck many times when I lived up there. Tipped a few glasses at Coral Gables. My 29 used to winter at Whitehall, MI and spent season up in Traverse City Bay area.

As you know most of our boats spend the VAST majority if not all in a slip or cruising off plane. Antifouling paints are "slimacides" are ablative and only work well when the boat is moving. Since ours sit it does not take long for slime to build up and then the chemicals leach at a low or no rate at all. I was always amazed the slim build up on my Lake Michigan sailboat even though it got fresh coating every spring and only in May-Oct.

I have to side with Jeff, I doubt the slime build up would be effected but would like to see some real time testing of the product.

My M is in the water year around and it is amazing even in winter slim builds up on my over the side mag. anode! Water is only 38 degrees ! We do get ice from time to time.

waiting for spring!
dave