Greetings!

I'm taking my bilge keeler off to the Cape Verde islands, and later probably down to South America (all a bit up in the air- see where the wind takes me, or the fancy throws me!)- but need to sort out some antifouling that will last.

I don't kow when I am going to get a chance to haul- and need it to last a few years at least- I can get it professionally done here.

Having a bilge keeler, at least I can retouch to a certain point, but I really want something good quality that follows international regs and means I won't have to go diving under the hull with the scrapers too often.

I've heard coppercoat is good, but read somewhere that it's not so great in warm waters. Does anyone know any more about this?

Cheers,

Steven (SV "Silent Partner"

Coppercoat is great- a friend of mine has had his nine years and counting!

Try www.jamestowndistributors.com. They seem to have a good range and relivant information.

have also heard that coppercoat is best but still not good enough. you'll still have to get under the boat. the trouble with the tropics is the fantastic rate at which these organisms develop. I have been using that international stuff forgotten the name that keeps flowing off with moving water and its been much more effective than ordinary antifouling. But you do have to renew it. In fact, I find that one has to go under the boat to clean [even barnacles- sorry for the fixation!] every week or even few days. It's amazing how much there is even then. But I think it is worth planning to take any fyg boat out of the water for a couple of months every year anyway just to dry her out as much as poss. so if one's doing that, or even if she is comfortable on her keel, you can touch up.

Might not apply to you as you’re in the Tropics, but it’s the main advantage of winter lay-up as you get the opportunity to do little job like that.

My GibSea had a selfcleaning antifoul put on in Feb 2004 in Mallorca by the previous owner and in August of that year the yacht was hauled for a survey prior to me purchasing her. The hull was in great shape totally clear. I then sailed in December to Malta and wintered there. Stayed three months and found green weed growing and it looked heavy. Prior to leaving I used a diver to clean the hull. He reported that he could not scrap as the antifoul would come of easily. But it was cleaned easily. Then I sailed continuously through the summer in 2005. The yacht was lifted in November and the hull was totally clear. There was a very slight crusting on waterline either side of the bow. I was amazed.