For the last fifteen years or so, since I gave up racing, I have used a leeching antifoul, initially Micron but latterly Blakes Tiger, or Cruiser. Within one week of lifting out, whilst the hull paint was still soft, the hull was well rubbed down using abrasive pads with plenty of water. This is far better than trying to get the stuff off in the spring when it has hardened off. We never went right back to the gel coat but found this method prevented build up of antifoul. If a water supply is not avaiable, buy a pump-up pressure garden spray from B&Q or garden centre. A full tank will last long enough to do about a third of one side of a Sadler 32. Come fitting out time, just wash the hull, antifoul and then go sailing! That is, of course, providing you have done all the other 101 jobs that had to be done.

Hi Alan. You are absolutely right that the best time to tackle the hull is as soon as the boat comes out of the water, if you can avoid the temptation to procrastinate. Judging by the absence of crowds in the boatyard this weekend, procrastination is widespread! It is a good tip to prevent the build-up of antifoul without going back to the gel coat. The garden spray is an excellent tip, too!

I am afraid I got idle and have had the hull soda blasted. It was one hell of a job because the old stuff, how old I know not (anything up to 30 years) was like concrete in spite of the boat being just out of the water. This took it down to the original gel coat. This was not in good nick, so a new gel coat will go on when it gets warmer. Thereafter it will be cuprotected so with any luck a wash when she comes out and a wash before she goes in again should be it! Previously I used the same Blakes antifouling as Alan above. It worked very well but now I wont get the biannual rocket for covering self and garments in blue.

Do please let us know how well the cuprotect works! How well did the soda blasting work? Did it stop at the gel coat, or did it contribute to the "not in good nick?"