Fouling

[Anclote Key]

Hey guys,


I keep my aluminium hull boat in the water up near Tampa. I have antifouling bottom paint, but bottom growth still occurs. I want to drive the boat out to the sandbar and clean the hull. Not too many barnacles but lots of the slimy green growth. I don't have a trailer to take it out of the water. What is the best thing to use to clean off the fouling? Maybe a deck cleaning brush?

[SCFD rtrd.]

If you have the proper bottom paint, then most any brush will work. Is the bottom paint designed for aluminium and for Florida waters?

[ruskinredneck]

I have heard that you should not use a bottom paint on aluminum boats. I am, by no means, an expert but something about the copper/aluminum interaction. Galvanic corrosion? That being said, I clean my jon boat with a Scotch-brite pad.

[Anclote Key]

If you use the wrong bottom paint it can be disasterous on aluminium hulls because of the interaction between the copper and aluminium. The hull becomes the anode...not good. I used aluminium safe anti-fouling paint (Trilux 33) with two base coats of primer so I'm safe.