eOceanic

Preventing marine growth from building above the waterline on a long-distance cruising yacht.

What is the issue?

Cruising yachts find they quickly acquire a ring of green algae growth on the topsides just above the waterline. It is very difficult to remove and despite best scrubbing efforts, it will continuously return.

Why address this?

Waterline raised on a classic yacht
Photo: Michael Harpur

This sea growth on the typically white topsides above the waterline of the boat is conspicuously ugly looking. A particularly bad case is where a vessel has a counter-stern where it grows a beard.

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How to address this?

Move the vessels water line up at least an inch and a half in the final fit out before setting off. We only figured this out by the time we had sailed halfway around the world. See the picture of our vessel 'Obsession' when we finally got to do it. A classical yacht she had limited freeboard from the outset.

Extra gear necessary for long distance cruising can easily weigh in excess of a ton. It is this weight that lowers the boat in the water thus raising the natural water line significantly. Hence the antifouling has to equally go up to protect the topsides from marine growth. You may as well do this from the outset.

Boat-proud folk will find it sad to paint up onto those lovely topsides but the sea growth looks totally awful and you may as well make the decision at the start as opposed to a few months later.

With thanks to:

Michael Harpur, Yacht Obsession.

How to apply Antifouling

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