BIA Victoria - Fouling

Fouling

Fouling on your boat can impact on safety, the environment, and your boats running and repair costs.



Types of fouling

Slime The first layer of fouling is “slime” – billions of single celled algae that form colonies on the hull. It doesn’t wash off when the boat moves through the water, it needs to be cleaned off.

Weed Larger fouling organisms like weed can easily attach to your boat. Some will fall off as the boat moves through the water but others are very resilient and need to be removed by hand.



Animals (barnacles, mussels etc) Fouling can also be animals such as barnacles, mussels and even seastars. These can be on the hull or hidden in damp protected places like sea chests, bilge, inlet/outlet pipes, propeller shaft etc.



Fouling on your boat is dangerous and costly:

SAFETY: If your boat is heavily fouled it will sit lower in the water and reduce its responsiveness. Substantial fouling like large weeds or mussels will seriously affect your ability to steer – especially when you need to turn quickly to get out of a dangerous situation.

If the fouling is uneven – more on one side of the hull – it will not sit evenly in the water and has a greater risk of overturning.

ENVIRONMENT: If your boat is fouled it may have marine pests on board – either stuck to the hull or hidden in the bilge, pipes, propeller shaft etc. When you move your boat these pests may dislodge and start a new population where they fall. You could be spreading marine pests to your favourite destinations.

COSTS: Fouling on your boat will cause drag which will slow you down and increase fuel costs. Cleaning your boat will also cost more if you leave it a long time between cleans – ideally you should be cleaning every year or whenever you see a build up of fouling.