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Use headings to split up your content.
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I know that the Annapolis Fall Sailboat Show is one of the biggest sailing shows in the United States, but I was wondering if the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show is worth attending, so I did some research and this is what I found.
So is the Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show Worth Attending? The Annapolis Spring Sailboat Show is well worth attending if you are a sailing enthusiast, a beginner interested in learning about sailing or even if you just want to walk-on some of the new sailboat models. Read on to learn more about the Annapolis Spring Sailboat show and why it is worth attending and why I decided to attend this spring.
You would think that being smaller than the fall sailboat show would be a negative and it might be for some people. However, even though the Spring show is smaller than the fall show, there are fewer people, fewer lines, fewer crowds so you have more access to the boats, courses and exhibits. The boats are less crowded, giving you more time to look around and really take in the sights, tips and information.
I read on one sailing forum written by a recent attendee to the fall show, that sometimes the fall show will have 30 (or more) people on a boat with hardly any room to move around, not to mention the constant waiting in lines. This is true for the sailboats and the exhibit hall, which can make it difficult to talk to sailboat representatives and exhibitors. The Spring show gives you more access to both the sailboats and the exhibits, and with less time spent in line you have more time to indulge in all things sailing!
Cruisers University is a four day information filled event at the Spring Sailboat Show offering seminars on all things helpful for sailors that want to start cruising full time. The seminars are taught by other full time cruisers and sailing experts, giving their first hand knowledge and experiences. Cruisers University is a four day event at the Spring Sailboat Show offering seminars on all things helpful for sailors that want to start cruising full time. The seminars are taught by other full time cruisers giving first hand knowledge and experience.
Thinking of living full time on your sailboat or becoming a cruiser? Then you do not want to miss the two day intensive courses that are offered on Diesel Engine Maintenance, Marine Weather Forecasting and Women and Sailing. Part of the cruising lifestyle for many sailors includes keeping the sailboat in tip-top-shape while keeping expenses down.
Knowing how to maintain the engines not only keeps them in excellent condition, but also saves money. The diesel engine program is one of the most popular and typically sells out early. If you are interested in learning about diesel engines, you need to sign up as soon as the course registration opens up.
Another very important aspect of sailing fulltime is understanding the weather. This two-day intensive course will help you to predict weather patterns to make your trips and passages more enjoyable, with help you to avoid storms and rough seas and unfriendly wind conditions. Many cruisers say that you need to be flexible to sail when there are good weather windows. This course helps you to determine when those weather patterns are favorable for sailing.
Finally, The women In Sailing class is an intensive two-day course by women who are cruising full time. One of the instructors, Behan Gifford (of Sailing Totem) is the author if the book Voyaging With Kids and has been living and cruising full time on their sailboat for more than ten years. Having a course for women by women not only help educate and inform future women cruisers, but also can help take some of the anxiety away. An educated (woman) sailor is a confident (woman) sailor.
Full one day classes include Navigation, Sewing and Canvas Work and Boat Electrical Systems. These courses are very informational and require an entire day commitment.
Shorter topics include Repair, Seminars like Amp It Up; all about solar and wind energy options. Here is a complete listing:
If you want to learn to sail, what better than these hands on in water sailing classes. Start out with 45 minute classroom instruction and follow it up with 90 minutes of hands on in the water sailing instruction taught by experienced sailors from the American Sailing Association and SailTime on brand new Beneteua 22 or Catalina 22 sailboats. First Sail Workshops costs $65 which include the general admission to the sailboat show.
In addition to the paid Cruisers University, there are several free sailing seminars with details announced at the show. The free sailing seminars are presented by the Chesapeake Bay Magazine.
First Sail Workshops are offered four times each day and in conjunction with the in-the-water sailing courses.
If you are ready to sail this summer, you won’t want to miss this in-water sailboat show. Come see a variety of sailboats from numerous manufacturers in this in-water and on-land display. New and brokerage boats are available with catamarans (multi-hulls), monohulls, blue water sailboats, family cruisers and daysailors. It’s not as big as the fall show but still a very good selection and much smaller lines to see the boats than at the fall show (read more in my update below).
This is a great opportunity to visit the exhibit hall packed full of new and innovative products. See the latest navigational products, high tech equipment, gear, clothing, sailing apps, accessories, related sailing products. Other vendors are offering sailing related services like boat brokers, boat loans (lenders), boat insurance agents, sailboat charter services and more…
The Spring Annapolis Boat Show features live entertainment at the show at the Entertainment Plaza. Includes is free wine tastings, live music and excellent food. Hang out while you watch the regatta, relax and enjoy. If you don’t get your fill at the Sailboat Show, no worries. Annapolis will be packed full of sailing enthusiasts enjoying all of the restaurants and bars that it has to offer.
If you love sailing, then you won’t have to look far to find fellow diehards. Share your experiences and tall tales with fellow sailors. Enjoy drinking and tasting wine fellow sailors at one of the sailboat show sponsored events or at an establishment in quaint, Annapolis.
When we arrived on Friday afternoon, the show was closed because a thunderstorm had just blown through. The tide was high and some of the sidewalks near the docks were flooded. I must add that I had read in one of the sailing forums about flooding at previous Annapolis Sailboat Shows, but the docks have been raised so you can walk about without getting your feet wet. This is an upgrade that has just been made in recent years.
Annapolis is the sailing capital of the world, a great city full of history, beautiful colonial architecture and a wonderful vibe. The shops, bars and restaurants located at the docks provide plenty of entertainment and excellent food and drink options. The United States Naval Academy is located right downtown at the docks with cadets in uniform mixed in with preppy dressed locals, boat show attendees and other visitors. There was live entertainment on the street corner and lively crowds in the bars. I enjoyed Annapolis almost as much as the sailboat show (almost).
There were only a handful of catamarans at the Spring Sailboat Show and none of the catamaran manufacturers were in attendance. Dream Life Charters were there and had a couple of catamarans with them, but the Moorings and Sunsail were no-shows. There were a few more catamarans by local dealers and some individuals selling charters. There were a lot of monohulls there so if you are a monohull person, you will have plenty of boats to view.
I was disappointed by the vendors at the show. There were one or two local marine suppliers there, but a very poor showing by marine OEM’s. The vendor tents resembled more of a local home show than it did a boat show. Outside the tents there were some small sport cats and sailboats however.
All in all, if you love to sail, Annapolis is a wonderful setting to host a sailboat show. I can’t wait to go back for the fall show.
The Miami Boat Show takes place every March in Miami, Florida and is a great opportunity to get a sneak peak at some of the new sailboats on the market. It is a large show with a variety of motorboats and sailboats with a really nice exhibitor area demonstration new and innovative products and some really great services. The Miami Boat Show is definitely worth checking out.
The fall Annapolis Boat Show is the Grand Daddy of American Sailboat Shows. This in-water boat show features almost all of the major sailboat manufacturers. It is a huge show with lot’s of attendees and lot’s of exhibitors. There are many cruisers in attendance with many of the same courses offered by Cruisers University. So many cruisers are in attendance with their boats because they often sail north to avoid hurricane season, then stay to enjoy the summer in Maryland and up the east coast until it is safe once again to migrate south again before winter arrives. Therefore it is a big cruiser gathering and social time and it is definitely worth attending.
So, can you get melanoma from sailing? Yes, exposure to the sun increases your risk of Melanoma. Sailors are not exempt to these risks. Sailing, like other time spent in the sun DOES increase your risk of Melanoma skin cancer? If you have spent a lot of time outdoors, your risk increases. The time I spent sailing when I was in High School may have contributed to me getting skin cancer, but there is no way to know for sure exactly why I developed melanoma.
So if you are like me, you don’t like to dwell on the negative. You may even want to click off this post because it isn’t the type of article you typically read. This is my public service announcement. I hope you read on. It may save your life. It may save your child’s life.
Why Should Sailors Know About Melanoma?
Melanoma is the most-deadly form of skin cancer. It is most often caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or tanning beds. Sailors spend a tremendous amount of time outdoors, exposed to the sun, surrounded by water. UV rays do reflect off the water and increase UV exposure. Sailors may therefore have a higher risk of melanoma and other skin cancers. I believe that if we would survey sailors (especially older ones), we would learn that skin cancer is more common than we know about. The younger sailors can take preventative measures now, to save them a world of troubles later in life.
If you are a sailor with skin cancer (melanoma or others), please tell us about your experience in the comments below. Are you still sailing?
How Did I Get Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is believed to be a cumulative total of UV exposure over your lifetime. My dermatologist’s theory is that most of the damage was done during my childhood. Continued exposure because of my love of the outdoors including being on and around the water, may have contributed to it. When I was a child and young man growing up in Michigan, we didn’t use sunscreen very often. We didn’t wear rash guards or shirts with UV resistance. I spent most of my summers running around the neighborhood without a shirt on. I remember getting sun burned several times each year. During high school, I spent many Sundays on a sailboat on Lake Michigan listening to Casey Kasem on the radio count down the top 40 hits in America. If we were on a boat or at the beach, we may have worn some sun screen, but there were also times that we used tanning oils. I even went to a tanning salon (tanning bed) a few times prior to going on spring break trips, where I spent the entire week in the sun.
My Melanoma Story
In 2015, after a routine check-up, my family doctor referred me to a dermatologist for another routine check-up. I have lots of moles which may put me in a higher risk. I hadn’t been to a dermatologist for a few years. In my first appointment, I had a mole removed. As a precaution it was sent to a lab. A few weeks later, I received a phone call and had to return. The mole was precancer. This isn’t medically correct, but basically is a mole that showed abnormal cell activity. That abnormal mole put me on the dermatologist’s three month plan – skin checks every three months.
When Did I Receive My Melanoma Skin Cancer Diagnosis?
In 2016, at a three month follow up appointment, another abnormal mole was removed. A month passed and no call from the dermatologist was good news. We were preparing for our first bareboat charter leaving from Placencia, Belize. It was going to be an epic sailing trip. I had lived in Costa Rica for several years prior and heard a lot of great things about Belize. I couldn’t wait to go there and explore both on land and sea. One week before my trip, I received the call.
“Hello, this is Dr. Carson. Sorry that we haven’t called you sooner, but your lab results came back with abnormal activity. We sent it to another lab for a second opinion. The pathology report came back today. You have melanoma. We need to schedule a follow up appointment and remove a larger area around where the mole was removed.”
There was a long pause. “Ok,” I said. “Thank you.”
We set up the appointment after my trip – about a month later. I hung up the
phone. I felt numb. My mouth was dry. My mind was blank. Cancer? Me? Up until
now, I have been very healthy. No medications. No real issues other than the
flu every few years, a cold once a year. That’s about it. Cancer?
I started googling, M-E-L-A-N-O-M-A. I really didn’t know much about it. I heard something about it. I remembered a scene where Kramer on The Seinfield TV show pretended to be a doctor once to tell a guy about a mole on his back so that he would get it checked out.
I read the scientific definition. “Most dangerous form of skin cancer.” “Rapidly spreading”
What is My Life Expectancy?
What is the life expectancy of someone with stage II melanoma? I googled, life expectancy. I have a family. Two school age boys. A wife. I am too young to have skin cancer (in my 40’s). Way too young to die. Google says the life expectancy is 70% in 5 years. I read it again. “Five-year survival rate is 70%.” I repeated it in my head. That means that I have a 30% chance of dying in the next five years. That is a very strange feeling. For the first time in my life the thought about death was real. Death is something that is supposed to happen when you get old. Maybe something to think about before you go sky diving. I was only in my late 40’s – not very old!
Belize Bareboat Sailing Charter Vacation
Needless to say, the Belize sailing vacation wasn’t as great as it should have been. Belize was amazing. The sailing was amazing. Our catamaran was amazing. The snorkeling was amazing. The island hopping was amazing. The time off from work was amazing. Our friends on the catamaran were amazing. The cold Belikin’s (local beer) were amazing. All the time I had to think about having cancer – not amazing. I spent the entire trip running from shady spot to shady spot to shady spot. I bought a big hat with a neck cloth, long sleeve shirts, long pants, lots of sunscreen with the highest SPF I could buy. It went on like car wax. I was edgy. I was scared. I’m sure I wasn’t the most pleasant to the others on the boat. I didn’t tell anyone, except my wife about the cancer.
How is My Health?
I was one of the lucky ones. My cancer turned about to be stage II. I had three lymph nodes removed. There was no evidence of the cancer spreading. I have since had other moles removed. Some were abnormal. No others were Melanoma. At this writing of this article, I am cancer free! Part of my follow up cancer prevention, I have bloodwork (tests) every six months, check x-rays every six months and see an oncologist annually. During every appointment, he tells me how lucky I am and that in his line or work – he sees very few patients where he is giving good news.
Melanoma; Do You Need to Completely Avoid Being Outdoors?
My doctor has recommended no more sun. I wear hats when I work in the yard, attending sporting events or spend any time outdoors. I wear long sleeve shirts with UV protection. I wear sunscreen. I try to avoid middle of the day direct sunshine. I decided that I would take precautions, but I am not going to turn into a vampire (sleep during the day – up at night) or live in a cave like a bat.
How Can Sailors Minimize Melanoma Risks (and other skin cancers)?
Sailors can minimize their melanoma risks. I believe that awareness will lead to prevention and it is the reason I am writing this article. By that I mean that when you become aware of unnecessary time spent in direct sunlight, you are more likely to minimize your time spent in the sun. Notice I didn’t say don’t go outdoors or avoid being outdoors. I didn’t say stop sailing. I didn’t say stop living. If possible, avoid mid-day direct sun when the UV rays are the strongest. And go see a dermatologist once each year for a top to bottom skin check. This saved my life and it could save yours.
What Can Sailors Wear to Help Prevent Skin Cancer (Melanoma)?
First and foremost, wear sunscreen with at least an SPF of 30. Wear long sleeve breathable microfiber shirts. The water wicking fishing shirts are great. Wear them and you will feel much cooler than when you are wearing cotton. Pick ones that have UV protection. Wear a buff to protect your face and neck when you are on the water for extended times. I learned about buffs from our charter boat captain when fishing in Costa Rica (those guys are on the water every day – all day). Wear a hat. I have caps, medium size hats and big brim hats. Depends on what I am doing and, also on the wind conditions. The big hat doesn’t work well on windy days (prime sailing days). Use a daily moisturizer that contains sunscreen. There are many over the counter products that are affordable. Melanoma can affect your eyes also so wear sunglasses with UV protection.
How Can Sailors Protect Their Children from Skin Cancer (Melanoma)?
Even if you decide that you are not going to heed my advice and think you are invincible and that melanoma skin cancer will never affect you (I know, I used to think the same way and I hope that you are correct), please protect your children. There is no reason, in this day-and-age, that a child should ever get a sun burn. Make them wear a rash guard, hat and sunscreen. Get into the habit and it just becomes the norm. You may save their lives. Worse yet, failure to protect your children will most likely affect them later in life. Teach your children to have fun outdoors, but also to protect themselves!
Why Should Sailors Take Vitamin D (Supplements)?
Sailors and non-sailors alike should have their vitamin D levels checked. Part of my cancer prevention routine involved routine bloodwork every six months. My blood tests showed that my vitamin D levels were low. This could be from less time spent in the sun or that my body is Vitamin D deficient. Vitamin D helps to prevent disease and may help to prevent skin cancer. I know this sounds crazy. We get vitamin D from being in the sun. We are told to stay out of the sun to prevent skin cancer, yet we need vitamin D to prevent skin cancer. I take vitamin D supplements. Ask your doctor about whether you should be taking vitamin D and if so, how much you should be taking.
Am I Going to Give Up on Sailing (a Catamaran)?
No. I am not going to stop sailing. I am not going to stop living, however, I am no longer in denial that skin cancer is a real threat to myself and my family. I am going to be aware of UV exposure and take many of the steps in this article to minimize the risk to my family and myself. In fact, I am more motivated than ever to live more and do more. I want to sail around the world and experience amazing sights, food and cultures. I want my children to experience the world, not just through books, television and other YouTubers adventures (and some of them are really amazing), but to be able to see, touch and smell and make amazing memories.
What are More Facts About Melanoma?
We have a 3 year old Labradoodle named Layla. I was wondering what it would be like to sail with a large dog so I did some research and learned a lot of excellent pointers and considerations some of which are for short trips while others pertain to longer or liveaboard sailing.
So how do you sail with large dogs on your boat? Sailing with large dogs on a boat requires careful planning, some training and in many ways is different than sailing with small dogs. What I learned is that as long as you have adequately planned and prepared, it is not only doable, but bringing a large dog on a sailing trip will make a great trip even more memorable.
Potty training is very important and should be done ahead of time and before spending any considerable time on the boat. If your dog doesn’t adapt to going in the designated area on the boat, it can develop a bladder infection by not going to the bathroom (holding it too long).
Potty training your dog for being on the boat takes patience and determination. Some doges will take to it right away and others may take some time. One such method for extended stays involves bringing a mat that the dog learns to use for bathroom activities. Most dogs do not like to go to the bathroom in or around their living areas, so this can be a challenge, especially on smaller boats. Potty training takes lots of patience for both the trainer and the pooch, but with time and repetition, most dogs can and will learn to go on the boat.
Having a large dog on a sailing trip can be an ice breaker when meeting others on land. So many people are attracted to large dogs, you will most likely get some attention and have an instant conversation starter. Who knows, bringing the dog on a sailing trip may even lead to new friendships.
Big dogs require special safety consideration. Depending on your sailboat, you may need to line the railings with netting to keep Fido in the boat especially when keeling and in heavy seas. The last thing you want to do is have to do a doggy overboard retrieval of your retriever. It is also recommended to fit your pet with a life jacket so that in the case of an overboard event or a dinghy boarding gone bad, they are able to float while you figure out how to get them back in the boat. If your dog loves the water (and even if it doesn’t) you should have them practice swimming and boarding the boat while wearing the life jacket. Getting on/off some boats will be much easier than others. Make sure you have a plan (and keep reading).
This is a very important consideration, with a big dog as you will be making regular land visits for exercise and bathroom runs. When docked in a marina, the gangway may be just fine. When anchoring or on a mooring and with choppy seas, your challenge just increased. One cruiser’s large Labrador retriever wears a harness and gets raised and lowered in and out of the dinghy using the dinghy block and tackle. Another I read about uses the boom with block and tackle.
Even though the boat may be skid proof for humans, dog feet are different. First, keep their nails clipped. If you can hear the nails when they walk on the boat, then they may be too long. Long nails work great on land, but may increase the risk of slipping on the boat. You may want to consider putting booties for your dog when on the boat. This is something that you really need to think through ahead of time. Have a retrieval plan, just in case.
Even if your dog is super friendly, having a big dog on board your boat can be a deterrent to would-be thieves. If your dog barks when people come to the door at your home, they most likely will bark when strangers approach your boat. I know our dog sounds vicious, but only barks to get attention and will be your best friends as soon as you pet her.
If you are planning an extended sailing trip, then you will need to bring an adequate amount of food. Even if your sailing destination has grocery stores which may sell dog food, changing food on a sailing trip may not be advisable. I recommend sticking with the food your pet is already used to. Food storage also needs to be thought about. Storage is typically a premium on most boats, think about breaking the food down into smaller quantities (like in gallon zip lock bags or in resealable containers) which may be easier than packing a giant 50 LB bag of dogfood.
A destination that is pet friendly may be an important consideration when planning your trip. Some locations may have better areas to walk or run your dog than others. Once again, a little bit of research before you go can help make your trip more enjoyable for you and your dog.
You will need to plan exercise stops for your pooch. Small dogs can run around the deck of the boat, but large breeds need more time on land. Know your dog. If he or she is used to running a few miles a day, then know they are going to need plenty of exercise (long walks or runs). If yours is lazy or older, then your salty dog may not need as many stops. On the boat, you may be able to wrestle with a large dog for exercise while out sailing. One cruiser plays a game where they hide treats and the dog needs to find them. Running back and forth, sniffing out the treats provides a little exercise and entertainment for the pet.
Every dog is different. What works for one boater and their large dog may not work for you. Know your dogs personality and adapt your plan accordingly.
Even though our labradoodle and many types of poodles and doodles do not shed, most breeds of dogs small and large will shed. You need to think about your dog and your boat and have a hair plan. How much does it shed? How do you clean your boat? How can you keep the dog hair in check. Routine grooming and brushing may certainly help, but there will be hair management that will need to be done. Of course, you can certainly do this with a broom and dust pan or perhaps you will carry a small hand held vacuum cleaner. One excellent point given is to not sweep or dispose of the hair while sailing (or motoring). The wind may blow the hair back into the boat and into your face (not pleasant).
If you are planning to cross international boarders make sure to do your research on what is required to bring your dog into that country. You will most likely need a letter from your veterinarian that says your pet is healthy and is up to date on all of its shots and vaccines. Some countries may even require your pet to be put in quarantine for 24 or 48 hours. In any event, you will need to plan for extra time, red tape and challenges when checking in a pet in a foreign country.
If your pet takes any special medications and you are planning a long sailing trip, make sure that you can get prescriptions filled where you are going. Some medications may not be available everywhere. Once again, do your homework and know ahead of time what is required.
1. Dog bed. Think about where your dog is going to sleep on the boat. You want them to be comfortable. A blanket or towels may be sufficient, but a portable dog bed in another option. Consider having the sleep on it at home prior to sailing so they are used to it. Dogs like familiarity.
2. Sunscreen for your dog. Yes, even dogs can get sunburned. And yes, there are special sunscreens made for dogs that are lick proof. Pay special attention to ears, nose and belly.
3. Spill-proof water bowl. It may be a challenge to keep water in your pets bowl while sailing and it is important for your pet to stay hydrated. Fortunately there are spill proof travel bowls available on-line and at most pet supply stores.
4. Boat ramps and ladders for dogs. Having the right ramp and ladder for your pet will make boarding the boat much easier. There are special ramps and ladders made for boarding and climbing out of the water.
5. Portable pet potty. This was covered in the article above, but pet potty products are available. Make sure the one you purchase is a good fit for your pet and your boat. Look for traveling ones that may work better than those made for apartments or homes. Consider one with a skid-proof bottom.
I have seen YouTubers Nikki and Jason Wynn talking about cleaning the bottom of their boat and wondered, how do you clean barnacles from the bottom of a catamaran, how often does this need to be done, and why do barnacles attach themselves to the bottom of a boat?
Well, come to find out it isn’t rocket science. It is, however, hard work and best practices for removing barnacles from the bottom of a catamaran in the water includes a pair of gloves, a snorkel and mask and a scraping tool.
Well, there are some other important tips and information on how to remove barnacles from the bottom catamaran, what tool works best for doing it and the question of why it needs to be done and why are they there in the first place. So, let’s dig in.
Barnacles need to be scraped off boat bottoms because they cling to the bottom of boats, reproduce often and will slow down your boat (a lot). They also can get into the water intakes and water discharges and clog them up.
There is some debate on this topic. I have visited forums on this topic and read numerous results. About half of the responses say you need a metal scraping tool while the others say plastic. One even recommends a metal tool with a plastic handle. Let’s find the arguments for each type of tool.
The answer to why the scraping tool should be metal is a simple one. You see that scraping the bottom of a boat is really hard work. The strongest and most effective tool for removing the barnacles from the bottom of a boat is one made from metal. The metal has a smaller edge (like knife), is strong and effective and doesn’t wear down. Sure, the edge can get dull from using it, but it’s not going to wear down or break like plastic.
Not so fast you say. There are plenty of sailors that say wood or plastic is better. But why you ask? Well, here it is. Plastic is better because it isn’t as sharp and won’t damage the bottom of your boat. The plastic is strong enough to remove the barnacles from the bottom, but it isn’t going to dig into the boat and scrape off your nice bottom paint job that just cost you thousands of dollars. Having to replace the plastic scraping tool from time to time is much more cost effective than having to repair the bottom of the boat. This answer may also be influenced by the type of boat you have.
We didn’t find conclusive evidence on one method or the other. One thing we did learn is that if you keep up with your boat cleaning, you may only need a cloth or a 3m pad for most of the boat.
If you are a seasoned sailor, with experience in this matter, we want your opinion. Please comment at the end of this post. Tell us which method works best and why. Also tell us about your boat, where it is anchored or docked (or roaming) and how often. Any or all of the above comments are more than welcome. Let the debate begin!
Barnacle babies float in the water until they find something to cling to – like the bottom of your boat. They like water that is moving. They mostly live in more shallow water, though some species can live in water up to 2000 feet deep.
Barnacles are crustaceans; cousins to crabs, shrimp and lobsters. They latch on to boats while they are in the water. Their feather like legs move with the current and act like little filters. As water passes over them, they filter the food and nutrients out of the water. Barnacles can reproduce up to six times each year. Babies float until they latch on to something solid. Barnacles can live up to ten years and can grow up to ½ inch. No wonder boats require constant scraping to keep them free of barnacles.
Other tools like brushes, drywall knives, putty knives and pretty much any type of scraping tool can be used. Screwdrivers are used to scrape around recesses and water inlets and outlets. Some sailboat owners use power washers both in and out of the water. A cloth or 3M pad may also be used on areas where barnacles have not yet attached themselves.
Other equipment in addition to scraping tools needed to remove barnacles in the water may include a good snorkel mask, snorkel and flippers. If you have scuba gear, you will have an advantage to a snorkel and a mask as you can stay under water longer. Flippers are highly recommended and will help to propel you to the deeper parts of the boat and keep you in place when scraping. Some boat owners will wear a bathing cap while scraping to keep particles out of your hair and ears. Next, a rope can be helpful to hold onto while scraping. Make sure to remove the rope when you are finished so that it doesn’t get tangled in the prop. Finally, suction cups are available which attach to the bottom of the boat and work as a hand hold to keep you in place while cleaning.
Costs for scraping barnacles from your boat in the water will vary greatly by location, size and type of your sailboat. I checked a few areas and listed them below.
One diver in Central California charges; Monohulls; $3.25 per ft, Catamarans $3.75 per ft; Trimarans; $4.00 per ft. In Jacksonville, Fl, we are seeing from $2.75 to $4 per ft. In Tampa, Fl $2.50 per ft to $5.50 per ft depending on the condition of the boat. We noticed that some divers charges a flat fee from $75 per hour to $100 per hour in the US.
Many dive companies will charge less the more often you have the bottom cleaned and offer a regular maintenance schedule for those keeping your boat in a marina. Check with your local marina for prices.
How often do you need to clean the barnacles off the bottom of your boat all depends on your boat, how often it is in the water and where it is located. As we mentioned earlier, barnacles reproduce up to six times each year. That’s a lot of barnacles floating about ready to attach themselves to your boat. If you keep your boat in a marina, the marina staff will have a general idea of how often this can be done. You or they can dive in and check the bottom to visually inspect it for barnacle growth and some dive companies offer a service to provide you with video footage. Certain environmental factors based on location like nutrients in the water will affect how often you should clean the bottom of the boat. In Florida, a sailboat that is in a marina in Pompano will have different barnacle growth than one in Palm Beach.
The More You Scrape – the More Efficient You Will Sail (or motor)
Remember, the more often you scrape, the easier it will be to maintain and keep the barnacles off, and the less damage there will be to the bottom of your boat, which could mean fewer haul outs and bottom paintings. Also, the more often you clean barnacles off your sailboat, the less drag and the faster you will sail and less fuel you will burn when motoring.
While researching in the water bottom cleaning, I learned a lot about how different it is to clean the boat bottom out of the water. I’ll be doing another blog post on out of water bottom cleaning, treatments and coatings, costs and how often you need a haul out for maintenance. If you are interested, you should subscribe so that you don’t miss it.