8.6.2 Bottom hull

Antifouling treatment
If scales builds up on the hull, this causes a remarkable speed reduction and with time may damage the “gel coat”. When you choose an antifouling paint for your yacht, it is important that you find the proper product, suited for your yacht and for the waters in which you are going to navigate.

Ask CUSTOM LINE After Sales & Service Department for advice.

Check/restoration
The yacht cleaning and checks have to be carried with yacht at dry shore or with the help of a diver. Have the restoring only with yacht at dry shore.

WARNING

When cleaning or checking, in the water, engines and generators start up must be inhibited.

CAUTION

Some bottom hull areas (fastening area of thruster shaft support base, submerged drainage areas, around the thrusters and shaft exits, etc.) where machining can be carried out after hull pressing; in this areas fillers can be used which may produce local faults, like bubbles or small cracklings.
These little faults do not impair the hull mechanical strength at all. To repair them just sandpaper the area, remove the bubbles, and apply fillings suitable for the bottom hull.

• Have the bottom hull accurately cleaned, as well as the rudders and trim tabs with brushes (water) or a jet-cleaner (dry) to remove seaweed and scales.
  Let check the paint situation of the bottom hull. If necessary, have 2 coats of suitable antifouling paint applied by specialized personnel.

Preparation of the surface of an already treated yacht
Carefully check the old anti-fouling paint to see if it is still good or if it needs a new layer. Verify that the new product is compatible with the old one.
Ask CUSTOM LINE After Sales & Service Department for advice.
If the old anti-fouling is crusty, thick and tends to scale off, then remove it and start the treatment as for a new yacht.

CAUTION

Antifouling is poisonous and should never be burnt, use only authorized disposal procedures and in case of doubts contact the authorities in charge. The sandblasting operations and removal of antifouling must be carried out with suitable clothes and protections.

WARNING

During the application of antifouling, make sure that following parts of the bottom hull are not painted:

• Depth sounder transducer.
• Log speed sensor paddle wheel.
• Sacrificial anodes.
• Shafts and propellers.
• Porous copper plates.