For boat owners
Replace toxic antifouling products with regular hull cleaning. Three things you should consider.
01
Make sure that your boat conforms to the specifications.
02
Find out when and how often you should clean the hull.
03
Contact us to find out if there is a drive-in boatwash system in your area.
The BIGWASH systems clean most motorboats and sailboats up to 16 meters (53 feet), with few exceptions. Choose your type of boat and find out if the hull of your boat can be cleaned.
Checklist for sailboats
Keel and rudder length
The length of the keel must not exceed 2.3 metres from the waterline to the bottom of the keel. The length of the keel itself must not exceed 1.6 metres (from the bottom of the hull to the bottom of the keel).
The same applies to the rudder; the length must not exceed 1.6 metres. If the rudder is longer than 1.6 metres, you must inform the operator and the brushes will stop before approaching the rudder. The machine cannot clean sailboats with double oars.
Keel width
The keel width must not exceed 45 cm at any point. This applies to the bead width, which is normally the widest part, but also to the width of the keel where the keel meets the hull. This means that older sailboats with a wide keel cannot be cleaned.
Pear types
The machine can only clean sailboats with a straight keel or pear/oval shapes that are not wider than 45 cm. The machine does not clean other tuber formations, such as wing keels or flat-keel tubers.
Checklist for motor boat
Outboard engines
Motor boats with an outboard engine have a hull that can be completely cleaned in the machine. The same applies to all types of motorboats where the propulsion/propeller protrudes in the stern, such as water jets, surface drives and foldable stern drives. A hand-held pressure washer can be used on the stern to remove dirt if it is accessible. The pre- and post-images below indicate which part of the hull the machine can reach and clean. As there are many hull types and individual differences, the results may vary.
Inboard engines
Motor boats with a centred shaft and propellers not wider than 30 cm in diameter have hulls that can be completely cleaned in the machine. If the propellers have a diameter of more than 30 cm, the hull can be cleaned up to the point where the shaft leaves the hull.
Boats with double shaft or podded propulsion have hulls that can be cleaned to the point where the shaft leaves the hull. The same applies to podded drive.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How effective is this method ?
To achieve the best results throughout the entire boating season, we recommend regular use, so that the growth in the water never becomes a real danger. If you do not manage to clean your boat regularly, it is not a disaster. Our systems can even remove thick dirt such as full-grown barnacles and other resistant dirt! Read more about the washing frequency under "How often should I clean the boat".
Frequency of cleaning
Find out when and how often you should clean the hull. In order to optimize the performance of the boat, it is advisable to clean the hull as soon as dirt is present. This is normally done every 4-12 weeks. There are a number of factors that affect the frequency of cleaning, such as geographical location, water temperature and salinity, but also usage patterns. Boats that are rarely used and are usually docked will cause more pollution than a boat that is used frequently. On the other hand, a higher speed will help to slightly reduce the growth of growth on the hull.
Most important factors influencing fouling
- Geographical position
- Regional differences
- Water temperature
- Salinity of the water
- Frequency and duration of boat use
- Boat speed
For best results, regular cleaning is therefore recommended. This prevents the formation of growth in the water.
How harmful are toxic antifouling paints?
In biocide-containing antifouling coatings, mainly copper compounds are used as active ingredients. To increase the effectiveness, these are often mixed and combined with other biocides. These antifouling biocides are not as harmful as TBT (tributyltin), which is banned today due to its high levels of degrading copper and zinc. Nevertheless, they are still highly effective and often difficult to break down substances that have undesirable effects on aquatic organisms.
CO2 Emissions from motorboats
| Means of transport | Per capita and km emission in kg |
|---|---|
| Pleasure craft* | 0.947 |
| Aircraft | 0.211 |
| Car | 0.142 |
| Rail (long-distance traffic) | 0.041 |
| Coach | 0.032 |
Possible solutions
- Upgrade: solar panels, hybrid and electric motors
- Prevention: Sailboats
- Optimization: You cannot drive CO2-neutral, but saving fuel is easy to implement
Most important measures
- Keep the fuselage clean
- Do not exceed the hull speed
- Drive at as constant a speed as possible
- Driving with a light load