What is the history of anti fouling ?

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by frank smith, Jun 29, 2012.

  1. frank smith
    Joined: Oct 2009
    Posts: 980
    Likes: 14, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 185
    Location: usa

    frank smith Senior Member

    I was recently asked the what people did in the old day to keep stuff from growing on their boats. So my question is what did they do long time ago
    for anti fouling ?

    Frank
     
  2. Angélique
    Joined: Feb 2009
    Posts: 3,003
    Likes: 336, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1632
    Location: Belgium ⇄ The Netherlands

    Angélique aka Angel (only by name)

    Here's some anti fouling history . . . .
    See also Copper sheathing & Muntz metal.

    Cheers,
    Angel
     
  3. frank smith
    Joined: Oct 2009
    Posts: 980
    Likes: 14, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 185
    Location: usa

    frank smith Senior Member

    So before that boats must have been beached and scraped , then maybe cover with pine tar or the like . They must have been in a constant state of rebuild.
     
  4. bntii
    Joined: Jun 2006
    Posts: 731
    Likes: 97, Points: 28, Legacy Rep: 1324
    Location: MD

    bntii Senior Member

    Sheep's blood mixed with sulfur.
     
  5. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
    Posts: 3,324
    Likes: 148, Points: 63, Legacy Rep: 1819
    Location: Adriatic sea

    CDK retired engineer

    Later they used line seed oil mixed with poisons like antimony and cyanide. That worked very well, it even kept the other boats clean in a harbor.
     
  6. peter radclyffe
    Joined: Mar 2009
    Posts: 1,452
    Likes: 71, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 680
    Location: europe

    peter radclyffe Senior Member

    chilli peppers can be used mixed with ground up madonna c d,s and black tar varnish, nothing will go near it
     
  7. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
    Posts: 16,786
    Likes: 1,711, Points: 123, Legacy Rep: 2031
    Location: Milwaukee, WI

    gonzo Senior Member

    Ram's fat melted and painted on the bottoms. Also, tar.
     

  8. BATAAN
    Joined: Apr 2010
    Posts: 1,614
    Likes: 101, Points: 0, Legacy Rep: 1151
    Location: USA

    BATAAN Senior Member

    "Whitebottom" was lime and tallow and used in the eastern US. I believe this is what was traditional on Arabic Dhows too.
    UK fishing vessels were tarred on the bottom with pitch in the seams.
    A recurrent act there was "breaming" where flame was used to burn off marine growth and soften the tar and pitch, enabling a pitch mop to be run over the surface and smooth it up.
    And here's Wiki's reference on bottom treatments.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copper_sheathing
     
Loading...
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.