Hull dive cleaning: in-season performance, without harming the paint
A fouled hull is a silent tax: every layer of fouling costs speed, burns more fuel for the same speed and tires the engine. The answer isn't a haul-out - it's an in-season dive clean. But there's a knack to it: the wrong (stiff) brush strips the antifouling and shortens its life. At Care the cleaning is done with a pad suited to the paint type, photographed before and after, and the anodes are checked on the same dive.
Scope
Dive cleaning between haul-outs
Clearing weed and barnacle build-up with a pad matched to the paint
Propeller & shaft cleaning
Careful cleaning of the area that most affects performance
Anode check
Anode condition on the same dive - a report and a replacement recommendation if it has wasted away
Seacocks & strainers
Checking the raw-water inlets for blockage
Photographed condition
Before/after shots; the paint condition is logged for tracking
Seasonal plan
A cleaning-frequency recommendation to suit your use and your bay
How it works
Planning
The boat's location and paint type are established; the right pad and method are chosen.
Dive & clean
The hull, propeller and shaft are cleaned; the anodes and seacocks are checked.
Report
Before/after photos, anode condition and the recommendation for the next clean are logged to your file.
FAQ
How often is a dive clean needed?+
It depends on use, the bay and the paint type; in the warm months fouling speeds up. As a rule it's a few interim cleans through the season - the exact frequency is recommended from the build-up we find on the first dive.
Will a dive clean harm the paint?+
Not with the right technique: a soft pad works gently on ablative paint, and hard paint is easier to work. The wrong, stiff brush strips the paint - which is why the method is chosen to suit the paint type and the work is done on record.
Is a dive clean enough instead of a haul-out?+
For in-season performance, yes; but repainting, osmosis and underwater repairs are haul-out jobs. A dive clean keeps the period between haul-outs running efficiently.
Do you check the anodes too?+
Yes, on the same dive: a wasted anode is both a corrosion risk and an easily missed piece of maintenance. Its condition is reported with photos.
Is there a noticeable difference after cleaning?+
A clear one: on a fouled hull the speed loss and extra fuel are measurable. After the clean the boat 'lightens'; the before/after record stays in your file.
On this topic: guides & glossary
For those wondering about the terms: the guide and glossary entries below explain this service in depth.
Let us see your boat on site
Start with a free introductory check; both the quote and the decision in writing.
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