Guide
Hull cleaning schedule: summer vs winter
Frequency depends on bottom paint condition and where the boat sits. Below are the factors, and the signs that a hull is overdue.
The two factors that matter most
- Bottom paint condition: age, type and how much biocide is left.
- Where the boat sits: how much water moves past the hull, how much light reaches it, and the water temperature all change how fast growth builds.
- 6 Feet Under's schedule note: most of our boats are cleaned every two to four weeks (old-site FAQ, awaiting Jake's confirmation, A9).
Season
- Growth is fastest in the warm months and slows in winter.
- Our schedule (owner-stated): it depends on the boat, but most are cleaned every 2-3 weeks in summer and every 3-4 weeks in winter.
- Boats that sit unused grow faster than boats that run regularly.
Signs you waited too long
- Lower speed at the same RPM and higher fuel burn.
- Barnacles leave a hard base cemented to the hull; scraping too hard or at the wrong angle can gouge the paint or gelcoat under it.
- Clogged raw-water intakes, and a fouled or damaged prop that vibrates.
Sources
- TotalBoat: Bottom paint guide — https://www.totalboat.com/blogs/totalboat/which-bottom-paint-should-i-use
- Microorganisms (peer-reviewed): Development of antifouling strategies for marine applications — https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10305701/
- Schultz et al., Biofouling: Economic impact of biofouling on a naval surface ship (PubMed) — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21161774/
- Better Boat: How to remove barnacles from a boat hull — https://betterboat.com/blogs/news/how-to-remove-barnacles-from-boat
- Sea Tow: When a boat engine overheats — https://seatow.com/what-to-do-when-boat-engine-overheats/
- BoatUS Magazine: Troubleshooting boat vibrations — https://www.boatus.com/app/views/201810/troubleshooting-boat-vibrations.asp
Related service
Yacht & Boat Hull Cleaning — We provide full hull and boat bottom cleaning to remove barnacles, algae, and marine growth that slow your vessel and strain your engines.