Frequently Asked Questions
 

How do you rate levels of growth?

• None: No visible marine growth or fouling on the hull. The hull appears clean, and the antifouling paint effectively prevents any attachment of marine organisms.

• Minimal: Some traces of marine growth, such as light slime or a few isolated instances of algae, but overall, the hull remains relatively clean. Antifouling paint still provides good protection, but monitoring the hull condition is recommended.

• Moderate: The hull has a noticeable amount of marine growth, including slime, algae, scattered barnacles, or other hard-fouling organisms. The antifouling paint may be losing effectiveness, and maintenance or cleaning should be scheduled soon to prevent further fouling.

• Heavy: The hull is covered in significant marine growth, including dense slime, algae, barnacles, or other hard-fouling organisms. The antifouling paint is likely failing, and immediate cleaning and maintenance are necessary to restore hull performance and prevent long-term damage.

• Severe: The hull is heavily fouled, with large colonies of hard fouling organisms such as barnacles, mussels, or tube worms, as well as pervasive slime and algae. The antifouling paint does not provide any meaningful protection. Urgent cleaning, maintenance, and possibly repainting are required.

​

How do you rate paint condition?

Note: When two terms are used, for instance, Good and Fair, it indicates there is a spectrum to the quality of paint. The waterline will always suffer the fastest as it has the warmest water temperatures and most sunlight, therefore, is subject to the most tenacious growth, which typically requires more force to remove, thereby wearing that paint first. Other high-growth, high-wear areas are the edges and underside of the keel, rudder, and any prop aperture surfaces.

• Excellent: The bottom paint provides optimal coverage and antifouling protection. The paint is evenly distributed across the hull, with no signs of flaking or peeling. The antifouling properties are still highly effective, preventing fouling organisms from attaching to the hull. An extended period can be expected before the need for repainting or additional maintenance.

• Good: The bottom paint still provides adequate coverage and antifouling properties but may show minor signs of wear, such as slight thinning or small patches where fouling organisms have attached. Monitoring the paint's condition and planning for maintenance in the near future is advisable to ensure continued protection.

• Fair: The bottom paint shows significant signs of wear or deterioration, with larger areas of thinning, peeling, or fouling organisms adhering to the hull. While the paint may still provide some antifouling protection, scheduling a repainting or maintenance service soon is recommended to prevent further decline in performance.

• Poor: The bottom paint provides minimal to no antifouling protection, with large areas of the hull exposed and significant fouling organisms present. The paint is likely flaking, peeling, or severely thinned out. Prioritizing repainting or thorough maintenance as soon as possible is essential to restore performance and prevent long-term damage.

• Missing: The paint is completely absent from areas of the hull, leaving either barrier coat, gel coat, or fiberglass exposed. You can expect significant hard growth to occur rapidly in these areas. These areas will be shaved using a metal scraper instead of scrubbing to prevent damage to the hull. Painting is well past due.
   

How does billing work? Within the month you choose for service,  you'll be charged your service fee, which is usually your boat length multiplied by the current rate. This will automatically reoccur on the schedule you've chosen. Note that the billing date may not align with the date of service. For instance, if you subscribed on the 1st you will be billed your service fee on the 1st of each service month, but your boat may be cleaned on any date between the 1st and 10th. Any billing for variables or anodes will come through once the service is complete. 
 
Are anodes extra? Anodes are extra; however, you're welcome to provide your own if you wish. I charge roughly the same price for anodes as you would at a local chandlery, plus tax. See above for anode installation prices.
​​​

Can you provide an estimate before beginning work? If your boat is in my service area, I'm happy to stop by your boat for a look, after which I can present you with some options. 
​
What do you use to clean the bottom? I use a variety of tools, from soft cloths to steel scrapers, to match the variety of growth types I encounter with each vessel. Regardless of the growth, I use the minimum effective abrasion to protect the paint while removing the growth. If I cannot achieve a spotless finish without removing paint, I will let you know it's time to start planning your next haul-out.
​
Will my paint look perfectly clean afterward? My goal is to remove growth from the surface of the paint without removing paint. The final look of your hull after a cleaning depends on the level of biocidal properties remaining in your paint. If your paint's protective properties aren't doing their job,  you likely see some stubborn algae sticking around even after cleaning. This algae finds cozy spots in the paint's tiny nooks and crannies. Don't worry, though – it's harmless! To get rid of it completely would require deep scouring and removal of paint, which I avoid. This way, your vessel will perform at its best, and your paint will last longer without additional costs or damage to your gel coat or fiberglass.

​

How high up do you clean? As much as I would like to leave your entire vessel spotless and clean, I can only clean as high as the top of the antifouling paint line. To avoid damaging gelcoat or the hull, I will do my best to avoid scrubbing unpainted surfaces. This includes areas where the paint has worn through, or where the top of the antifouling paint is below the surface of the water. In the latter case, the vessel should be lightened or the waterline raised at the next haul-out.

Do you offer one-time services? Yes! While regular service is the best way to maintain vessel performance, protect your running gear, and save on costs, I am happy to provide a one-time cleaning, especially if you're preparing to depart on a voyage. 
​
Do you offer a referral program? I do! For each person you refer who signs up for ongoing service, you'll receive a free cleaning (plus anodes)! And for the friend you referred, they receive half off their inaugural cleaning. The best part? There's no limit on how many referrals you can make. Imagine receiving a year or more of free cleanings!
​​
I'd like a cleaning before an upcoming race. Can you help? Yes! If the race falls within the regular cleaning window, typically within the first ten days of the month, I'll align your cleaning day as close to the race day as possible, and there is no extra charge. If the needed cleaning is outside that window, there will be an additional $50 fee. Either way, if your boat is in my service area and I'm not otherwise booked, just let me know your needs and I'll be there! 
​
I dropped something in the water. Can you retrieve it? I'm more than happy to! If the retrieval is needed off-schedule, it must be booked as a one-time service. If you are a regular client and I can retrieve the item during your regular service, there is no additional charge, only the time the retrieval might add to the cleaning time.
​
I have been able to retrieve every item except in one case where the owner dug up the bottom with a rake in an attempt to retrieve a phone, and despite searching for 40 minutes, I was unable to locate it. From this experience, I can not recommend you do anything to disturb the bottom or location of the item before I arrive.
​
I cannot guarantee that the item will be retrieved successfully or without damage. If I am unable to retrieve the item in the first twenty minutes, I will continue searching for another twenty minutes at no additional charge. Please see the Terms of Service for more details, and order your item recovery here.