Keeping the slipway clear

   Ballyholme sits at the end of the southern side of Belfast Lough in tidal waters. Our three slipways are E or NE facing.
Over the season fine algae weed grows on and in the concrete slipways and has to be cleared at regular intervals to prevent sailors going A over T. Our local council doesn't like us using chemicals that might polute but powerwashing is quite abrasive and we are starting to wear them away.
Any ideas of non-poluting chemicals that we could try? We have tried most things but are receptive to new ideas or techniques.

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English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Keeping the slipway clear Posted: 10 Nov 06 at 1:10pm
	Ballyholme sits at the end of the southern side of Belfast Lough in tidal waters. Our three slipways are E or NE facing. Over the season fine algae weed grows on and in the concrete slipways and has to be cleared at regular intervals to prevent sailors going A over T. Our local council doesn't like us using chemicals that might polute but powerwashing is quite abrasive and we are starting to wear them away. Any ideas of non-poluting chemicals that we could try? We have tried most things but are receptive to new ideas or techniques.
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

Major Iyeswater Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 24 Oct 06 Online Status: Offline Posts: 82	Post Options Post Reply Quote Major Iyeswater Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 10 Nov 06 at 1:39pm
	If you find an answer would you kindly pass it on to Datchett! – F’ing lethal there! Not just A over T!!!!!!!! Least you get chance to remove it when the tide goes out, no such luck at Datchett and I imagine those that drink the water (never a good idea - have you seen what fish do in it? ) in that area would protest at the use of chemicals? What about employing a Pole or Albanian to push a yard broom up and down all day I remember in Greece the beach employed a couple of Africans, one to sieve the fag butts out of the sand and another to water the sand on the approach to the bar so not as to burn poor Englishmen’s feet Edited by Major Iyeswater

catmandoo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 545	Post Options Post Reply Quote catmandoo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 06 at 10:25am
	Hydrogen Peroxide should do the job , environmentally friendly ,breaks down to hydrogen and oxygen - nothing nasty there . underwater reservoir slips - mj iyeswater has that sorted . Edited by catmandoo


timnoyce Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 05 Aug 04 Location: Hampshire Online Status: Offline Posts: 1991	Post Options Post Reply Quote timnoyce Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 12 Nov 06 at 4:49pm
	....just if you capsize you might come out with bleached blonde hair!
	BEARFOOT DESIGN Cherub 2648 - Comfortably Numb

Dave389 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 28 Dec 05 Location: Scotland Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Post Options Post Reply Quote Dave389 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 14 Nov 06 at 9:29pm
	Try good old sand! helps grip and scrubs the slip at the same time. pain in the B when it gets into the running gear mind

KennyR Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 09 Jun 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 52	Post Options Post Reply Quote KennyR Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Nov 06 at 12:28pm
	What about fixing a small amount of copper at regular intervals near the high water mark. Should start to release copper as the tide recedes to help remove the fouling. Not 100% sure if it would work and have a feeling that the quantities invloved would have to be small to stop being classed as source of water pollution. Certainly works on roofs and ships hulls etc Edited by KennyR

tornado435 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Posting king Joined: 05 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 196	Post Options Post Reply Quote tornado435 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Nov 06 at 3:07pm
	But if we go back to a different thread. Datchet deliberately don't clear the slipways. To do so would mean that they took responsibility and could then be sued if someone slipped. By advising people that it is slippery they avoid that issue. Problem with people reaching for claim forms and solicitors too quickly in this day and age.

English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 15 Nov 06 at 3:55pm
	Perhaps a set of steps would be better. And then oblige sailors to put those three-wheel arrangements (like they use for getting beer kegs into cellars) on their launch trolleys. Edited by English Dave
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

catmandoo Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 16 Mar 04 Online Status: Offline Posts: 545	Post Options Post Reply Quote catmandoo Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 9:44am
	so steps don't get slippy ?


English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 16 Nov 06 at 10:45am
	I'm all out of ideas. I'm trying to drag a 5 tonne Hurricane (still looking for the lead ballast) up a steep slope having successfull avoided all submerged obstacles (aka Laser trolleys). And bloody algae are laughing at me! If I'm going to be humiliated I'd prefer a slightly more advanced lifeform. (I've looked up uses for algae in Wikipedia and nowhere does it list "comedy alternative to banana skin").
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700