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Who Needs Bottom Paint?

You won’t blow your budget if you use the East African method of bottom cleaning. Although, according to these fishermen in Zanzibar, you do have to perform this ritual four times a year.

© Craig Anderson

Seems like every time we’re around a boatyard we hear boat owners grousing about the exorbitant cost of bottom paint. But as world traveler Craig Anderson points out, if you hate being beholden to modern antifouling systems, you could always employ the age-old method used by East African fishermen to clean their dhows. Simply careen your boat on a high tide, light a fire of palm thatch under it, and burn off whatever nasty growth has been slowing you down. Easy, effective, green and free.

"The fishermen believe the algae is a host to worms, which will truly create havoc once they are established in the mahogany sides of their sailing vessels. They also rub ground-up animal bones mixed with oil into the hull. . . The average life on one of these sailboats is 11-15 years, after which the wood is recycled into furniture."

(Editor’s note: Ahh. . . Please be advised that while this method apeears to work exceedingly well on inch-thick, hand-hewn hardwood hulls, we really can’t recommend it — especially on fiberglass!) Look for more on these East African watermen in an upcoming edition of Latitude 38 magazine. 

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