1. The Hull What hull material types will the system work on? The system is effective on all GRP (Glass Reinforced Plastic), STEEL and ALUMINIUM hulls up to thickness of 70mm. Unfortunately the system is not effective on wooden hulls, as it requires a solid substrate without joins etc. to resonate the sound throughout the hull. The wood would also absorb the sound waves preventing effective resonance. Do I still need an antifoul paint? The Ultra system does not rely on any other products to destroy bacteria and algae cells that exist in the water that want to attach to the hull causing weed and barnacle growth. We suggest the system is used in conjunction with antifouling paint, old or new, depending on its condition as the system will not prevent the hull from natural staining nor enhance the boat s appearance. Most boats are already antifouled, we do not ask people to remove it as it is really not necessary. It is generally not recommended within the marine industry to leave a bare hull in the water for long periods. For example, the gel-coat of glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) hulls may look smooth to the naked eye but has microscopic imperfections which allow particles to penetrate and remain even after a high pressure wash. A painted hull closes these imperfections in the gel-coat and although an old paint becomes inactive against fouling, it will continue to naturally wear on the surface and when used in conjunction with our Ultrasonic Antifouling system, it is the more effective combination and one that makes a significant difference to fouling on your hull. After all, you generally want to have a hull that is clear from growth and performs efficiently throughout the season and without the need to spend weeks every year, rubbing it down and repainting out of necessity
and still losing performance through growth early on in the season. Re-painting therefore can possibly be reduced to once every 3 4 years. Will the system protect stern drive units? As you are aware, stern drives are very difficult to keep clean. However our system will help to keep them clear from growth when the transducers are correctly positioned in the hull. All acoustically isolated fittings will only benefit from the sound waves which are emitted through the water and in close proximity to the transducer face. This is why positioning is so important. We would be happy to discuss the nature of your specific application, contact us if you have any doubts. I have a sandwich / foam cored constructed hull. Will the system be effective? Yes. The system does work on double skin GRP or cored hulls, for these hulls you would just need to remove a small section of the inner skin (liner) or core to accommodate the transducer allowing it to make contact with the outer skin of the hull. For cored hulls, the area will need to be filled and sealed solidly with laminate and epoxy resins before mounting the transducer. 2. Installation If I buy a larger boat can I transfer the system to my new boat? Yes you can transfer the system quite easily. The transducer mounting rings will be well fixed to the hull and not easy to remove, but new rings are readily available from us and you can simply fit new rings to your new boat and transfer the rest of the system. Transducer cables are also available. Remember that for a larger boat of over 10 meters you will need additional transducers. The Ultra 10 system can be upgraded to an Ultra 20 and new systems can be purchased if you require a
configuration of more than two transducers. Please contact us to discuss your requirements for your new boat. Can the system be installed while the boat is in the water? Yes. Transducers are fitted on the inside of the hull. If your boat is already fouled, the system will start to destroy the algae and the growth will die. Moving the boat through the water will help to wash off the dead growth and although the barnacles will also be destroyed, their shell will not be removed so easily. Therefore for best results, we recommend the hull is scrubbed and cleaned off. Are the transducers fitted through the hull or on the inside? Transducers are fitted to the inside of the hull so no thru-hull drilling is required. The mounting ring is bonded to the prepared area to allow the transducer to make contact with the hull. See our installation manual, for further information. Where is the best position to place the transducer? Depending on the number of transducers to be fitted, one transducer should be positioned in the close proximity of the propeller and shaft to help protect these isolated parts. Additional transducers are then fitted going forward depending of the boats length. Transducers should be fitted onto a solid part of the hull and away from any hull structures, stringers and bulkheads to avoid areas that may have built up layers containing small air pockets or joins. They should also be approximately 8 to 10 inches (200 250mm) off the center line. For stern drive units on power boats,
transducers should also be approximately 4-6 inches (100 150mm) forward of the transom. These measurements are a guide but the surrounding structures in your particular boat will determine the final position. How long does the installation take? The total time for making the installation will depend on the boat size and type and which system you buy. The installation simply requires the fitting of one or more transducer mounting rings to the inside of the hull by means of epoxy resin and a control box screwed to an adjacent bulkhead. In real terms this should take no longer than 3 4 hours for the Ultra 10 system and up to 6 hours for the Ultra 20 system depending on the boats layout and cable run. We do recommend once the transducer rings have been fitted you leave them to cure for approximately 24 hours until completely dry for best bonding effect. Can I install the system myself? The system is simple to install and full instructions are given. If you have any doubts about your ability to carry out the installation contact us and we can advise you. 3. Power Requirements Does the system need to be switched on all the time? It is preferable to have the unit in operation 24 hours a day, however we would advise that operating during daylight hours is essential to maintain a growth free hull, so a timer could be fitted if required allowing a maximum down time of 9 hours during the night.
Does the system work best when powered from a marina shore power supply (AC mains)? The ultrasonic Antifouling system is totally effective however it is powered. They use very little power and operate in exactly the same way on AC and DC power. The Ultra DC system operates automatically on the vessels 12 or 24v DC system and the DUAL Voltage Ultra system works on both 12/24v DC and 110/230v (50/60Hz). Does the Dual voltage option switch between the AC and DC supplies automatically? Yes. The control unit switches between AC and DC supplies automatically so there is no need to manually switch. The priority voltage is AC when available, simply reconnect your shore power and the system disconnects from the battery. What is the power consumption of the Ultra system? Our Ultra systems are low powered thanks to new advanced digital technology. The Ultra 10 system draws only 0.7A maximum @ 12v and the Ultra 20 system only 1.1A @ 12v. View full technical information. 4. Maintenance Does the system require any maintenance? There is no actual maintenance required for the operational life of the system. It would be prudent to make periodic checks on cables and connectors to make sure that no chafing or corrosion has taken place. It is also recommended to check the transducer for tightness from time to time.
5. Other Points Will it keep my boat clean? It will prevent your hull clear from growth and barnacles. We suggest to people that they antifoul their boat every three or four years because our system will not keep the hull from staining and it will not enhance the boat s appearance or not protect the hull from water ingress / corrosion in the case of metallic hulls. This reduces the need to refresh the hull with toxic paint every year, reducing the pollutants by at least 70% and same percentage for your annual costs. You can expect to find a slight curtain of growth around the waterline because this part of the hull is continuously exposed to air and the system only works on the hull area that is submerged in water. As a characteristic of the system, this growth is usually soft and easily removed with a deck brush. I understand there has been an analogue version available in the past, but this is digital. Why is digital better than analogue? There has been an analogue version of this process in the past but it is very different to the new Ultrasonic Antifouling system that we have introduced. The Ultrasonic Antifouling system, we provide uses the very latest digital technology which has a multitude of benefits. The main differences are: Analogue uses up to 40% more power than digital and when power is at such a premium in the boating world, this is a big issue. A digital system can use many more frequencies together, which means it can destroy more strains of algae. Algae develop in slightly different ways, so subjecting them to a greater range of frequencies is much more effective.
A digital signal produces a much clearer ultrasonic sound wave and has a much greater scale of frequency possibilities. Is the system harmful to humans, pets, fish or other marine mammals? The low powered sound waves are not harmful and remain very localized to the boat in the water. Fish are seen swimming under boats with the system installed. We do not receive any reports from customers to say otherwise. Does the Ultrasonic system interfere with other electronics onboard? The ultrasound should not interfere with other electronics onboard. The frequency range used on our system does not conflict with depth sounders which commonly use 200 khz. Will the system have any effect on the anodes? The Ultrasonic Antifouling System produces only sound waves, not electrical current so there is no possibility of increased anode wear rate. What effect will the UItrasonic Antifouling system have on my fuel consumption? A growth free hull will have a dramatic effect on the speed and smoothness through the water and will improve fuel consumption considerably. Consumption usually increases dramatically during the season as weed and algae accumulate on conventionally anti fouled surfaces. Speed can also be affected. This is prevented by your Ultrasonic antifouling system therefore you should save considerable sums on fuel alone and your boat speed should be maintained.
Does the system make a noise? You may hear a faint clicking sound at the transducer depending on your hearing ability. The majority of the low level sound is inaudible to humans but with age we do often lose the ability to hear some of the lower frequency range the system operates within. How quickly will I see an effect after installation? This will depend on a number of factors. If the boat is in the water and heavily polluted when the system is installed the algae and barnacles will begin to die off after only a few days. They will only be shrugged off by passage through the water. If the boat is regularly used then the hull should clean itself in a matter of a few weeks. Ideally though, you should start from a freshly prepared and clean hull for best results. What is the life expectancy of the system? The system is designed to withstand the marine environment. The Ultra system is designed, developed and assembled using high graded components and professional PCB design and build techniques at our manufacturing facility in Belgium. PCB coatings, waterproof cables, connectors and transducers add to the longevity of the system. The Ultra system will give many years of effective protection against fouling and we confidently and fully guarantee the system for three years from the date of purchase.