Center for Lakes and Reservoirs

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Biofouling and hull maintenance of recreational craft

Introduction

Biological fouling, also known as hull fouling, consists of plants and animals (mostly invertebrates and seaweeds)that grow attached to hard surfaces such as rocks, piers and/or the sides of your boat. Along with being unsightly these organisms can increase drag on hulls, foul intake pipes, etc. For this project we are gathering information on vessel maintenance and recent voyage histories to help us better understand the factors that contribute to biofouling on boats. Our project consists of two parts:

1. Boater Questionnaire
2. Visual Hull Surveys

biofouling undaria fouling

Boater Questionnaire

The Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and Portland State University are conducting a survey of boat owners regarding recreational and fishing boat movements and hull maintenance. We conduct marine ecology research, and for this project we are interested in biofouling organisms (marine animals and seaweed) that accumulate on the hulls of vessels. In particular, we would like to gather information on vessel maintenance and recent voyage histories to help us better understand the factors contributing to biofouling on boats.

We have prepared a few questions and would greatly appreciate your time in answering them. Your participation is voluntary and you may remain anonymous if you choose.The purpose of this questionnaire is for research only and there is no risk attached to your participation. We do not require your name or contact details, however, you may provide them if you wish to be entered into a prize drawing for a $100 Chevron gas card or a $200 gift certificate to West Marine. To be eligible you must return the questionnaire by April 20, 2009. For boaters in Alaska, the prize draw is for a $200 gift certificate to Tongass Trading Co. and questionnaires must be returned by April 30, 2009. Questionnaires returned beyond these dates will be included in the survey but can not be included in the prize draw. Any personal information you may choose to provide will be destroyed at the completion of the project.

We appreciate your time filling out this questionnaire to help us learn more about boat movements, hull maintenance and biofouling.

Click here for the online questionaire or click here for a pdf copy that can be printed out and faxed to 415-435-7128. You will need Adobe Reader to view this file. It can be downloaded for free here.

We'll be contacting the prize winners in early May. If you have any questions about the online questionnaire, please contact Tara Chestnut (chestnut@pdx.edu) or call 503-725-9076.

This questionnaire has been reviewed by the Portland State University Human Subjects Research Review Committee who can be contacted 1-877-480-4400 with any questions or concerns about this research.

Visual Hull Surveys

We will also be surveying vessel hulls at selected marinas in Central California and Ketchikan, Alaska using an underwater camera between April and September. We use an underwater camera on a pole to video the submerged portions of your boat. Divers may remove fouling animals and algae from small patches on your boat, using flexible plastic tools only which will not damage hull paint. Your participation in hull surveys is entirely voluntary and you may withdraw at any time. You may also opt to have us use the camera only (no divers). Your attendance at surveys is not required but if you wish you can use this as an opportunity to view the underside of your boat and ask any questions you may have.

If you would like to participate you may do so by filling out the online questionnaire and checking the appropriate box or by contacting Chela Zabin (zabinc@si.edu) or Chris Brown (browncw@si.edu) for California boaters, Gail Ashton (ashtong@si.edu) for Alaskan boaters, or call 415-435-7128.