Powerboat & Rib – happy hull article

Powerboat & Rib have just launched their latest magazine issue and have featured Happy Hull in it. Powerboat & Rib are one of the leading authorities in all things boaty and we are privileged to have graced the pages of such a well respected publication. 

You can buy a physical or digital version here – they are always a cracking read – but especially interested this month! 

Happy Hull. The eco-docking option.

The subject of anti-foul has been a bone of contention for many years. Synthetic solutions invariably have to be toxic to be effective and the traditional application of copper to a vessel’s underside is known to be harmful to the environment. As for sonic devices, these are yet to be clearly understood in terms of their true impact on wildlife and the environment. 

But the good news is, there is now another alternative being brought to market, which though similar in thinking to the principles of a floating, drive on/drive off dock, is actually different again. Indeed, what the UK company, Happy Hull, are proposing is a clever ‘mechanical’ system that wraps itself around a hull’s wetted surface area. This non-invasive mooring system pushes against the hull so effectively and thoroughly, that it has the effect of starving the barnacles and other marine organisms of the oxygen they need to proliferate. 

Whilst the basic premise of the product’s ‘patent pending’ custom design is relatively simple, i.e., comprehensively surround the boat’s hull to prevent oxygenated water from allowing marine growth from occurring on the hull’s surface. The tricky part is achieving this while ensuring user friendly attributes, minimal maintenance and a system strong enough to withstand the corrosive effects of seawater and the outdoor environment. But having now fully sea-trialled and tested the Happy Hull, its makers state they are confident they’ve successfully achieved all their aims. 

An additional benefit of the product is that it acts as a mooring aid, guiding the boat into its dock in a calm, measured fashion even in strong cross winds. Entering down a channel of water created by the Happy Hull’s all-important, wrap-around cover component, once at rest, the rear of the cover is lifted, thereby effectively sealing the boat off from seawater. The water is then drained from the cover and the boat becomes effectively, ‘drydocked’. The whole operation apparently only takes a few minutes. 

To compliment the wrap-around dry dock, Happy Hull have also developed a standalone auto-pump system that drains the docking system’s covers of any sea or rain water which may have collected. Both products employ heavy-duty, high-quality materials that are resistant to both UV light and damaging chemicals. All components are fully recyclable too and come with an expected lifespan of at least 20 years. 

‘Responsible boating’, is very much the driving force behind Happy Hull’s product initiatives. This is underscored by a desire to help boat owners not only reduce their maintenance costs, but also their fuel costs too. After all, a clean hull reduces drag and increases a boat’s overall performance. Most importantly, the Happy Hull system helps to alleviate the need for traditional anti-fouling products that pollute our precious waters.

Happy hull produce covers ranging from jet skis to 40ft+ boats. Prices start at £1875.00 plus VAT. For further information see. www.happyhull.co.uk