Apparatus and method for protecting boats from fouling

Abstract

The invention is an ecological friendly apparatus and method for preventing the fouling of the submerged part of a boat hull by creating a pocket of still and dark water around the boat hull. The darkness prevents algae, seaweed, and other types of sea life, such as plankton, from growing and developing by depriving them of the light needed for their existence. The absence of algae, light, and current caused by the present invention eliminates the food necessary for barnacles and mussels to survive, so barnacles and mussels are also prevented from fouling the boat hull.

1 . An apparatus for protecting a partially submerged object from fouling comprising:
 one or more curtains;   wherein said one or more curtains is comprised of an upper edge and a lower edge;   wherein said one or more curtains are opaque;   wherein said one or more curtains are suspended from a surface of a water extending downward within said water in a substantially vertical position;   wherein said upper edge of said one or more curtains is substantially at said surface of said water;   wherein said upper edge of said one or more curtains are wrapped around a partially submerged object at said surface of said water such that a circumference of said partially submerged object is substantially surrounded by said one or more curtains; and   wherein said one or more curtains, when wrapped around said partially submerged object prevent a light from passing through to a submerged area of said object that is wrapped creating a substantially light free zone beneath said partially submerged object.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 1 , wherein said light free zone prevents growth of an algae within said light free zone and on a submerged portion of said partially submerged object. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 2 , wherein said one or more curtains restrict a flow of said water into and out of said light free zone such that growth of filtration feeding organisms is prevented. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a boat hull from fouling of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a floatation portion;   wherein said floatation portion is attached to said one or more curtains at said upper edge of said one or more curtains; and   wherein said floatation portion allows said upper edge of said one or more curtains to float on said surface of said water.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a boat hull from fouling of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a cord;   wherein said cord is attached to said one or more curtains at said upper edge of said one or more curtains; and   wherein said cord allows said one or more curtains to be drawn around said circumference of said partially submerged object such that said upper edge of said one or more curtains substantially conforms to an outline of said partially submerged object.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 3 , wherein said bottom edge of said one or more curtains is joined to itself to form a pocket enclosing said partially submerged object to substantially prevent said light from entering said light free zone. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more curtains are placed substantially in a U-shaped configuration to allow said partially submerged object to engage with said one or more curtains and be surrounded by said one or more curtains. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more curtains are attached directly to said partially submerged object. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 8 , wherein said partially submerged object is a hull of a boat;
 wherein said one or more curtains are removed from said hull and lifted out of said water when using said boat and lowered back onto said hull for protection when said boat is anchored.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 3 , wherein said one or more curtains are used as an anchoring device by said partially submerged object. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 3 , wherein said partially submerged object is selected from the group consisting of a boat hull, a buoy, and a stationary marine object. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a partially submerged object from fouling of  claim 3 , further comprising:
 one or more weights;   wherein said one or more weights are attached to said one or more curtains;   wherein said one or more curtains are prevented from floating by said one or more weights.   
     
     
         13 . An opaque curtain comprising:
 an opaque curtain;   wherein said opaque curtain is wrapped around a submerged object to prevent light from reaching an area beneath said submerged object and preventing growth of algae and filter feeding organisms on said submerged object.   
     
     
         14 . The opaque curtain of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 one or more running strips;   one or more cords;   wherein said one or more or more running strips have one or more holes;   wherein said one or more running strips are attached to said opaque curtain in a substantially vertical position;   wherein said one or more cords engage said one or more holes and allow said opaque curtain to be cinched around said submerged object.   
     
     
         15 . The opaque curtain of  claim 14 , wherein a foul deposited on an outside surface of said opaque curtain is removed from said opaque curtain when said opaque curtain is cleaned. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a boat hull from fouling, comprising:
 one or more floating blankets;   one or more weights;   one or more lifting devices;   wherein the said one or more floating blankets are held submerged in a water by said one or more weights below a mooring position of a hull of a boat to be protected;   wherein said one or more lifting devices overcome said one or more weights to allow said floating blanket to rise within a water and elevate towards a surface of said water and mould onto a bottom of said hull and one or more protuberances of said boat;   wherein said one or more floating blankets prevent fouling of said hull.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a boat hull from fouling of  claim 16 ,
 wherein said weights are a movable frame.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a boat hull from fouling of  claim 16 ,
 wherein said one or more lifting devices are connected to a compressed air source.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a boat hull from fouling of  claim 16 ,
 wherein there are two of said one or more floating blankets;   wherein said two floating blankets each have a floating portion and a non-floating portion;   wherein said two floating blankets adhere to a port side and a starboard side of said hull and adhere to two sides of said keel of said boat; and   wherein said two non-floating portions define a pocket of darkness around one or more protruding parts of said hull.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus for protecting a submerged part of a boat hull from fouling of  claim 16 , wherein lowering and raising of said one or more floating blankets is accomplished by a moving frame.