As a boat owner, it doesn’t matter whether you are new or experienced, you will become very familiar with how weeds, barnacles, algae, and other organisms coat the hull of your boat. No one tells new boat owners about the damage that this does to a boat’s performance, fuel efficiency, and lifespan. The good news is that antifouling paint will help with this problem and understanding how will help you save time, money, and frustration.
What Does Antifouling Paint Do?
Antifouling paint is specifically designed to slow and reduce the growth of marine organisms on the underwater part of the boat hull. Ignoring this problem will result in your boat hull growing one or more of the following: algae, barnacles, mussels, and weeds. These will cause an increase in fuel consumption due to the increased drag they added to the hull. Additionally, over time, these organisms will negatively affect the structural integrity of the hull. A well-chosen antifouling system for your boat hull will give you longer periods of time between haul-outs and will keep your boat performing the way it is intended.
Here, it is important to know two broad categories. The hard antifouling creates a firmer, tough layer that can be lightly cleaned or scrubbed without removal of the coating, which is why it is favored by boat users whose boats are frequently used or switched from fresh to salt water and vice versa. Self-polishing (or ablative) antifouling gradually wears away as the boat is in the water and continually exposes a fresh layer of biocide beneath. This works best for boats that are kept in a marina berth for a long time as during that time the coating will continue to work.
How To Choose The Right Type For Your Boat
What will suit your boat best depends on a number of things including how frequent you use the boat, where your boat is moored and the material that is used for the hull of your boat. For example, Aluminium hulls, require antifouling that has been specifically formulated in order to prevent a chemical reaction with the metal. Therefore, always check compatibility first before making purchase. Boats that are kept in brackish or slow-moving water will, in general, get a heavier build up of foul than those that are in fast-flowing tidal water. Thus, the local conditions are just as important as the boat itself.
Recommendations based on general advice are not reliable because of the huge variation in fouling pressure in small stretches of water. The staff of the local boat centre and the other boat users in your marina will know which products are best for your local stretch of water.
Application Tips
A layer of paint can go on a lot better when prep work is done. Before applying the new coat, the bare hull must be re-cleaned, re-dried, and have old, flaking coats removed. Additionally, re-prime any bare spots. Depending on the antifouling product being used, a coating may require a minimum of two layers for proper coverage. Be sure to pay extra attention to the waterline and leading edges, and any location that is likely to get more worn, such as around the keel or rudder.
When the work is done also matters. Because of its importance, many boat owners antifoul their boat in the spring, just before their boat goes back into the water for its down season. This procedure allows the antifoul to be less effective, as the water it is exposed to begins to act on it – and especially with the types of antifoul that work by covering the bottom, so dragging the boat through the water at down-season is to be done a lot.
Maintenance Between Haul-Outs
A gently wipe or light brushing of the antifouling paint should be done by a diver or during a lift by the antifouling paint, as these paint systems work much better with less coats that are damaged. If an abrasive wash, brought on by the leaving the bottom of the boat unwashed for long periods, is created on top of the layers of antifouling paint, the paint systems will not be working as well with less layers that are already removed.
The simplicity of paying attention to the hull every time the boat is lifted, or inspected, will pay off. It is easier to deal with patches of fouling if they are caught early, compared to dealing with hulls that have been neglected for a whole season.
A Small Job, Big Payoff
Antifouling may not be the most exciting part of boat ownership, but it is one of the most cost-efficient ways to safeguard your investment. A hull that is kept clean will move through the water more easily, use less fuel, and sustain less damage over time. If you’re new to boat ownership, or simply reconsidering your current approach, it makes sense to start with a discussion with your local boat centre about the most appropriate antifouling system for your hull and mooring conditions.