
	Antifouling your boat
	Useful Information on antifouling your boat taken from boat painting manuals supplied by Hempel Blakes paints, International Paints and Seago antifouling.

Antifoulings and bottom coats

Taken from the Hempel Paint Manual - "Fouling not only makes a boat look unsightly, it can also foul propellers and outdrives, block engine water inlets and outlets, slow down the boat speed, increase fuel costs and ultimately damage the hull substrate/surface.

Painting a boat's underwater area:

protects it's substrate/surface
avoids undue hull roughness. (roughness increases resistance through the water, causing lower speeds and consuming more fuel.)

Fouling varies widely depending on temperature, salinity and water quality. Differences in levels and types can be dramatic, even on boats moored in what seems to be the environment, as fouling conditions are affected by sunlight/shade, temperature and flow of water, pollution levels and water inflows.

Fouling grows faster in sunlight, so is first seen on the waterline and rudder. Water surface dirt and pollution can adversely affect the antifouling."

How Antifouling works

Antifouling paints release bioactive ingredients. The bioactive materials used today are mainly cuprous oxide and booster organic biocides. They're water-soluble and, when released, lethal to fouling organisms.

Different types of antifouling paint release biocides/toxicants in different ways. There are three main types:

Self polishing / Erodible
Hard
Traditional / Soft

Self Polishing / erodible antifoulings - a resin of active ingredients (biocides) repels / discourages fouling. Once in the water, the resin breaks down in a controlled way, continually exposing fresh biocide layers. this gives constant performance throughout the season, and reduces build-ip of old antifouling.

In Hard antifoulings, the coat's high levels of insoluble resin make it hard and stop erosion. the resin's packed with active ingredients, and the particles are so close that as one desolves the next is exposed. Hardness and durability makes these antifoulings ideal for fast power boats, mud-berthed vessels and racing yachts (burnishing the antifouling with wet abrasive paper before launch gives a smooth finish).

In traditional / soft antifoulings, a simple resin (gum rosin or rosin derivatives) disperses active ingredients with the binder. Water soluble, it progressively dissolves / erodes, giving low cost protection.

What antifouling should I use?

Type of Boat	Type of antifouling	Benefits

Cruising motor and sailing boats (max 25 knots)	Self polishing / erodile	Controlled release of active substances throughout the season Works gradually throughout the season Easy maintenance with minimum preperation time Launch and re-launch without re-painting

Fast going motor & sailing boats, (suitable for boats on dry berths during winter time) Aluminium boats & propellors	Hard	Solid & durable through whole season More resistant to polishing and scratching Needs to be abraded after the season Special products for aluminium made boats

Racing motor boats & regata sailing boats	Hard	For competition & regatas: increases speed, reduces fuel consumption extends motor life, ensures lower coating thickness.