Importance of using Antifouling Paints

Keeping your boat’s hull free of marine life and growth is important if you want it to perform at its peak and save you fuel cost as well. Applying one or more coats of good quality antifouling paint holds the key to keep marine growth at bay.

Applying antifouling paints on the bottom of the boat is a preventative maintenance work for every responsible boat owner. Keeping the boat’s hull clean makes it efficient, safe, and fast. A fouled bottom, on the other hand, cost more fuel as well as reduce the manoeuvrability and speed of the boat.

Opting to go the DIY route means selecting the right prep work and antifouling paint. Saving hundreds of dollars in doing the project is achieved when you know the best products and the right ways to use them.

List everything you need

The supplies you need if the purpose of applying antifouling paint is for the boat’s bottom are:

  • Gloves
  • 80-grit sanding discs
  • Appropriate solvents and thinner
  • Stirring sticks and paint buckets
  • Organic vapour dust mask
  • Your choice of antifouling paint
  • Solvent-resistant roller, paint tray, and roller frame
  • Tack cloths and rags
  • Foot covers
  • Masking tape
  • Air-driven or electric DA disc sander
  • Drop cloths for spills
  • Goggles
  • Painter’s suit with hood
  • 2” and 4” paintbrushes
  • Power drill-driven paint mixing tool

Prep ahead of the job

Choosing good weather conditions to do the job of applying antifouling paint is the best way of planning. If you don’t have a heated shed, doing the job when weather conditions are in the 50 degrees F to 85 degrees F is recommended. Paint manufacturers say that these are the perfect temperatures for applying antifouling paint.

Lubricating and disassembling are chores that need extra time when hauling for a bottom project. This means that rudder bearings must be inspected, seacocks must be lubricated, and worn transducers replaced. Bearings and shaft may have to be pulled and inspected as well.

Selecting the paint

The boat’s hull is prevented from being attached by marine organisms such as slime, zebra mussels, weeds, and barnacles with the application of antifouling paint.

Copolymer paints

Applying a reasonable coat thickness offers true-season and lasting protection. The application of additional coats allows new coating when the first coating is completely worn away. Containing zero solvents, this water-based product is eco-friendly with the added benefit of using only water to clean up.

 Copolymer ablative paints

Copolymer ablative paint is the perfect choice for boat owners that frequently use their boats. The benefits of using copolymer ablative paints include:

  • Like a bar of soap, the paint ablates with its constant and controlled release of biocides
  • Being exposed to air does not make the paint lose its antifouling ability
  • Its smaller copper content allows efficient use when subjected to controlled polishing

Hard modified epoxy paint

The high-copper hard content of modified epoxy paint is the best option for boat owners that keep their boats in the water in all seasons. The leaching biocide content of the paint prevents marine growth from attaching to the bottom of the boat.

Having the right knowledge and understanding of antifouling paints and using the proper processes can make the job of painting your boat’s bottom easy. Yet, the task is also time-consuming and stressful. Contact us at Spraytech Marine in Gold Coast to know about our professional painting services.