Which antifouling product do I need?
Self-polishing
copolymer (SPC)
Applying an antifouling paint will prevent the
The paint film
attachment of fouling organisms, such as barnacles, ‘polishes’ constantly,
weeds and slime, to the hull of your boat.
releasing biocide
Conventional antifoulings work by releasing biocide
– even when the
from the paint surface into the microscopic layer of
boat is stationary –
leaving virtually no
water next to the hull, which discourages any fouling
leached layer.
from settling on the surface. Look out for products
containing non-persistent biocides, those with
controlled biocide release rates and/or those with a
lower solvent content: all are aimed at minimising
any potential environmental affects.
When choosing an antifouling you need to consider
your boating style and the fouling challenges in your
area. Different water qualities and temperatures Polishing
produce different types and breeds of fouling; your
Biocide is released
local boat yard is a good place to go for advice on this.
as the paint film
‘polishes’ due to
Polishing (or “eroding”) antifoulings release the movement
biocide from their surface as it ‘polishes away’ whilst
of the boat – the
your boat is moving. The polishing action dissolves
leached layer will
grow in stationary
the surface film, smoothing its profile and revealing
conditions.
a fresh layer of active biocide. Premium polishing
antifoulings can reduce your maintenance frequency
if they offer multi-seasonal performance. Polishing
antifoulings are not recommended for use on high
speed craft, as the coating is likely to deplete too
quickly, causing premature failing, leading to fouling.
Also available with multi-seasonal protection, self-
polishing copolymer (SPC) antifoulings offer
Hard
Biocide is released
an advantage over polishing products as their film
from the paint film,
dissolves constantly, even when the boat is stationery.
which remains intact
Polishing occurs due to a controlled chemical reaction – the leached layer
when the paint film is immersed in sea water. This
grows continuously.
means there’s no risk of a leached or inactive layer at
the surface, due to extended mooring intervals. With
no paint build up to remove at the end of the season
and continuous polishing smoothing the surface
profile, both polishing and self-polishing antifoulings
can reduce maintenance requirements and improve
fuel efficiency, as a smoother hull means less friction
and, therefore, reduced drag.
Hard antifoulings are especially suited to fast
craft, or craft stored on dry moorings, as they are
particularly resistant to abrasion. Unlike eroding
products, hard antifoulings work by leaching biocide
42 YACHTWORLD.COM MARCH 2009
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