Gear


Nautix Antifouling Performer PRICE: £49.95 (2.5lt) • £19.98/lt CONTACT: www.nautix.co.uk


POOLE HAMBLE (E) HAMBLE (W)


Nautix A3 Antifouling PRICE: £95 (2.5lt) • £38.00/lt CONTACT: www.nautix.co.uk


POOLE HAMBLE (E) HAMBLE (W)


Nautix’s Antifouling Performer proved to work better than the company’s A3 paint (right). Like the A3, it was especially effective on slime – there was very little slime build- up present at either location. There was some early-stage stubbly green weed growth present on the Hamble boards, but this shifted relatively easily with a brush. It can be applied in one coat if required, and is therefore necessarily a thick paint to apply.


Hempel Cruising Performer PRICE: £69.95 (2.5lt) • £27.98/lt CONTACT: www.hempel.co.uk


POOLE HAMBLE (E) HAMBLE (W)


Like Nautix Performer (described left), the A3 was very effective against brown slime with very little present, but was less effective against green weed growth, which had begun to take root and required a brush to remove. There was some slime present on the Poole boards, suggesting that the fast-flowing water in the Hamble kept the slime clear. The A3 was a thin paint to apply, and two coats are recommended for a season’s use.


Hempel Tiger Xtra PRICE: £99.95 (2.5lt) • £39.98/lt CONTACT: www.hempel.co.uk


POOLE HAMBLE (E) HAMBLE (W)


Hempel’s Cruising Performer hosted a thick layer of brown slime, especially close to the waterline. But deeper in the water it performed better, and the slime on the lower test rows shifted easily with a sponge. A brush was needed for the more tenacious slime at the waterline on the Hamble boards, but a sponge was sufficient in Poole. There was no green weed growth in either location. Two coats are required to attain the necessary film thickness.


Hempel’s Tiger Xtra experienced some heavy slime growth, but no green weed in either location. The slime cleaned off easily with a sponge wipe on the Poole boards, but the Hamble boards needed a good stiff brushing to remove the thicker fouling, which was more firmly attached than to Hempel’s Cruising Performer (left). Fouling was thicker at the waterline than deeper down. Two coats are required for a season’s use.


Practical Boat Owner 569 January 2014 • www.pbo.co.uk


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