Gear
On Test
Our long term gear and equipment tests editor, Colin Jarman, reports this month on his
trials of an antifouling paint formulated with East Coast waters in mind, a VHF that includes
AIS reception, a solar panel system and a special antifouling coating for propellers.
HIGHLY
FLAG PERFORMANCE EXTRA
RECOMMENDED
RECOMMENDED
FIRST LOOK
ANTIFOULING £63.40 per 2.5ltr
BEST BUY
PREMIUM
PRODUCT
BUDGET BUY
UPDATE
UPDATE
F
lag Performance Extra temperatures are moderate.
is a copper based, semi- One other recommendation
hard, but eroding, antifouling. is to apply the antifouling on
It’s designed to work well a dry day. Well, I got the first
against all types of fouling in coat on one fine and lovely
all waters – including use by T
os Colin Jarman
spring day, but without time
boats on drying moorings – Pho to get the second coat on.
but the paint cans now carry a Two days later, with rain
yellow label stating that it has forecast for the afternoon,
been ‘Specially formulated I applied the second coat,
for the UK’s South East finishing by 0930. Around
waters’, so we thought we’d 1000 the skies opened and we
better try it out. had heavy duty showers for
A large part of the fouling the rest of the day. None of
problem in that area, the paint ran or washed off,
particularly for boats kept but I think luck was pushed.
within the boundaries of the Because of the heavy, gluey
Thames Estuary, is slime. nature of the paint, applying
Barnacles can be fairly
above: Freshly painted and ready to go after two coats.
it is fairly hard work, but it
well controlled by modern
Below left: The Flag product with its yellow label. Below right:
covers well. It should not be
We used a roller in the main areas and a brush for details.
antifoulings, but slime, which spread too thinly, but needs
can become a fibrous mat, to be worked enough to give
is a real problem. Will Flag full coverage over any earlier
Performance Extra work paint. That paint also needs
against this heavy coating? to be in good condition;
We shall see. When we tried any flaking paint should be
the paint in 2007 it worked removed and undercoated,
quite well, but modifications otherwise the Performance
to the formulation have been Extra will just pull it off and
made since then. not cover properly.
When Flag first produced Flag also produces 450ml
Performance Extra it was, tins (£15.28) of Performance
in part, to pre-empt future use on GRP, wood, steel or Extra for use as boot topping.
legislation against or to ferro cement hulls, but not The paint, in either quantity,
restrict the use of biocides on aluminium or galvanised is available in black, dark
and it went back to a high surfaces. Its coverage is blue, light blue, red or white.
copper content. This is a the stuff and leaving all the quoted as about 10m² per litre Our trial boat is kept in and
known and proven antifouling copper in the bottom of the and the Flag Finishes website cruises the Thames Estuary,
material and it is less harmful tin, so stir, stir and stir a great provides a simple guide to the so we hope to find that the
to the general marine deal more. Then keep stirring quantity you will need for the ‘special formulation’ for those
environment than some of throughout application. recommended two coats plus waters is indeed successful.
the biocides can be. What Once it is thoroughly extra on all leading edges. We’ll let you know.
it means, however, when mixed, the Performance Extra Flag recommends a minimum Colin Jarman
preparing to apply the paint, can be applied with either a of six hours between coats,
is that it takes a huge amount roller or a brush and, as usual, even though the paint should
of stirring to ensure that all I found that a roller did the be touch dry in just a couple Contact Flag Paints
the copper is in suspension big areas well, but a brush of hours. Once painted, you Tel 01621 785173
and evenly distributed. was needed for the awkward can wait two to three months Email
sales@flagfinishes.co.uk
There’s no point in applying bits. The paint is suitable for before launching if ambient Website
www.flagfinishes.co.uk
44 Sailing Today July 09
ST147
Gear_RTG.indd 52 11/5/09 19:19:06
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148