ADVERTORIAL
KEEP IT FOUL FREE
Matt Forbes looks at the easy and necessary addition to any haul out routine to protect your underwater lights and transducers
A
s yachts shift to the off-season, many seek a
change of scenery, heading to warmer climates. Those that stay in the region, though they may deal
with colder water temperatures and the occasional storm, get to enjoy quiet, secluded bays in a location without tourists that can make for a unique charter experience. For those owners that choose to haul, winter is the perfect time to do any cleaning and maintenance work to prepare for the upcoming season.
For crews, the list of off-season tasks can be extensive. Cleaning the growth of barnacles and algae to improve efficiency and protect the environment by eliminating invasive species off the bottom of a vessel can take a great deal of time, energy and cost, particularly when cleaning underwater equipment like lights, transducers, propellers and running gear. The best way to minimise cleaning time is to protect these essential parts with a foul-release coating.
Foul-release coatings use physical rather than chemical means to reduce fouling, typically by creating a surface that’s tough for marine organisms to adhere to. Organisms that try to grow on a foul- release–coated surface are unable to grip it tightly and simply slide off when a vessel is moving. These coatings also preserve metal surface integrity, unlike antifouling paints, which causes copper to leach out of bronze, weakening the material. This difference makes
foul-release coatings ideal for propellers, running gear and other underwater metals, and the only option for underwater lights and transducers.
Propspeed has a range of foul-release coatings that can be applied at any time during refit and haul out. Not only are they multi-seasonal, these coatings can remain out of the water for extended periods of time with no adverse effects on product performance.
Propspeed remains the industry leader, with no competition. I continue to use and recommend Propspeed.
Captain Dave Andrews
Propspeed, the original and best performing foul-release coating in the industry, has been tried and tested around the world for 21 years, consistently delivering customers the same result - improved boat performance, lower fuel and operational costs, sustained value of their investment, all while keeping the vessel’s running gear looking its best.
With an ultra-slick topcoat, Propspeed is specially formulated to prevent marine growth from bonding to metal surfaces below the waterline. It is proven to increase boat efficiency, reduce drag and save fuel and maintenance costs. It features an exceptionally strong chemical and mechanical bond between the metal substrate, the Etching Primer and the Clear Coat – ensuring
that the Propspeed coating actually sticks to your running gear and performs season after season.
Propspeed also reduces the risk of corrosion by electrically isolating the metal, as well as limiting the exchanges between the ions and the gases contained in the water and the metal. In short, if a reaction can’t occur, there will be no corrosion!
Lightspeed has been endorsed by Lumishore and is a transparent coating that is an easy and affordable way for yacht owners to reduce maintenance, protect their investment, and maintain lighting system performance. Lightspeed has been shown to save three times its retail value in maintenance costs, on top of the unquantifiable damage to marine ecosystems caused by traditional antifouling products.
Formulated by industry-leading scientists and certified by Airmar for transducers, Foulfree is the latest addition to the Propspeed product line. Fouling on the face of transducers can reduce their sensitivity, bottom-echo returns and positive fish targets. Foulfree keeps transducers clean and operating at the top of their game for the clearest sonar images possible.
Protecting your vessel’s underwater assets with Propspeed’s line of foul-release coatings is an easy and valuable addition to your haul-out routine and improve performance.
To learn more about the complete line of foul-release products from Propspeed, visit
www.propspeed.com
ONBOARD | WINTER 2021 | 201
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