THE RIGHT ANTIFOULING FOR YOUR BOAT: COLOUR, CARE AND MAINTENANCE MEASURES

Over time, the paint on your boat weathers and loses its former beautiful shine. As a result, the hull of the boat is no longer protected either. To restore your boat to its original appearance, it needs a new coat of paint.

Antifouling agents are used on boats to prevent the settlement and growth of various organisms on boats or ships. But which paints are best for specific applications and what care and maintenance is required for the different paints to keep them in good condition? The following article has all the answers on the subject of boat paints and antifouling.

1) Synthetic alkyd resin-based boat paint

This adheres well to the surface, but has only a medium lifespan.

2) Acrylic-based boat paint

This varnish is particularly noble and offers gloss or bright colours.

3) Polyurethane boat paint

Polyurethane boat paint has a beautiful finish and is particularly distinguished by its long durability.

What are the advantages of single-component boat paints?

Single-component boat paints are ideal for repairing scratches or stains. The varnish is also easy to apply and dries due to the solvent evaporating on its own. The type of varnish is weather-resistant, so you can use it for both the inside and outside of the boat. The flexible one-component boat varnish is also suitable for wooden boats and other hull types.

1K lacquer

-52%

International Toplac Plus

from £14.99 £30.99 (£39.97 / 1 l)

-48%

International Super Gloss HS

from £26.99 £51.99 (£35.99 / 1 l)

-13%

Hempel Classic Varnish

from £25.99 £29.99 (£34.65 / 1 l)

Two-component boat paint

A two-component boat varnish is best suited for your boat if you are looking for a weatherproof and abrasion-resistant varnish. This consists of a polyurethane base and a hardener. The two-component boat paint dries through polymerisation.

The interaction with the evaporation of the solvents results in a chemical reaction and the formation of the special colour film on the substrate. However, two-component boat paints are much more difficult to apply than one-component boat paints. Suitable protective clothing (goggles, gloves and masks) must be worn when using them.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF TWO-COMPONENT BOAT ENAMELS?

Two-component boat paints also come with numerous advantages: Their high-quality finish and long durability make them particularly shiny.

The two-component boat paint also has excellent adhesion properties. A sprayer is often used with the two-component paint, but the use of rollers and brushes is also possible.

2K lacquer

-56%

International »VC Tar 2« Epoxy Primer

from £35.99 £81.99

-37%

International "Gelshield 200" epoxy primer

from £38.99 £61.99 (£51.99 / 1 l)

-37%

International Interprotect

from £38.99 £61.99 (£51.99 / 1 l)

How do you choose the right paint for your boat?

To restore or repair the boat, there are different types of paint. The choice of boat paint depends on which part of the boat you want to repaint. Therefore, there are different boat paints for the respective area of use. In addition to the area of use, however, aesthetics, boat paint care, maintenance and budget are also important indicators that play a decisive role in the purchase. When it comes to colour, you can either rely on current boat colour trends or let your own preference decide.

2) Paint below the waterline

This part of the boat stays in the water for much of the year, so an antifouling paint is needed to keep the hull smooth for longer. The paint prevents marine organisms from attaching to the hull. Erodible (self-grinding) antifouling dissolves over time, so it needs to be renewed every season. The antifouling is abraded by movement in the boat and by sailing. Hartmix antifouling provides protection throughout the season and is particularly suitable for boats that stay in port all year and sail at more than 20 knots.

Pay attention to the material

But the boat paint also depends on the material of your boat. For fibreglass boats, both one-component and two-component polyurethane paint or one-component enamel paint are suitable. For a wooden boat, a light- and weather-resistant one-component boat paint is recommended. For moulded wood or boat plywood, however, it is better to use a two-component paint. If you have a polyester boat, a two-component varnish is the right solution.

Boat varnish

-52%

International Toplac Plus

from £14.99 £30.99 (£39.97 / 1 l)

-51%

International Interdeck

from £26.99 £54.99 (£35.99 / 1 l)

-48%

International Super Gloss HS

from £26.99 £51.99 (£35.99 / 1 l)

How often should you repaint the boat and how long does a new coat last?

In principle, the base colour should be applied once a year, but some base colours can last up to two years. If the boat is in the water all the time and it is used frequently, you should check once a year whether a base coat is needed. The rule here is: the more elaborate and high-quality the initial paint job is, the less work there will be for the following years.

Why does the weather play a role?

Despite intensive preparatory work, paintwork sometimes becomes blind, the antifouling blisters or the paint simply does not dry through. This often happens during spring work, when the boat needs to be made fit for the upcoming season in a short time. Unfortunately, the weather doesn't always play along as a boat owner would like. Wind, cold, high humidity above 65 percent as well as temperature fluctuations can have a significant effect on the paint. Therefore, you should never paint in the late afternoon when it gets cold and damp at night. If the varnish does not dry through early enough, it will not adhere and will subsequently become blind. At best, you should follow the respective product descriptions of the manufacturers and take the corresponding weather conditions into account.

What is antifouling and what is it used for?

When microorganisms, animals or plants settle on the hull of the boat, this is called "fouling". The organisms that attach to the boat increase the flow resistance. As a result, they not only reduce the speed of the boat, but also promote an increase in fuel consumption. The colonised surface can also be damaged by the organisms. To prevent this condition, ship hulls are treated with a so-called "antifouling" coating. The aim of antifouling is to prevent the colonisation of fouling organisms. With the help of biocidal agents (such as copper oxide), which are released into the surrounding water over time, the colonisation can be prevented.

How to choose the right antifouling?

Hartantifouling with its hard surface, is ideal for trailer boats, fast motor boats and boats in dry marinas.
Thin antifouling has a smooth surface, making it harder for organisms to adhere. The smooth surface leads to less fuel consumption and higher speed, although no layers of paint are built up.
Semipolishing (slow polishing) antifouling prevents the build-up of layers and is particularly suitable for fast boats.
Self-polishing antifouling (soft antifouling) is optimal for sailing boats and has a polishing effect. Accordingly, both the fouling and the antifouling grind off during the journey.
Special antifouling for propellers and drives are supplied in spray bottles and guarantee easy application.

When choosing the colour of antifouling, you should take into account that the permanent colour tone only develops after watering. Therefore, when painting, the colour tone may deviate from the shades indicated in the colour charts.

Antifouling

-56%

International Micron 350 / 300 Antifouling

from £48.99 £111.99 (£65.32 / 1 l)

-24%

Compass Antifouling Cruising self-polishing

from £24.99 £32.99 (£33.32 / 1 l)

How long does an antifouling coating last and how often does it have to be renewed?

Renewing antifouling should be done annually (or every two years) even if it is in good condition. Even if the existing antifouling is still in good condition at the end of the season, a new coat should be applied at the beginning of the next season. However, the effectiveness depends on the thickness of the layer and not on the number of coats.

First, the hull is cleaned with fresh water (ideally with a high-pressure cleaner). Then the existing antifouling is sanded in a wet state. The sanding dust is then washed off. As a result, small spots or damage where the antifouling has come off are repaired. If the same antifouling was used as the previous year, the antifouling can simply be reapplied.

Are there any differences between antifouling for wooden boats, for boats made of fibreglass and other materials?

Many antifoulings are designed for boats made of wood, steel or fibreglass. However, the choice for aluminium and stainless steel boats is not quite as extensive. For boats made of fibreglass, you can use hard, self-polishing and thin-layer antifouling, whereby the exact suitability for the hull material can be taken from the respective product descriptions. The same applies to wooden and steel boats. Thin-layer or hard antifouling is particularly suitable for sports boats.

How can you ensure that antifouling is safe for the environment?

There are now numerous sustainable solutions for boating. Biocide-free antifouling is kind to the environment, so your boat has a toxic-free underwater coating.

Frequently asked questions - FAQs

What is antifouling?

Antifouling is a protective layer of paint for boats that prevents the colonisation of fouling organisms.

Why do you need antifouling paint?

Antifouling paint protects against fouling, snails and mussels on the hull, propeller, bow thruster and steering gear. Antifouling also ensures faster gliding through the water, better control of the boat and lower fuel consumption.