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Choosing The Best Antifoulant Paint For Your Boat
Antifouling paint forbids underwater growth such as barnacles, mussels and once in a while oysters, and plant growth from attaching to your vessel. Most antifouling paints use the distribution of metallic elements within the paint to block these foul critters from binding. Copper (cuprous oxide) and tributyl tin are two metals that have proven to be successful as biocides, but tin, banned worldwide on ship hulls in 2009, was so deadly that it wiped out entire marine ecosystems. Copper compounds are now universally acknowledged, but the price of the copper raw material has risen considerably. In addition, high copper concentrations have dissolved in the water system in some places in the USA placing limitations on the application of copper-based paints. Paint manufacturers continue to develop a number of new antifouling technologies that tackle these and other troubles. New Paint Products Composite Copper: Exchanges the traditional cuprous oxide with silica, lowering the copper content by up to 40%. The consequence is a copper based biocide that gives excellent protection for your boat, with a base that is made from resources found in the ocean. Water-Based ablatives: Water substitutes the solvents found in standard bottom paints. Low-odor formula permits painting inside. Practical application is trouble free and clean up involves only soap and water. White copper: Clean and white in color, white copper (cuprous thiocyanate) necessitates 50% less content than the dark copper used in traditional antifouling paint. ECONEA: Paint manufacturers think that, a metal-free biocide developed by the pharmaceutical industry, is the future of antifouling paint. Advantages include protection at low usage levels, they degrade quickly and are biodegradable. Unlike some metal-based antifouling agents, ECONEA can be used to easily develop lighter and brighter paints, resulting in bright colors with better uniformity. Because it is a metal-free compound, ECONEA will not cause galvanic corrosion on aluminum hulls. This rules out the difficulty and cost of thick barrier coats. ECONEA-based paints also add less weight to a boat when applied at the same film thickness as metal-containing paints. Antifouling Paint Selections Copolymer paints are typically used on slow watercraft such as trawlers and sailboats and release biocide at a steady controlled pace all through their lives, wearing off or "ablating" very much like a bar of soap. Paint wears off faster in higher drag areas on the hull and appendages. These paints work well in high-growth areas and continue to be effective after haul-out and relaunch. Copolymer paints offer true multi-season protection, lasting as long as there is an acceptable coating thickness. Because they expose new biocide until the coating is worn totally away, extra coats add to their length of service. We advocate a covering of two coats on each new bottom job. Copolymer paints with anti-slime additives are best for nutrient-rich, heavy fouling regions. Modified epoxy paints are better if you own a fast planning – hull boat. Contact leaching paint releases the biocide at a steadily decreasing rate, leaving the hard coating of the original thickness at season's end. Higher copper content, rather than the type of paint binder as with ablative paints, more often than not means greater effective performance in this paint type. Modified epoxy paints stick to most surfaces, and can be applied over most types of paints. On the down side, they lose effectiveness when the boat is stored out of water. In addition, after several coats of paint, the existing paint will start to build up requiring removal. Dual Biocides Paint suppliers often add a second biocide to some versions of their coatings, usually in the final coat, using formulas such as Biolux, Irgarol and zinc pyrithione and zinc omidine. These additives further restrict the growth of algae. Aluminum Hulls and Underwater Metals Aluminum hulls, outdrives and props require paints such as Vivid, Trilux 33, Trilux Prop and Drive Paint and Alumaspray that do not contain cuprous oxide, which responds in a aggressive way with the aluminum. Copper-based paints are safe for use on properly primed stainless and bronze. Zinc anodes should be left unpainted to retain their effectiveness. Conclusion Good preparation and priming are the basis for any paint job and antifouling paints are no different. Solid prep ensures good adhesion and better performance over time. Remember that most bottom paint changes color when exposed to air or water, so do not judge the color of your bottom paint on dry land. It will show its true color after a couple weeks of immersion in the water. Don't be too shocked by a greenish tint of bottom paint near the waterline due to the paint's reaction with oxygen. It does not affect the effectiveness of the paint. Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Mike Dickens, the author, is a live aboard boat owner and owner/Broker of Paradise Yachts in Florida USA. Paradise Yachts offers used quality yachts to customers worldwide. Visit the Paradise Yachts website to view our selection of Used Trawlers, Used Motor Yachts, and Used Sailboats for Sale National and international sales. We ship Used Trawlers, Motor Yachts and Cruisers worldwide. Located in Florida, USA. 904/556-9431 Interact with us at the Trawler Blog |
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