The Four Primary Benefits of Antifouling

Antifouling is an important consideration for any yacht owner who wishes to keep their boat’s hull in good condition. “Fouling” refers to the natural process in which barnacles, shells, seaweed and other lifeforms and debris cling to the hull of the boat. This causes more than just an aesthetic detriment to the vessel—it can also result in some structural weaknesses and flaws in the hull.

Applying antifouling paint to your boat hull in Vancouver, BC can help to prevent organisms from sticking to the surface. Here are just a few examples of some of the benefits of antifouling and how it works:

• Biocides in the paint: Antifouling paint is able to kill off plant life and organisms trying to latch onto the boat hull, primarily through the biocides in the paint. Those biocides go into the water around the hull and kill off those organisms before they’re able to get close enough to attach themselves. Standard paint does not have any biocides, so it will only provide a physical barrier between the boat and those organisms, which will eventually manage to eat their way through. Antifouling paint is an absolute necessity to avoid this issue.
• Additional structural protection: Some types of organisms that latch themselves onto boat hulls can cause some significant damage to the structure of the boat. For example, barnacles and mussels are known to cut through paint with their sharp shells and potentially damage any wood or fiberglass beneath the paint, resulting in cracks or fissures that can spread and worsen over time. That sort of damage can be difficult and expensive to repair, so it’s in your best interest to use antifouling boat paint in Vancouver, BC to kill those organisms off before they can latch on. Even if they do manage to latch onto the boat before they’re killed off, they won’t be able to cut through it like they would with standard paint.
• Reduced drag: Organisms that attach themselves to the boat can increase drag and resistance in the water because of excess surface area. This means the boat will not be able to travel as fast as it otherwise would in normal circumstances, and you’ll lose some energy efficiency in the operation of the boat. Due to the biocides in antifouling paint, it will be very difficult for organisms to latch on, meaning you won’t have to worry about increased inefficiency of your boat’s operation.
• Long-lasting usage: Antifouling paint is even stronger when the boat is in the water, unlike other types of paints and coatings. The water releases the biocides in the paint, which then keep those organisms away. Other paints will lose their hardness underwater, which can actually make them more susceptible to potential damage.

You have put a lot of money into your yacht. To protect that investment for the long term and keep it in great operational condition for years to come, stay on top of your antifouling coatings in Vancouver, BC. For more information about antifouling boat paint, contact Hydro Tech today.

Categorised in: Boat Hull Cleaning

This post was written by Writer