Bottom Painting - What You Ought To Know!

The bottom painting market is driven by several variables. Cost of suitable materials, environmental concerns and geography. These factors lead the industry. Before buying the correct antifoul product, one must know what characteristics each has, and whether they suit the waters around which it will be used.

Underside Maintenance

Increasingly there is pressure to produce antifouls that is not detrimental to the environment. In the past the aim of bottom painting products was to keep the underside free from vegetable and animal nuisance.

Nowadays conservation laws are being passed to rid the oceans of harmful additives. This means that effectiveness is loosing out to eco neutrality.

Categories of bottom painting use similar ingredients, whichever brand you choose within a category, you will get the same results. Give or take. Antifoul is designed for a specific range of conditions. Something that works in a sunny warm climate, does not work in the colder areas of the world. There is not a one size fits all solution.

The antifoul range is extensive. As we have learned each is specific to a particular climate. Other factors include, whether you cruise or race, where you boat is moored and how often you use it.

Getting a balanced opinion from boating magazines is not the answer. The reason is simple. If they are seen to promote brand X over brand Y, then that might affect advertising revenues. Brand Y could back out of the inside front cover deal that has taken months of negotiating. Leaving a conspicious hole in the figures.

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Sailing From Beijing

So your best bet is ask around the local marinas. Finding out what activities people use their craft for. If they are frequent day trippers, it's important to know. Do they moor on a pontoon or from a buoy? Are they racers or relaxers? How often is the boat out of the water and for what period of time?

Asking these questions and more will give you an overall impression of whether the product used is good for your purposes - or not.

Before you do that, here is some background information. The prices of raw materials has increased dramatically. Copper being a prime example, 300% in Five years. This has a knock on effect to what manufactures put in the pot.

There are around four thousand types of marine fouling species. Split in to animals and vegetables. As vegetables need light in order to photosynthesis, they prefer attaching themselves nearer the water line. Animals prefer the darker areas of the hull, the keel or propller being favorites.

What are the effects of this aqautic invasion? The streamlined nature of the hull is interfered with. This effects the handling of the boat and can slow it down too. Apart from this, if left to their own devices, barnicles will burrow in to gelcoat or paint causing extensive damage. As soon as the hull is back in the water after being treated the assault begins. Dissolved organic matter attaches itself to the hull. This acts as a catalyst for other species to attach.

There are up to nine varities of bottom painting antifouls to chose from. Depending on your own sailing habits and local conditions. For a detailed look and explanation of the differences between for example self polishing and ablatives go to antifouling explained.

There is another alternative!

Yes! The development of an ultrasonic unit placed on the hull can elevate troublesome barnacles and slime! Check out keelboat ultrasonic

Go from bottom painting to antifoul

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