Antifouling
Antifouling paint is an application to prevent the formation of thyme and other sea creatures on the hull of the boat for a certain period. It should be applied regularly as a precaution against serious osmosis problems that may arise in the future.
Before applying the antifouling paint, the brand and model of the old one in the area to be applied should be known. If it is not known, the old antifouling paint should be sanded down up to gelshield. This eliminates possible problems due to the incompatibility of new antifouling paint by applying an appropriate primer.
It is important to remove the old antifouling paint. If the old antifouling paint is not removed, the paint loses its properties and algae and sea creatures accumulate on the hull.
In addition, replacing the old antifouling paint without removing it will cause hull deformation and performance and adhesion problems with the new paint, and will increase the surface tension of the boat, resulting in poor speed and performance.
Though primer application is not required every year if there is deformation in the primer after pressure water washing, local or general primer application is used.
In general, there are 3 types of antifouling paints. Dissolving, hard and thin film-forming. It is common to use antifouling paint, which usually dissolves, depending on the characteristics of the boat. These types of antifouling paints usually have similar primers. Hard antifouling paints are more applicable to speedboats. Since friction is high because of speed, the activation of the paint depends on these conditions. Thin layer paints are preferred for racing boats.
Drying time of paints can be from 4 to 16 hours, depending on the air temperature. It is important to observe the waiting time between layers, but exceeding this time would be wrong. The technical documentation for each paint specifies the immersion time in water and the curing time. If the paint is applied after these periods, it will not hold and will disappear very quickly when immersed in water. The reason for waiting between layers is that the paint on the surface initiates a reaction by coming into contact with air, and is guaranteed to reapply the paint before this reaction is over and cured.
Usually 1 coat of primer and 2 coats of antifouling paint is enough for seasoning. Optionally, you can use a third coat of antifouling paint for long-term use. More coats should be applied locally on areas close to the water surface or that receive sunlight.
Dilution of antifouling paints should be done according to the characteristics of the brand you will be using. It specifically states that it is not recommended to dilute it with thinner for certain brands. This is important for the performance of the product used.
The timing of antifouling paint use and its proper application are important for boat performance, longevity, and reduced maintenance costs. Although antifouling paint application intervals vary by brand, model, and the number of antifouling coats applied, it ranges from 1 to 3 years.