Anti-fade Anti-foul!

[SteveDH]

Hi All,

We have a 30ft (GRP) boat on the Thames which we have lifted out every other year. Having a dark navy canopy and fenders we've always had her anti-fouled a dark navy too, but it's really disappointing how quickly the hull lightens from a dark navy to a washed-out cyan.

She's normally anti-fouled in March, is royal blue by July and a washed-out cyan before the end of the season.

We pay our local boatyard to anti-foul her, and I'm not sure whether the colour fading is down to the use of cheap paint or perhaps a rushed application, but I'd be keen to find out if anyone has found an anti-foul paint that holds its colour for longer?

Thanks in advance.

Steve

 

[Tranona]

No most anti fouling changes colour when in the water. The fish don't seem to complain. The purpose of anti foul is to stop fouling, not to be cosmetic.

 

[SteveDH]

Yes I appreciate that, but the anti-foul paint line on our boat rises about 18" above the waterline at the bow, so the fading does become a cosmetic issue, hence my question.

Thanks.

 

[Iliade]

Use boot topping above the waterline.

 

[oldharry]

Wrong paint for above the waterline. Boottopping paint for this.

 

[theoldsalt]

For a couple of years I used antifouling that "changed colour" when submerged for a time.
I changed to International Cruiser Uno EU colour Navy which keeps it's colour all season.
So I can recommend Cruiser if you want the colour to stay.
However I understand that the makeup of International antifouling is changing soon so this colour maintenance may not occur in future batches.

 

[Quandary]

Our boat also stays in fresh water when we are not sailing, so almost any antifouling will do, we buy cheap stuff from Gael Force (made by Flag and rebranded) it is dark blue when it goes on but quickly fades to a light blue/grey. Not really a problem for us as we only see the boat when it is static and the paint is immersed. If I use Shogun, Uno, or Blakes it tends to stay dark blue for the whole season. I suspect cheaper AF paint uses cheaper pigment?

 

[Neeves]

No most anti fouling changes colour when in the water. The fish don't seem to complain. The purpose of anti foul is to stop fouling, not to be cosmetic.[/QUOTE

I'd beg to differ slightly, for those of us with multihulls or even those with disposable keels - and fearing the ultimate disaster, red shows up much better than white, blue, green or black (according to a helicopter pilot) but we have not tested it personally

Jonathan

 

[AntarcticPilot]

The change in colour is often related to the chemistry required for it to do its job. This is seen at its strongest with Coppercoat, which goes on a rich milk chocoloate brown colour, but which turns to verdigris green if it is working properly. Basically, Coppercoat contains pure Copper, which slowly converts to water-soluble forms in contact with water. Most other antifouling paints rely on similar chemical effects, applying an insoluble copper compund that slowly becomes soluble.

 

[JumbleDuck]

My freshwater boat has Trilux on her bottom, which doesn't seem to change colour. On the other hand, I have no idea if it has any antifouling effect - it's there because I found some cheap on eBay and I couldn't find any other paint stated to be suitable for continuous immersion.

 

[[70521]]

Our boat also stays in fresh water when we are not sailing, so almost any antifouling will do, we buy cheap stuff from Gael Force (made by Flag and rebranded) it is dark blue when it goes on but quickly fades to a light blue/grey. Not really a problem for us as we only see the boat when it is static and the paint is immersed. If I use Shogun, Uno, or Blakes it tends to stay dark blue for the whole season. I suspect cheaper AF paint uses cheaper pigment?

+1 this is great stuff and I love the way it changes colour over the season.

 

[Ian_Rob]

For a couple of years I used antifouling that "changed colour" when submerged for a time.
I changed to International Cruiser Uno EU colour Navy which keeps it's colour all season.
So I can recommend Cruiser if you want the colour to stay.

Are you sure?? I have used Navy Cruiser UNO for the last 10 years and both the EU version and its predecessor has always lightened to a mid-blue.

 

[theoldsalt]

Are you sure?? I have used Navy Cruiser UNO for the last 10 years and both the EU version and its predecessor has always lightened to a mid-blue.

Mine stays navy while wet but does lighten to mid blue when the hull dries after end of season liftout