Antifoul. Does colour make a difference?

[Laysula]

There are lots of comparisons between antifouls and recommendations for different areas.but no comparison s between colours. I was just wondering if colour or light/dark shades could make a difference. Or am I just being daft.

 

[cid]

I seemed to recall white is a no no if crossing the Atlantic. Whales might mistake you for another one. Some think lighter colours attract more light and resulting more growth.

 

[pvb]

There are lots of comparisons between antifouls and recommendations for different areas.but no comparison s between colours. I was just wondering if colour or light/dark shades could make a difference. Or am I just being daft.

Don't think that's a daft question at all. I believe darker colours are more effective. I use black.

 

[jac]

I don't think it's stupid. Not sure what the impact is though.

 

[Ardenfour]

Reading the contents label on the tin, red contains the highest % of active ingredients, white the lowest. Other colours somewhere in between

 

[pvb]

Reading the contents label on the tin, red contains the highest % of active ingredients, white the lowest. Other colours somewhere in between

Antifoul makers tend to disclose contents in fairly wide, rather vague, ranges. But they usually quote the specific gravity, which ought to give a good idea of the amount of active ingredients. For Micron Extra 2, white seems to be the highest at 1.96, red at 1.92, black at 1.91. Which rather blows my theory!

 

[Concerto]

I use Micron Extra 2 in Dover White and after 8½ months without scrubbing (Chatham Marina is very low mud in the water and low oxygen) the bottom had a slight covering of slime. The yard manager commented that he found the MIcron to be tghe best performing antifoul and white the best colour. Once jet washed the antifoul has a distinct green tint from the copper content. So guess what I am using again.

There are a couple of photos here. http://s1294.photobucket.com/user/ConcertoFulmar32/library/?sort=3&page=1

 

[jwilson]

Every year I antifoul with dark blue and wish the boat had started with white or grey, as splashes/spots would be much less obvious on my arms/face etc. The blue looks good though against white/blue-striped hull and blue sailcovers dodgers etc.

 

[Norman_E]

There are lots of comparisons between antifouls and recommendations for different areas.but no comparison s between colours. I was just wondering if colour or light/dark shades could make a difference. Or am I just being daft.

It can make a difference. When I bought some a few years ago I was shown the difference. The active ingredient is copper, and it is heavy, but is also easier to mask with a dark pigment, so lighter colours have less of it in them. The proof was to weigh 5 litre cans of black or dark blue, against the white or pale blue stuff. All were Hempel self polishing. The light colours were noticeably lighter because they contained less copper. I always bought black or navy blue after that.

 

[pvb]

It can make a difference. When I bought some a few years ago I was shown the difference. The active ingredient is copper, and it is heavy, but is also easier to mask with a dark pigment, so lighter colours have less of it in them. The proof was to weigh 5 litre cans of black or dark blue, against the white or pale blue stuff. All were Hempel self polishing. The light colours were noticeably lighter because they contained less copper. I always bought black or navy blue after that.

But note the SG numbers I quoted in post #6 - the opposite!

 

[maby]

If you capsize, you'll be wishing you had chosen something light!

 

[MM5AHO]

I have found the past few years that I'm finishing off the last third of last years tin of AF, and completing with a new tin. But the colour varies from year to year, and I ended up this year with a two-tone bottom.
Both labelled "Navy", but one's a much lighter navy that the other.
Pre-guessing this (experience of previous year), I did a circuituous paint from water line down, and at about 1m below WL, moved to next tin.

What I could have done was do port side in one colour and other side in other. "It was the boat with the Navy hull". "No it had a blue hull"... etc

 

[Norman_E]

But note the SG numbers I quoted in post #6 - the opposite!

Different makes, different formulations!

 

[jac]

If you capsize, you'll be wishing you had chosen something light!

Maybe something denser would provide more righting moment though!!!!

 

[pvb]

Different makes, different formulations!

What type do you use?

 

[pvb]

Maybe something denser would provide more righting moment though!!!!

Sort of a "paint-on keel"?

 

[Sandy]

If you capsize, you'll be wishing you had chosen something light!

Just write help in dayglow yellow, you will be fine.

 

[Norman_E]

What type do you use?

I used Hempel brand bought in Turkey and used by some of the charter companies, I think it was this one http://www.hempel.com/en/products/hempels-antifouling-olympic-86900. I have now had the boat coppercoated because I don't want to have to put antifouling on every two years.

 

[oldgit]

Probably more effective in the mind than in actual fact, particular colours are far more fashionable in the MoBo world,which probably confirms everything you ever thought about gin palace owners.
Black was once de riguer for any Mobo owner worth his place in the marina bar with white a close second.Blue was so passe and red for oiks.
Having once started to anti foul a boat in posh blue and after running out completing the job with a work a day tin of red which was lying around,absolutely no difference in performance was detectable when lifting out the following year.