Hempel Silic One - anyone tried it?

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pvb

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I saw a boat being painted today with Hempel Silic One. This is an alternative to conventional antifouling. According to Hempel, it's "A high solid one component fouling release coating. it is based on silicone, is biocide free and cures by air humidity. Provides a smooth, low surface energy repellent surface with unique fouling release properties. A hydro gel micro layer prevents fouling organisms firmly adhering, while the silicone polymers facilitate self-cleaning."

It was apparently announced in 2013, but I've never seen it being used. It sounds quite clever. Has anyone here tried it, and how did you find its performance?
 
pvb said:
I saw a boat being painted today with Hempel Silic One. This is an alternative to conventional antifouling. According to Hempel, it's "A high solid one component fouling release coating. it is based on silicone, is biocide free and cures by air humidity. Provides a smooth, low surface energy repellent surface with unique fouling release properties. A hydro gel micro layer prevents fouling organisms firmly adhering, while the silicone polymers facilitate self-cleaning."

It was apparently announced in 2013, but I've never seen it being used. It sounds quite clever. Has anyone here tried it, and how did you find its performance?
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There's a review here... https://www.mby.com/maintenance/tried-tested-antifoul-81351/7
 
There was mention of it on the HR forum yesterday as a coating for propellers. It looks seriously interesting for this and I have the intention of using it next season. Otherwise, it seems more of a motorboat thing for hulls.
 
johnalison said:
There was mention of it on the HR forum yesterday as a coating for propellers. It looks seriously interesting for this and I have the intention of using it next season. Otherwise, it seems more of a motorboat thing for hulls.
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Thanks, the propeller coating might be worth investigating for sailboats. I wonder whether it might also work on log impellers?
 
From what I remember from reading about it, once the tin is opened it has to be used up, so that using it just for an impeller might be a little expensive.
 
Having got a quote for Coppercoating my boat that was about twice I wanted to pay, I am not one of these rich boat owners, I was pointed in the direction of Silic One by a pal and would also be interested in any comments.
 
I had it professionally applied to my prop last year, using exactly the methods described in the manual. On the small areas where it stuck, there was no fouling. Most of it peeled off, so it was an expensive waste of time. I’ve never been able to get anything except Hammerite special metals primer to stick to the prop. Shame it’s not an Antifoul.
 
I have a couple of cans of Silic One and its precoats in the garage, certainly not enough for the whole hull. I was considering applying it to the rudder only but am reluctant as I doubt the boat is fast enough for the stuff to work and I'll be left with the difficulty of reverting to normal AF.
If anyone wants to make me an offer for the stuff it would solve my dilemma.
 
awol said:
I have a couple of cans of Silic One and its precoats in the garage, certainly not enough for the whole hull. I was considering applying it to the rudder only but am reluctant as I doubt the boat is fast enough for the stuff to work and I'll be left with the difficulty of reverting to normal AF.
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You might get away with it on the rudder. Wash and turbulence from the prop may be enough to keep it clear. The test, referenced earlier, was on static panels.
 
I'll need to have a chat about this stuff with some chemist pals.

Logically, all it needs is a rub down every so often if you are not getting >8 knots through the water.
 
KAL said:
I had it professionally applied to my prop last year, using exactly the methods described in the manual. On the small areas where it stuck, there was no fouling. Most of it peeled off, so it was an expensive waste of time. I’ve never been able to get anything except Hammerite special metals primer to stick to the prop. Shame it’s not an Antifoul.
Click to expand...

Would it be possible to use the Hammerite primer and build up the Silic on top?
 
Thanks everyone. I think I've come to the conclusion that it's more suited to mobos and racing yachts than cruisers. I did see it being applied to a Pogo 12.50 which is ceretainly faster than 8 kts!
 
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