Latest Advances in Antifouling

5

534l4rk

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 Apr 2010
Messages
242
Visit site
As I have seen no recent comment on this subject I having been wondering what the general thinking is about the new anti-fouling paint soon to be on the market? The forecast 20 year protection at a cost undercutting all competition certainly seems very attractive !

The web reports research engineers at a former Insect Repellent producer having utilised immunological techniques to enable sub aquatic organism T cells to be genetically modified for use within paint. Contact causes barnacles and other star shaped aquatic organisms to react to the modified T cells. The principle is somewhat similar to the monoclonal techniques currently being tested in the fight against cancer. The beauty of this system is that there is reputed to be no loss of anti-foul as the organisms ‘flip’ off without affecting the paint and pose no harm to the eco system.

It is hoped that this approach will overcome potential problems if future European legislation stops the use of biocide substances for use in marine environments. The concerns related to anti-fouling by boaters by the BCF (British Coating Federation) would then presumably be unwarranted.

The new paint certainly sounds good to me.
 
More snake oil ?
Boaters tend to be suspicious bunch.
One of our club members went to much time and trouble to paint his boat with the outrageously expensive coppercoat, had to have two go becuase of temperature and or moisture problems..It came out of the water after six months,he was not happy with result.
My boat on the other hand was painted with some bog standard evil red muck,not applied very well or very thickly.Hardly anything alive on the bottom after 12 months.
Nope i have no idea either. :)
 
Expensive anti-foulings are a bit pointless on the river, narrow boats usually just painted with black bitumen. However cruisers preferring colours need lifting to every now and then to wash the slime off to keep up appearances.

However our local boatyard in Moulsford has come up with a solution to avoid the liftouts, they sell localy reared river snails at £10/dozen. You just attach them to the bottom of the hull and they slowly move around the hull eating the slime away. Only recommended for river use not those going tidal as salt water is poisonous to them, also they struggle to hang on at speeds greater than 5knots.
 
Chris_d said:
Expensive anti-foulings are a bit pointless on the river, narrow boats usually just painted with black bitumen. However cruisers preferring colours need lifting to every now and then to wash the slime off to keep up appearances.

However our local boatyard in Moulsford has come up with a solution to avoid the liftouts, they sell localy reared river snails at £10/dozen. You just attach them to the bottom of the hull and they slowly move around the hull eating the slime away. Only recommended for river use not those going tidal as salt water is poisonous to them, also they struggle to hang on at speeds greater than 5knots.
Click to expand...


Does the RSPCS know about this :):):) and are they nice with Garlic afterwards ?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top