Newbie's Antifoul Question!

S

spurs_on

New Member
Joined
19 Aug 2006
Messages
2
Visit site
Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

I'm in my first year of boating and so am a beginner when it comes to maintaining a boat. I know I need to paint the boat with antifoul but do I need to use a cleaner to remove all traces of the previous antifoul or do I just make sure it's clean and apply new coat on top? And what about primer? is that needed?
I seem to get conflicting advice from books and websites I've looked at!
I've got a Birchwood 25 on the River Thames, just in case you wondered! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

Hi and welcome,

The simplest thing is to add a coat of the same antifoul paint that was used last time, this would involve a simble scub down to get a clean well keyed surface and paint away. If you scub off too much then you would want a primer.

It gets complicated if you are changing antifoul type, or if you want to get it all off before starting from scratch. There are also a variety of schools of thought, some view antifouling as a regular job and others insist on doing it really well so it lasts for generations.

I hope that helps.
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

Normal procedure is to scrub clean with water. Then apply new stuff which if compatible with the old does not require any further pretreatment. Often you need a barrier coat of primer if applying high tech stuff over low tech stuff.

Your best bet is to look at the website for the maker of your chosen brand of AF such as www.yachtpaint.com/uk for International Yachtpaint where you should find all the advice you need and which you can rely on to be correct.
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

Thanks for this. Can you tell me how I know whether the antifoul I put on is high tech or low tech? As I don't know what's already on the boat (only bought it in the summer) should I put on a coat of primer regardless of what AF I put on?
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

Forget primers and compatibility that’s for people with tooooo much time. Spoke to the sages at my sailing club where people sail as opposed to maintain and they all agree that primer is a waste of time and money. I’ve used all kinds of antifouling on top of each other and they all stick.

Clean down hull and if required give it a light sanding for adhesion. Spend a couple of hours putting the new antifoul on and then your ready to go sailing, but not for at least 24 hours or you'll wash the new antifouling off.

One of the best ways to stop growth on your hull is to use it /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

Agree with davie, slap it on. There will come a time when you need to strip it all off, when it builds up to such an extent that it begins to lose grip and fall off in small patches. Even then you can put it off for 5 years or more by scraping back the loose stuff. It don't look so good and you will not win the Fastnet race. Whatever.
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

Also remember anti-fouling is nasty, do not get it on you, especially your eyes, wife uses a full face visor. It is also easy to apply with a radiator roller, far better than a brush.

Brian
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

[ QUOTE ]
I’ve used all kinds of antifouling on top of each other and they all stick.


[/ QUOTE ] Yes they will stick (but pesumably old teflon based stuff will need more pretreatment) the problem is what the solvent in the new stuff might do to the old stuff.
Some years ago a friend who otherwise always used Blakes Tiger was offered some expensive International AF at a price he could not resist. He should have used a barrier coat but did not. The result was something resembling mini crazy paving. The crazy paving pattern still exists to this day, probably over 20 years later but now the old stuff is begining to flake away from the gel coat as well in places.

If the boat is on the fresh water Thames I would use an AF appropriate to that. That would almost certainly be compatible with what is underneath.
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

Are you going to race on the Thames? Do you think that the build up of fouling in between the occasional haul out for a pressure wash is going to slow you down? Do you take pride in a clean bottom?
If the answer to these questions is no or not a lot then what makes you think you need to antifoul? It is an expensive, laboutr intensive, environmentally unfriendly and largely ineffective process.
 
Re: Newbie\'s Antifoul Question!

Spent 10 years on the Thames. Yes you neeed to lift, clean and coat the hull. However the antifouling industry is out to make money out of people like you.
Traditional coverings work best, sea/river GRP, Steel, Wood you cannot the beat the traditional hull coatings of bitumen/pitch.
A tin of bitumen that will coat your hull will cost about £5, please make sure that it is the type recommended for coating water tanks so you are environmentally friendly.
It is easy to apply and being none setting it will flow and fill and scratches incurred in the season.
Bitumen has been used to coat hulls for over 400 years, it may not work on planning hulls but still works on dockyard tugs.
If you have a displacement boat and lift at least ever alternate year you cannot beat bitumen
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

I
Mast refurb
2
Replies
27
Views
856
ducked
D
conks01
Hanse 301 Buying Advice
Replies
5
Views
414
stownsend
S

Share this page

Top