Painter’s Tape

[Rappey]

Some chandlers sell a form of pricey plastic tape for getting sharp lines. Awful stuff. Once stuck on you stand back and watch it all fall off again plus is does not like to bend around curves. Blue or yellow all the way.

 

[salar]

I have done my own antifouling every year since 1994 so I have had a bit of practice with various tapes. I always use the 48-hour tape which is more expensive than the cheap stuff but doesn't leave a residue if you take it off within a couple of days. Frog Tape is good. I always apply then rub over the edge with my thumb to make sure the edge is well sealed down. That way you always get a sharp line. I don't bother waiting for all the paint to dry completely. If it is touch dry I pull the tape off at 90 degrees to the hull by walking away from the boat with tape in hand, that way I always get a clean release. Once the boat is in the water I defy anyone to spot a wobble anyway!

 

[Humblebee]

I use this tape from Toolstation, cheap and does exactly what it is supposed to do!
Professional UV Resistant 14 Day Masking Tape 25mm x 50m | Toolstation
When removing it, I find its best to stand a few feet away and pull off 4-5ft at a time and pass each length hand to hand as I walk along side of boat.

Yes, I like that stuff too.
As noted above, make sure the tape is properly pressed on, especially the edge. and don't leave it on more than a day.
For best results, remove when the paint is almost but not quite dry. This lets the edge settle, as it were, without leaving it a hard edge.

 

[Ian_Rob]

Some chandlers sell a form of pricey plastic tape for getting sharp lines. Awful stuff. Once stuck on you stand back and watch it all fall off again plus is does not like to bend around curves. Blue or yellow all the way.

….Not green??

 

[LittleSister]

I find the most important things for a clean edge is to
(a) press down the 'working' edge of the masking tape (I use the back of a finger or thumb nail - don't go too fast, though, or you'll burn yourself!); and
(b) remove the tape before the paint hardens. The latter means that when anti-fouling on my own, and using self-eroding anti-foul (which dries very quickly), I need to remove the tape after each coat, and then put another line of tape on for the succeeding coat(s).

I don't know which masking tape is the 'best', but I know only too well that 'economy' brands, including B&Q's own brand, are a pain in the backside and to be avoided. It is better to cough up the extra for a decent brand, and even wait to do the job another day if you can't immediately lay hands on good quality tape.

 

[Ian_Rob]

I bought the green Frogtape but was thinking that I should have perhaps gone for the low tack yellow??

I think it will be OK but I am going to make sure that I remove it before the anti-foul completely hardens - for the reasons Humblebee outlines above.

 

[Malish]

It's all soon forgotten once afloat