Please Help! Best protective coatings to protect hull in salt water?

[scottedwardrudd]

Hi YBW users,

I hope you are well.

I have recently purchased a boat and I am new to all of this. I have previously posted about cleaning products. However, now I would like some guidance on what is the best protective coating to use for a boats hull? I am looking for something that would help against barnacles attaching, as well as be resistant to other harsh elements whilst it is submerged in salt water?

Kind Regards,

Scott.

 

[[167227]]

Its called antifouling

http://www.pbo.co.uk/expert-advice/antifouling-everything-need-know-17104

If you're brand new to boats, you might find reading a few of Don Caseys books to be a huge help.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Aside from keeping the boat clean, there is the matter of actually sailing it, (which is much more enjoyable), and keeping it in one piece, and yourself and crew alive while doing so. Forgive me for drifting the thread and banging on my usual hobbyhorse, but I urge you to take a Theory course, a Competent Crew course and at least a Day Skipper course, (and urge wife/partner/permanent crew to do likewise), before venturing too far. See http://www.rya.org.uk/courses-training/Pages/hub.aspx

 

[scottedwardrudd]

Thanks for getting back to me. I have sailed for a long time and have done various courses. However, I have never owned a boat and was just wondering if users of this forum could recommend me some protective coatings to prevent my hull getting damaged against barnacles?

 

[Tranona]

Thanks for getting back to me. I have sailed for a long time and have done various courses. However, I have never owned a boat and was just wondering if users of this forum could recommend me some protective coatings to prevent my hull getting damaged against barnacles?

You have the reply in post#2. You buy antifouling paint from any chandlers and apply it to the underwater surfaces according to the instructions. You may need a primer depending on what is on the bottom of your boat already.

 

[ashtead]

You could ask someone to Coppercoat your hull if you wished to avoid antifouling . Have you looked at sonic hull protection although doubts seem to exist as to effectiveness but another way to spend your cash.

 

[William_H]

For the OP to ask this question might imply that the boat he has bought has been stored out of the water either on a trailer or a rack. If this is the case the hull bottom will be quite clean and shiny. If it has been kept in the water it will either have had antifouling paint previously applied or may have been attacked by barnacles leaving a pock marked surface or barnacles still. If it has had paint up to the water line or if the bottom is pretty rough from barnacles attaching then go ahead and apply one of the antifouling paints available. You may want to clean paint off and apply epoxy to prevent osmosis followed by an under coat then A/F.
However my point is if the bottom is shiny and clean from not being painted or left in the water for a long period then it is a decision to paint it that should be made carefully as the bottom will never be shiny again. Possibly detracting from resale value. If it is shiny then you should look at keeping (storing) it out of the water. Around here in summer a hull will be damaged in about 2 weeks if it is shiny and left in the water but not so severe in UK. good luck with the new boat olewill

 

[H35]

If your boat doesn't have any antifouling at all, I would definitely use this one opportunity you have to clean it well, rub it with fine sand paper and wash off with acetone. Then put on 5-6 layers of epoxy primer before you put on two layers of anti-fouling.