Teflon Antifoul

[Fin]

For my sins I'm doing a course including aerodynamics and the topic of drag came up, included in this was ways to reduce surface friction. Instrutor seemed to remember a study done a few years ago that found no benefit of putting teflon on boat hulls. (Study was done on rowing boats but carries across). Apparently teflon was quite slippy out of the water but in the water gave no real reduction in drag.

Anyone got any real gen on this? Or are we all having the wool pulled over our eyes by some international antifoul companies?

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[Stemar]

I think the benefit of teflon would be in making it harder for the assorted wildlife to attach itself, and if it does, a lot harder to hang on when you get moving.

Of course, whether it really works or not is another story. It may be useful in hard antifouling, but, speaking from a position of just less than total ingnorance, I wouldn't see any benefit in an erodable one

 

[JAYEL]

Having become totally paranoid about sinking my trapper 300 each time I have to remove the log impeller for cleaning, I am experimenting with a dry PTFE spray; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Teflon to you and me,building up coats of this stuff on a weekly basis, sprayed on the impeller blades ,in an effort to stop water borne animal life fouling its free movement. The impeller is gradually growing a white covering, which by the time of the next lift- in ,will hopefully have hardened to a non stick film. Igot the PTFE spray from a local electrical wholesalers, cost about £8-00 for 400ml spray can. If this works I will try it on the folding prop too! Jayel.

 

[StephenSails]

We put teflon based antifoul on a racing keelboat and the finish is always better than other paints. The boat normally does very well. We believe that having a smoother finish reduces drag and this does seem to be the case. Most of the larger racing yachts go down this route and I doubt they would go the expense of it unless there was some gain.

 

[Fin]

Yes we put the teflon antifoul on too but does the benefit come from the fact that creatures cannot get a grip on it or is it that the teflon reduces the drag where the waters in contact with it?

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[dulcibella]

Teflon and silicone-based paints are used with the Boatscrubber system to discourage marine growth without using toxic antifoul. What I have seen looks impressive.