Which antifouling best in Portsmouth?

[john_morris_uk]

I’m out of touch regarding which antifouling paint works best. Our boat is copper coated so it doesn’t normally worry me. However daughters little bilge keeled Pandora needs to be anti-fouled and normally lies on a mooring that occasionally dries on spring tides in Portsmouth Harbour. Is anyone antifouling better than another in Portsmouth? There are lots of nutrients and it seems to be a fairly high fouling area. Or is it just a question of gritting your teeth and paying for a premium product?

 

[MJWB]

The article is getting a bit long in the tooth now but may help
The great UK antifouling test for cruising yachts - Practical Boat Owner
Also ask locals, particularly those with similar boats at similar locations.

 

[MJWB]

The article is getting a bit long in the tooth now but may help
The great UK antifouling test for cruising yachts - Practical Boat Owner
Also ask locals, particularly those with similar boats at similar locations.

Just adding to this. In my experience the more local viewpoint you get themes usually begin to emerge. Price isn't always best.

 

[john_morris_uk]

Just adding to this. In my experience the more local viewpoint you get themes usually begin to emerge. Price isn't always best.

True. And as there are a fair few people on the forums who keep their boat in Gosport/Haslar/Portsmouth I’m crossing my fingers some will comment on here.

 

[Pete7]

John, after 15 years mooring in Portsmouth harbour we have probably tried the lot. Best was Micron 77 which 2 coats lasted 3 years due to lockdowns. Sadly, you can't buy it any more.

Trilux was just rubbish. Hempel cruiser and some stuff called 4000 also rubbish. VC17 failed and had to be removed before anything else would stick to it.

Seajet 33 pretty good and used it for several years until one hot summer and it didn't work, but would consider it again accepting that year was unusually hot. Pompey harbour reached 20c for most of that summer. Quite hard and can be pressure washed.

Cruiser Uno or EU now, good and washes well as its also quite hard.

Micron Extra also pretty good but very soft so even a sponge would produce clouds of blue water around the boat.

Currently using Micron 350 which after a year is only now requiring a scrub. Probably going to pressure wash and do a thin coat around the waterline this year leaving the keels and bottom, but do a mid summer scrub before our holidays.

Sadly it really is a difficult place for antifouling. Green weed, soft corals (dead mans fingers) barnacles and tube worm available by the bucket load, the weed being the worst of the bunch. We should farm it.

She won't need much paint but the drying out bit is a worry because the mud stops the antifoul from working. So suggest Seaject 33 or Cruiser EU as relatively hard and can be scrubbed. Micron 350 although more expensive could also be a good option.

Pete