When is a slippery coating good for your boat?

The answer, says Glenn Clough, founder of Marine Protection Solutions New Zealand, is if your boat is osmosis-free, is not built from planked timber and travels at speeds of 35 knots or less. But for all other boats it’s worth considering.

Glenn Clough (left) and Mitchell Clough (right) of Marine Protection Solutions

Silicon is hydrophobic, and by stopping things from attaching to it, slows down biofouling growth significantly.

While conventional wisdom is that boat wraps and various slippery coatings are best for boats that are used a lot, such as ferries, Glenn says that new technologies developed in the European market are turning that around. 

He says one boat with a silicon film had sat unused for six months in the Bay of Islands, accumulated some fouling, but self-cleaned on its first run at speed. 

“With no biocides or ablative action, these boats can be wiped clean with a chamois or sponge, either in the water* or at an approved haulout.”  

His company offers products that can be applied as a two-pot paint, or as a wrap and is trialing the use of these products in conjunction with ultra-sonic technologies such as H2O Sonic Shield and Shipsonic.

*To avoid the risk of transporting marine pests to new locations, never clean it in the water or move it to a new location if marine pest species are present on your hull or underwater appendages. Please check the rules before starting and get advice from your regional council’s marine biosecurity team. 

Clean Below? Good to Go shares information from time to time with boat owners about new products that are becoming available. These are not recommendations and many factors must be taken into account when considering biofouling situations. Please research carefully and consult with professionals from the industry to ensure that solutions are fit for your boat. If you have a product for us to consider in a future issue, please email info@marinepests.nz with brief details.