The hull of your vessel is where you will find the heart of your pride and joy. Anti-fouling isn’t about looks. Not properly treating the hull for anti-fouling means you will be spending a lot of money on fuel to push the extra resistance of your hull through the water. In this article, we will discuss maintenance procedures to ensure your boat is always safe and ready for the best performance.

What is Anti-Fouling and Why Does It Matter?

Anti-fouling is the prevention of marine organisms, commonly barnacles, algae, and other biofouling organisms from attaching to your vessel’s hull. The build-up of marine organisms results in a rough, uneven surface which increases drag. This in turn results in higher fuel consumption and reduction of your vessel’s performance.

Types of Anti-Fouling Solutions

The Different Kinds of Traditional Copper Based Coatings

These have dominated the anti-fouling marketplace for decades. They contain copper which slowly leaches into the water inhibiting the attachment of marine organisms to the hull. Most vessel owners favor them due to their effectiveness and price.

Silicone Based Coatings

Silicone Based coatings offer the best performance and the lowest resistance of all coatings. They are more environmentally safe, but cost more up front.

Organic and Eco-Friendly Options

More eco sensitive vessel owners choose to go with Anti-fouling coatings that utilize bio-compounds over traditional copper based coatings. These coatings do not harm the surrounding marine ecosystems and prevent the attachment of marine organisms.

Zinc-Pyrithione and other biocides with a similar structure are becoming prevalent coatings in the eco sector of Anti-fouling.

Best Practices on Hull Maintenance

Scheduling Routine Hull Inspections

Always hull out at least once a year. Fouling on your hull causes increased drag and, more, critically, increases the costs of running a boat. The sooner you spot this, the less expensive and more thorough the job can be. If your boat is in active service, hull out at least once every three years.

Hull Cleaning

Though you can clean your hull on your own, the paint on an anti-fouling hull should never be scrubbed. Instead, hire a professional cleaner to do this. The Advanced Hull Cleaning System (AHCS) scrubs the hull efficiently and prevents unwanted coating wear.

Annual Considerations

The temperature of the water, the salinity, and how active you are on the boat influences how much fouling will occur. Boats that sit long periods of time elongate maintenance periods. Different environments will cause different maintenance periods on boats.

Cost Benefit Analysis

Though it seems like an additional monetary loss, having a consistently maintained hull will save you fuel and money in the long run. Always consider the resale value of your boat as well. A well maintained boat will sell for top dollar.

Conclusion

Fouling can increase the cost of running a boat and erode the value of resale. Protecting a vessel with anti-fouling technologies is a commitment to the vessel’s worth. There are many options, including new anti-fouling technologies. Consistency in maintenance is the most important factor in preserving a boat’s value.

Looking for professional advice on anti-fouling and hull maintenance solutions? Our team at AV Marine can help. Contact us to address your vessel’s individual needs.