Antifoul is also referred to as antifoul bottom paint or bottom coating. Boaties apply it to keep the unwanted nasties out of their boats. They have two basic choices for this application: applying it to the whole bottom or just to the edges. Some people apply antifoul paint to both the top and bottom of their boat. Either way, it makes their boats smell better.
Boat owners can’t get enough of antifouling in Gold Coast. It’s the surest way to tell if there’s a thing living in or on their boat. If something is living on or in their boat, it’s probably fouling up the waterline. Fish, wildlife, rotting vegetation, and other items that don’t belong on or in the boat are common culprits of bad smells that can permeate the entire boat.
What is soft antifoul?
A soft antifoul is made of a non-toxic material that won’t cause significant health problems if exposed to antifoul fumes. However, a hard antifoul is meant to cover up a leak or any other kind of gross or offensive odours. Soft antifoul is usually applied to the outside of the boat. This is a good idea when you live near bodies of water because it won’t spread quickly. It will, however, attract fish.
Boat owners with an electrostatic pressure vessel should use a high-pressure paint sprayer. Professional painters typically own these devices, but you can buy them from Walmart or your local hardware store. An antifoul system consists of a bed liner, a soft antifoul liner, and hard-sided boat blocks or polystyrene foams. The bed liner goes over the boat before the antifoul mixture is applied. Once the liner is applied, this coating keeps out both the odours and the air’s pollutants.
After applying the hard antifoul, you will then apply the pastel version. For an even application, you should apply both the toner and the primer at once. After the toner settles, you can then paint the vessel. This can also be done before or after the boat has been placed in the water. Just make sure you allow the primer to dry thoroughly between coats.
Things to remember
There are a few essential things to remember about using these types of chemicals in your boats:
- Never use this type of treatment for more than one boat at a time.
- Make sure that the materials you use for this chemical abatement method are made from materials that will not attract or retain ammonia and other chemicals that might be in the air.
- Treat all of your boats with some antifoul additive before you leave them for any length of time.
Chemical abatement of a boat hull is beneficial in many ways:
- It improves fuel consumption and lowers emissions because of decreased chemical interaction with the water.
- It decreases the growth of bacteria that live in the hull that might otherwise cause fouling.
- It lowers the maintenance required by keeping your vessel maintained correctly.
Chemical treatment will also improve the physical condition of the area around the antifoul. These conditions are essential to the overall performance of the boat. When you apply the zinc primer, it will settle into the hull’s interior, providing a protective barrier against any organic material that might be in the area. This is why you must apply the primer in a very even coat. You will notice that the first few zinc primer coats look a lot like they have been cobbled together, but this is okay. You can do as you go along. Zinc will act as a sealant and protect the rest of your coats from organic contamination while allowing the natural beauty of your vessel to shine through.
