When Should You Bottom Paint a Boat and How Long Does Antifouling Paint Last?

As a boat owner, it is wise to ensure that it stays in good condition by properly maintaining it. Serious damages can occur that can be costly to repair and even life-threatening without proper maintenance. Maintaining the bottom of the boat is crucial. It requires frequent repainting, so when should you bottom paint a boat?

As far as agents that has the most destructive power out of all other elements, is water. It causes wooden materials to rot and metallic ones to rust thereby weakening the whole structure.

One of the best methods to combat against water damage is using the best boat bottom paint. Here are more details and information on the topic. You can also see this link www.jjsboatservices.com/best-boat-bottom-paint to read more.

What is bottom painting all about?

As the name implies it refers to the action of applying a protective layer of paint on the bottom surface of a boat that gets in touch with water.

Painting the hull protects the boat from organic marine life that tends to slowly eat away at the bottom. Small plants and organisms attach themselves to the bottom of the boat over time.

This interferes with the performance in terms of speed, maneuverability, and fuel consumption. Eventually, this growth will eat into the boat bottom.

It’s always best to keep a regular schedule for maintenance. By not doing so, can leave the boat in a useless state. This is when should you bottom paint a boat.

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When should you do the painting?

The answer is, depending on the types of waters and environments your boat runs in. If you rarely use it then it won’t be necessary to coat it as much as someone who frequently uses theirs.

The more exposure your boat has to water, the more it exposure it has to the destructive plants and organisms. For someone who uses their boat once in a while you’ll probably get away with bottom painting it once a year.

However, boats that are in commercial use, which mean is use more frequently. These boats should be on a seasonal maintenance schedule.

Storage conditions also matter. Fouling can occur on boats that remain in the water for storage; best to store out of the water. There are also different ways to paint a boat. The two most common are rolling the paint like you would a house. The other is how you would paint a car. 

How long does antifouling paint last?

This refers to the substance used for coating the bottom to prevent fouling. The amount of time it takes to completely wear off mainly depends on the type used. Another reason to shop for the best boat bottom paint. There are three categories for antifouling paints. See the outline below:

Ablative

Also known as soft or self-polishing. This is because the outer layer of paint gradually wears away thus revealing the inner biocide which usually gives a new or polished appeal.

It is the biocide that is responsible for keeping away the harmful organisms. These naturally removing coats, make it advantageous when the time comes to apply it again.

It eliminates the process of removing the layer in order to apply a new coating. However, this makes it unsuitable for fast vessels because the erosion process will take place at an increased rate thus requiring servicing soon.

Hard

This incorporates an opposite mechanism to its ablative counterpart. It is the biocide that wears away while the outer layer remains.

Because the biocide erodes at a slow rate, the coating still remains once depleted. This makes a great choice for fast boats. The disadvantage is that the paint becomes cumbersome to remove when applying a new coating.

Adding on top of it will lead to a build-up in due course. It reaches a point that the whole hull has to be stripped.

Hybrid

This is viewed as a combination of the first two because it exhibits attributes of both. It is thus more beneficial.

The quality of the substance used also matters. A poor-quality hybrid won’t provide the functionality expected and so you will be forced to repaint sooner rather than later. Click here for more insights.

What should one consider when buying the antifouling paint?

Your environment

The environment affects aquatic life to a great extent. In an area where the conditions favor growth of certain type of marine life a particular type of paint might be better suited for the job than others. Thus, it is important to take time and research on this. You should speak to an expert in your area such as a boatyard manager to advise you properly on this.

Needs

As mentioned earlier, fast boats require hard, or hybrid antifoul to ensure that it doesn’t wear off quickly. For relatively slower ones an ablative or hybrid will do.

Also, it is important to note that the self-polishing ones are self-cleaning to some extent hence makes the maintenance task easier.

For a boat that is being frequently used like the commercial ones a hybrid makes for a great choice since it provides both long-lasting durability and self-polishing.

Compatibility

The substance that you choose should be compatible with the material that the hull is made of. It should also be compatible with the previous coating that was applied. Failure to observe this might lead to incompatibility issues that can lead to problems such as the coating not adhering properly to the material.

Eco-friendliness

It goes without saying that the substance you buy should be eco-friendly. Go for those that have been manufactured under regulated conditions and have been certified by the relevant bodies. You should also check the ingredients used to be sure that it is a safe product.

Conclusion

Proper maintenance of a boat is a necessity that all owners have to observe. Other than ensuring that the mechanical and electrical systems that might be on board are working well one should also ensure that the structure is in good condition. The bottom part of the hull is susceptible to damage caused by aquatic lives such as plants and other destructive organisms. Bottom coating it using the right antifouling substance is a great preventive measure that will help to protect it. When purchasing one should pick a paint that is eco-friendly, compatible with your needs, and is of the right quality.

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