Interlux Antifouling Basics
|
|
Interlux Boat Painting Guide
Antifouling Paints
Antifouling is the most common (and most important) painting job carried out by boat owners. You can very easily do a professional quality job yourself, but you must bear in mind a few important points.
The type of antifouling you choose should be tailored to the fouling challenges in your boating area. Different water qualities and temperatures produce different types and breeds of fouling. Even in a small area the differences can be quite dramatic, due to outfalls, pollution, inflows from rivers and streams, the speed of flow of the water and even shading from cliffs, trees and buildings.
It is vital to protect your boat through antifouling as once fouling has a hold on your hull; it will rapidly colonize the surface, making it difficult to remove. Prevention is therefore much better than cure.
THERE ARE THREE KEY REASONS
ANTIFOULING GROWTH SHOULD
BE PREVENTED:
SAFETY: Heavy fouling growth reduces responsiveness as well as making the boatsit lower in the water. This can have serious implications in challenging weather conditions.
PROTECTION: Prolonged fouling growth will damage the substrate of the hull. For example, the natural glues organisms use to attach to the hull damage wood and fiberglass.
SPEED & EFFICIENCY: Fouling causes drag, which slows you down and increases fuel costs.
INTERLUX'S ANTIFOULING RANGE PROVIDES PROTECTION FROM THE THREE KEY FOULING CHALLENGES:
SHELL: Barnacles and zebra mussels release millions of larvae into the water, which move around in the currents. To be able to feed they
must attach themselves to static objects. As most boats remain static for much of their time afloat, they offer extremely suitable feeding grounds for all types of fouling.
WEED: Static objects attract common seaweeds, many of which will simply fall off as the hull travels through the water. However, some types are more resilient and can withstand high speeds through the water.
SLIME: Slime is another major form of fouling. Slime is caused by billions of single celled algae, which produce a syrupy medium in which to settle. Once established they provide settling ground for more algae, so coatings of slime can grow quite thick, as they are notdetached as they move through the water.
OUR MOST FREQUENTLY ASKED
ANTIFOULING QUESTION:
"How do I know that the product I want to apply is compatible with my old antifouling?"
Applying your desired Interlux antifouling has never been easier. Compatibility is an issue most boaters worry about, but there are three easy choices to solve this problem.
1. Check for compatibility with old antifouling. If the product is known use the Interlux compatibility chart.
2. Use Primocon as a tie coat primer over the old paint. If the old antifouling is unknown you can apply Primocon primer directly. Then simply overcoat with the Interlux Antifouling of choice (do not use this system with VC 17m Extra, VC 17m, VC Offshore or Baltoplate)
3. Remove the old antifouling. If the old antifouling is in poor condition you may prefer to remove the old paint and start with a fresh surface. Use a chemical stripper like Interlux, Interstrip 299E. Interstrip can remove several coats of most antifouling paints in one application. After stripping you are ready to prime and paint.
Why have Teflon in our products?
As a boat owner you naturally want the best
quality products that you know will perform
better than others, and give you the maximum
long term value for money.
Teflon is an extraordinary and versatile
technology EXCLUSIVELY available in coatings
from Interlux. Teflon has a coefficient of
friction lower than ice, making it the most
slippery material in existence. Its non-wetting
properties have seen it used extensively in
water-repellent fabrics such as Gore-Tex, and in
coatings for easy cleaning surfaces. Its
excellent heat resistance has meant NASA has
used it extensively in the design of heat shields
and space suits.
By featuring Teflon in our antifouling products
you get the benefit of smooth, low-friction
surfaces that minimize drag and extremely hard
coatings that resist damage and are
exceptionally easy to clean. Products with
Teflon are VC Offshore with Teflon, VC 17m
Extra, VC 17m and VC Performance Epoxy.
Teflon is a registered trademark of DuPont.
Original article from Interlux (pdf)
|
|
|
Checkout: 
Item(s) in your cart:
(1029)
(318)
(504)
(82)
(125)
(25)
(62)
(7)
(90)
