What is the best antifouling you know

[marshmat]

Originally Posted by MikeJohns

What about the boats with the powdered copper or copper nickle and epoxy? I have heard of boats that have had the system for 10 years and just need to scrub it occasionally. It's similar in effect to sheathing.

I've heard some good things about this too- epoxy thickened with copper powder. Very labour intensive to apply, from what I've heard. I'd be curious to see how it compares side-by-side with conventional paints.

Another low fouling bottom that seems to work in vessels that go fast enough to self clean is a low energy surface. Teflon and high density polythene. The problem is getting it to stick reliably. If you could adhere thin sheets to an epoxy coated surface with a molecular bond it's suggested that many vessels could use it instead of chemicals .

Interlux claims they can get it to stick- look up Intersleek 970. Epoxy primer, mystery tie coat that is claimed to accomplish this molecular-level bonding, and low surface energy fluropolymer finish. It's not antifouling (no biocide) but it supposedly makes it damned hard for anything to grip well enough to hold on at more than a few knots.

[MikeJohns]

Matt
I thought Intersleek was basically a silicon coating, I know it's been applied to bulk carriers quite successfully. But at paint film thicknesses and being relatively soft it might not be very scrubbable which seems to be required for 'lazy' leisure vessels after a few months.