Marine growth, weed, barnacles and other sub-aquatic organisms that cling to the hull of a vessel can decrease its performance and, if a commercial vessel, its profitability. Not only do they slow the boat down, some marine growth also cause severe damage to the bottom of the boat over time. Antifouling paints can prevent this from happening to yachts and boats.

Historically, thin sheets of copper were nailed over the hull to try and slow down and prevent the marine fouling but today antifouling paints are used. Anti-fouling paint discourages the growth of marine life on the boat hull and also ensure a surface that can be easily scrubbed and cleaned. Anti fouling coatings are used on domestic and commercial vessels with aluminium, steel or GRP hulls.

Rawlins Paints stock a range of marine and antifouling paints, including hard and self-polishing coatings. Self polishing antifoul paints work by dissolving at a steady and known rate, so that there is always a fresh coat of antifouling protection in contact with the sea. It’s perfect for most types of boats, including sailing boats, yachts and cruisers.

Hard antifouling paints contain an insoluble binder and so the performance of the coating declines throughout the season. Ideal for speed boats these are very easy to sand and can be polished to give a smooth surface.

Teamac Antifouling Paints

We have a range of Teamac Antifouling paint products, including Teamac Antifouling D. This is an antifoul coating only to be used on steel, wood and GRP. This award-winning antifoul paint offers superior performance with a softer film than Teamac Tropical Killa Antifouling and has been developed specifically for boats and yachts that have a speed up to 30 knots. If the boat is kept in sea water, then the antifouling coating will need to be replaced every 18 months. Easily applied with a brush, roller or as a spray, antifouling paint doesn’t need a professional and is easy for any boat-owner to apply.

If you need an aluminium antifouling paint, Teamac Antifouling A is a high quality antifoul paint specifically for that surface. You will need to apply two coats to make sure the antifouling coating is as durable and effective as possible.

Jotun Antifouling Paints

We also stock a range of antifoul coatings by Jotun. For boats that only sail on sea water, Jotun Mare Nostrum SP is a self polishing antifouling coating. Its unique properties keep the hull of the boat protected and clean for a whole season. Ideal for many types of speed boat, sailing boats and motor boats, light metal parts and propellers, it should be noted that you will need the white coloured antifouling paint if you want to apply to an aluminium hull.

It’s advised to apply antifouling paint to work with the paint system you already have on your boat. If that’s not possible, or you’re not sure which paints and coatings are used on your boat, apply a sealer of Vinyl Primer before applying the antifouling paint.

Jotun SeaForce 30, Jotun SeaForce 60 and Jotun SeaForce 90 are for professional use and all work in the same way but last for increasingly longer timeframes. A cost effective antifouling product, Jotun SeaForce will prolong the longevity of the hull and keep fouling at bay. SeaForce is a self polishing antifoul and is used as a finishing coat. Jotun SeaForce 30 gives up to 36 months antifouling performance, with the other products giving incrementally longer periods of protection. It’s a low cost antifouling paint and works extremely well when used with an anticorrosive primer and Jotun Safeguard ES as a sealer coat.

Specifically for offshore constructions and structures that are immersed for long periods of time, Jotun SeaQuantum Ultra provides excellent fouling protection to ensure that the surface performs for longer. It’s recommended for underwater hulls for vessels in dock and for newbuild vessels. It can be used for up to 90 months and offers incomparable protection.

If you’re not sure which antifouling paint you need for your vessel, contact our Technical Team for advice and information.