With any vessel permanently moored in the water, the antifouling or “Bottom Paint” is a fundamental component to the well-being and preservation of the vessel. In short, it protects the vessel’s hull from weed and shell growth and other organic materials which in turn reduces the speed and efficiency of your vessel by increasing drag through the water. A vessel’s hull that has excessive organic growth can reduce its efficiency in some cases up to 50% whilst still remaining operable. We have seen extreme cases of vessels left without maintenance for several years which subsequently rendered the vessel unusable due to excessive encrustation on propellers and water intakes.

On average, any vessel permanently moored in the water should be cleaned and anti-fouled every 12 months as a general rule. There are some exceptions to this depending on the type of water your boat is moored in, the tidal flow, the size of your vessel and the material your vessel is made from. Some boat owners simply think that the antifouling is the only component that will suffer if the vessel’s annual maintenance is stretched out by a few months, however there are numerous other aspects which are vital to the annual maintenance schedule of your vessel such as; water intakes and anodes.

One the greatest advantages to seeing your vessel out of the water is that any hull imperfections or inherent flaws become very obvious.  Items to look for, in fiberglass boats; cracks, impact damage, osmosis or blistering. In timber boats; borer worm, dry rot, loose caulking or impact damage. In steel and aluminium boats; cracked welds, signs of electrolysis, rust, corrosion or impact damage. Whilst many people use an underwater diver to clean their hull periodically, there is absolutely no substitute for a visual inspection and you should be wary of any false sense of security. Bear in mind also that cleaning of your boat’s hull underwater is not being environmentally responsible.

If your boat is in need of some attention, call Peter at Gold Coast City Marina and get an antifoul quote, or alternatively use our online quote system to be emailed a quote.