Antifouling & Yacht paint in the Philippines

What is yacht paint and antifouling what is the difference?

Antifouling, is a technique by which boats and yachts are protected from contamination. Anti-fouling paint is used to achieve this purpose. As such, anti-fouling paint is a category within a number of types of yacht paints. Anti-fouling paint essentially prevents micro-organisms in the water from attaching themselves to the hull of the boat. They also provide protection against corrosion.

The most important arguments in favour of using antifouling coatings are:

• significantly lower fuel consumption, important not only for economic reasons, but also for lower impact on the environment.
• lowering the transfer of living microorganisms into foreign water territories (for instance the appearance of Chinese crabs outside their natural habitat).
• increase in durability of ships and yachts.

Yacht paint, as the name suggests, simply refers to the myriad of paints that are used to coat yachts for different purposes. The paints can be of different forms and compositions. Yacht paints in general, include every coating you might apply on (or in) your boat. The main yacht paints solutions are:

• Topside coatings for above the waterline
• Foul release and antifouling for protecting the under-water boat hull from microorganisms
• Deck coatings to protect the surface and increase safety

Antifouling paint for fiberglass boats 

Fiberglass boats can be quite sensitive. Underwater, the hulls made out of fiberglass can become rusty and become subject to wear and tear. Therefore, it is important to maintain them.Although, many types of paints can be utilized to protect the fiberglass hulls from damage, using anti-fouling coating can be a cost-effective measure to do the same. The coating will make sure that no micro-organisms eat on the surface. Furthermore, the coating will reinforce the hull thereby making it last longer. As such, only a little amount of maintenance would be required. Also, the hull will remain robust and corrosion resistant.

There are many types of antifouling paint for fiberglass boats; however, the suitability of a coating is also dependent on the use of the ship/boat. For example:
Hard antifouling: Gives a hard finish where biocides slowly dissolve in water. This is a coating for race yachts and power boats.
Eroding antifouling: this type is very slightly soluble in water: tiny fragments are constantly falling off revealing new biocides. Especially suitable for cruising yachts and displacement motor boats.

Single and two component yacht paints

Yacht paint gives a glossy finish and protects

1 part systems: one pot yacht paints are usually durable alkyd enamels which harden through solvent evaporation or reacting with oxygen. These systems are user friendly, easy to apply and weather resistant. They do not require diluting but can be applied straight from the can after stirring well.

Alkyd enamels are still the most popular type of finish mainly due to the fact that they provide an excellent, hard wearing surface and require the least effort.

2K coatings: As the name implies the two component systems consist of two parts which are mixed together prior to application. The coating cures through a chemical reaction between the two components. In general, 2K systems dry faster than alkyd enamels; however, they can also dry too fast: once you mix the component, you can use the coating only for a certain amount of time.

The two component coatings however, often have better gloss, colour retention, hardness, chemical- and abrasion resistance; they also in general more durable than 1 pot systems.

If the primer and undercoat layers are compatible, almost any yacht topcoat is suitable for aluminium, fibreglass, steel and galvanized steel boats.

Antifouling paint for yacht propellers

Propellers are a crucial part of a well-functioning yacht. A durable and long lasting set of propellers not only speeds up your yacht, but also allows the yacht to perform better in every other way.

Quite certainly, without the propellers, the entire yacht lacks utility. Furthermore, replacing the propellers can be quite expensive and time-consuming. Therefore, it is crucial to give the propeller proper maintenance.

Again, anti-fouling coating can be a great addition as it will prevent various microbes from damaging the propeller system. The propellers can therefore perform better and the entire system can be free from any sort of wear and tear.

Yacht paint and antifouling manufacturers and prices in Philippines

There are a number of suppliers that sell yacht and anti-fouling paints. Maincoat Inc. and Jotun paints are some of the major suppliers. The coat can cost around $100 per gallon. Be sure to connect with us if you seek professional matches within the anti fouling industry in PH.