Sailing vessels tend to suffer severely from the growth of barnacles and weed on the hull, called ‘fouling’. Thin sheets of copper or similar metal are nailed onto the hull in an attempt to prevent marine growth, as this affected performance in many ways.
Fouling brings with it many adverse effects:
• The maximum speed of a ship decreases as its hull becomes fouled with marine growth;
• It hampers a ship’s ability to sail upwind;
• Some marine growth, such as shipworms, can bore into the hull, causing severe damage over time.
The origins of anti-fouling paints
One of the first anti-fouling paints in the world was produced In 1875 by Vittorio Grego from Trieste. This was composed of powdered copper, which gave the painted hulls a golden appearance. For this reason Grego named his anti-fouling Nubiana, hence the present day brand name Nubian.
Anti-fouling paint consists of a specialised coating applied to the hull of a ship or boat in order to slow the growth of organisms that attach to the hull affecting a vessel’s performance.
Modern anti-fouling paints
Today, anti-fouling paints are formulated with either toxic copper, or other biocides. The latter are special chemicals which impede growth of barnacles, algae, and marine organisms. Anti-fouling paints come in several types.
Hard-bottom, or hard-racing paints
Contact leaching or self-leaching paints create a porous film on the surface.
Some modern, hard-bottom paints also include Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which makes surfaces too slippery for any growth to stick. This type of anti-fouling paint also guarantees the maximum speed for your boat.
Some innovative bottom paints that do not rely on copper have been introduced in response to the increasing scrutiny that copper-based, self-leaching bottom paints have received as environmental pollutants.
Nubian manufactures all of the above types of anti-fouling paints – including a PTFE-based type that guarantees maximum speed – as well as other products for the full maintenance of your boat. For full details call sole agents C.E.F. (Trading) Co. Ltd on 2123 6732 or send an e-mail to info@ceftrading.com.
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