This is a quazi marketing question so bear with me. My father has a friend who is a chemist that has this clear gel that he had patented for agricultural use. He actually thinks that it may work as an anti fouling agent. It hardens pretty good but he thinks the life may only be 200 days in the water. I think it would be a great idea. It would wear completely off clean over time, and would not be as difficult to take off as a bottom paint. I have a big arse Scout that I hate jerking in and out of the water on the weekends, and think it would be great. I could keep my boat in the water most of the fishing season, and then take it out over the winter. He thinks it would go for 150.00 a gallon retail. Would any of you guys be interested in such a product?? It would kind of be a short term anti-fouling agent that is not as harsh on the hull.
Would you have to lightly sand the hull before application or just clean the gelcoat with Acetone and apply? Also, how is it applied (roller/brush or wipe on)?
From what I understand it would spray on like a paint. I know there would be no sanding. He has investigated a certain nozzle system that would accomidate it. Probably wouldn’t hurt to wipe it down with acetone. For hypothysis sake let’s not worry about that. Let’s say 150.00 for a 21’ boat or less or 300.00 for a boat up to 28’. It could be applied at a dealer for the cost of their labor. Would this be something the mosquito fleet would go for??
I’m sure you won’t have any trouble finding someone to try it for nothin.
GW 232GT Gulfstream
150Yam x 2
“3rd Day”
Gen. Chap.1 Vs.9-13
In order for it to be effective as a antifouling coating, it must have some way of killing the organisims, bottom paints have cuprous oxide in them and other biocides which kill off the organisims preventing them from growing big on the bottom of a boat. Some companies have made a super slick teflon type coating with no biocides in it, it relys on the slickness of the coating to stop the growth from ever attaching. One does not see much of that coating in use due to it not functioning or holding up very well. It is all regulated by the EPA as to how much concentration of biocides and cuprous oxide is allowed for hull coatings. About 12,15 years ago the EPA really cracked down and reduced the amount of cuprous oxide allowed in bottom paint and made stringent regulations for scraping, powerwashing and sanding coated hulls.
Sounds like this product your friend came up with might be worth investigating, if it is for agricultural use it might be a totally benign product, just all depends on its makeup. There hasen’t been many major changes in antifouling coatings scince the old ships were nailing sheets of copper to thier hulls to stop growth! Could sure use a better product then what’s currently out there.
Russ B.
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