Please select your home edition
Edition
X-Yachts X4.3

Marine Biosecurity: Plan B: Five alternatives to Antifoul

by Clean Below? Good to Go 21 Oct 2021 21:47 AEDT 21 October 2021
Milford Marina is located in Wairau Creek in Auckland. The fresh water in marinas like this one can help inhibit some marine growth © Marine Biosecurity NZ

Antifoul is considered our best line of defence against marine pests, but it's not the only option. From simply using your boat more often, to sophisticated technologies, here are some other options to consider.

Last week, we looked at how the industry is developing and innovating to create better, more effective antifoul coatings. This week we take a look at five other options for boat owners to consider.

Berth your boat in fresh water If you are fortunate enough to have a fresh water berthage option, perhaps in a river entrance, this is a great way to keep most marine pests off your boat and its appendages. It should be noted that there are other types of biofouling associated with fresh water and these also need to be controlled.

Store your boat on the hard Hardstand storage, a dry stack or a trailer are great ways to make sure that certain types of boats don’t get fouled. Here you need to ensure that your boat is thoroughly cleaned immediately after it comes out of the water in order to maintain the integrity of the antifouling coating.

Boat lifters Have a chat with your marina operator about the possibility of a boat lifter. Options on the market include SeaPen, FloatLift, and Float Bricks. Brent says in his experience, the most effective ones lift the boat completely out of the water. Remember that the boat lifter device itself will also need to be removed from the water for cleaning and antifouling every 18 months or so – but your boat will be free of marine pests and ready to go on its travels.

A solution for underwater fittings Propspeed and its family of foul-release products including Foulfree and Lightspeed, are developed in New Zealand and work effectively to control biofouling on propellers, shafts, struts, rudders, bow thrusters, keel coolers, swim platforms, transducers and underwater lights. Foul-release coatings use physical rather than chemical means to reduce fouling, typically by creating a surface that’s tough for marine organisms to adhere to. Propspeed can be also successfully used on composites such as on stabilizers, composite keels and rudders.

Silicone based antifoul coatings can be ideal for commercial boats Products such as Silicone based antifoul coatings – which apply a low friction surface to a vessel are ideal for commercial boats which are constantly on the move, says Brent Wilson of Marsden Cove Marina, but unfortunately less effective on recreational boats.

“The silicone option is great but if the boat doesn’t move, it doesn’t matter what you put on it, something will grow.” Take note: silicone products are also easily damaged by cleaning as well as impact.

And finally… use your boat more often

Boats that move regularly stay cleaner than boats that sit still. A great way to help prevent biofouling is to use your boat more regularly (when lockdown levels allow). So, to help slow down growth, take it out for a spin! A harbour cruise. Or get out for a race. It keeps your maintenance costs down, and helps to reduces biocide resistance too.

This is Part 2 in our special antifoul series. The information expressed in this article is the opinion of those interviewed and not necessarily that of ‘Clean Below? Good to Go’. Please seek expert advice when choosing and applying an antifoul coating.

Get more info about marine biosecurity in NZ at marinepests.nz

Related Articles

The Ocean Race Europe is heading towards its final
All to play for in the final weekend of racing in Boka Bay, Montenegro The Ocean Race Europe 2025 is heading towards its Finale in Boka Bay, Montenegro. With the last points still in play, the final coastal race on Saturday will decide the remaining positions. Posted today at 8:52 am
SailGP: Artemis is the 13th team to join SailGP
ETNZ co-helmsman Nathan Outteridge to be the helmsman for new Swedish SailGP team. SailGP CEO Russell Coutts has announced that the Swedish team Artemis is the 13th team to join the SailGP League. The helmsman will be Nathan Outteridge, currently a co-helmsman with Emirates Team New Zealand. Posted today at 8:16 am
2025 Dutch Water Week day 2
Some fleets are testing new race formats and scoring systems Day two of Dutch Water Week once again delivered classic Dutch autumn conditions: strong gusty winds, grey skies and occasional rain showers. Posted today at 7:28 am
Women's Match Racing Worlds in Chicago Day 2
Teams battle challenging conditions As racing runs into sunset in Chicago The second day of racing at the 2025 World Sailing Women's Match Racing World Championship on Lake Michigan presented challenging conditions for the twelve competing teams as a gradual easterly breeze created a sloppy short swell on the course. Posted today at 5:27 am
Womens America's Cup opportunities expand
the pathway for female athletes has never been stronger than in the Louis Vuitton 38th America's Cup 2024 and the inaugural Puig Women's America's Cup was announced following the publication of the Protocol for the Louis Vuitton 37th America's Cup in Barcelona. It was a moment not only for women's sport and equality but showed that the America's Cup was Posted today at 1:30 am
48 hours in light airs on the cards
15th Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération begins The two-handed Défi Azimut - Lorient Agglomération 48 Hours race set sail from the IMOCA headquarters at Lorient on 18th September, promising a tricky light airs contest for the 12 crews taking part. Posted on 18 Sep
OK Dinghy Worlds at Lake Garda Day 4
Andrew Mills within reach of title Two more race wins from Britain's Andrew Mills places him within one race of clinching the 2025 OK Dinghy world title on Friday. He took two more emphatic race wins on Thursday on Lake Garda in the windiest conditions so far. Posted on 18 Sep
Big colour displays
Which would you prefer? A+T Instruments will be at the Monaco Boat Show and at the Les voiles de Saint-Tropez. Hugh will be navigating on SY Sealen B, and Pete will be navigating on SY Mariella. Posted on 18 Sep
Exceptional Line-Up for Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
Over 240 remarkable yachts will take to the waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez Over 240 remarkable yachts will take to the waters of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez from September 27 to October 5, carried by the lively winds of late September that extend the Tropezian summer with its golden light. Posted on 18 Sep
2025 Dutch Water Week day 1
The format with ten participants and new race formats is being tested and evaluated From Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 September, Almere is hosting the fourth edition of Dutch Water Week. This edition serves as a pilot for the Sailing Grand Slam Final (SGS). Posted on 18 Sep
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERExcess CatamaransHenri-Lloyd Dynamic Range