Yacht-Paint News

Boero Introduces Fluorescent paint

 B-LIGHT will be the latest new product that Boero launches into its  Yachtcoatings range. The fluorescent paint will obviously collect light during the day and gives of this light with a stunning effect during the night.

The paint can be easily applied by spray, brush or roller. The fluorescent effect will have the best result with the following main colors : Blue, Green and yellow. Other colors are possible, but the effect is noticable less.

The possibilities seem to be endless. One can think about painting the name of the yacht with B-Light, but also the stairs leading to the first or second deck. Obviously as long as the object is able to collect a large amount of light during the day it will be able to deliver a long lasting bright shine during the night. Even artistic objects could be treated with B-light to be visible during the dark hours....

The paint can be easily applied by spray, brush or roller. The fluorescent effect will have the best result with the following main colors : Blue, Green and yellow. Other colors are possible, but the effect is noticable less.

The possibilities seem to be endless. One can think about painting the name of the yacht with B-Light, but also the stairs leading to the first or second deck. Obviously as long as the object is able to collect a large amount of light during the day it will be able to deliver a long lasting bright shine during the night. Even artistic objects could be treated with B-light to be visible during the dark hours....

B-LIGHT will be the latest new product that Boero launches into its Yachtcoatings range. The fluorescent paint will obviously collect light during the day and gives of this light with a stunning effect during the night.

The paint can be easily applied by spray, brush or roller. The fluorescent effect will have the best result with the following main colors : Blue, Green and yellow. Other colors are possible, but the effect is noticable less.

The possibilities seem to be endless. One can think about painting the name of the yacht with B-Light, but also the stairs leading to the first or second deck. Obviously as long as the object is able to collect a large amount of light during the day it will be able to deliver a long lasting bright shine during the night. Even artistic objects could be treated with B-light to be visible during the dark hours....

Interlux launches new varnish and wood treatment products

Interlux likes to announce the launch of Perfection® Plus, Schooner® Gold & Compass, available from October 2009.

Perfection Plus is a clear, two-part polyurethane with prolonged chemical and abrasion resistance and superior UV protection and the company says it’s the best performing product they’ve ever seen, proving high gloss retention well over 80% even after 12 months in Florida. Perfection Plus has a service life of up to four times longer than conventional one-part varnish products. With an exceptional, high-clarity, high gloss finish, Perfection Plus can be applied direct to substrate or, alternatively, used in conjunction with Clear Wood Sealer – a fast-drying, colorless, two-part polyurethane primer – to reach up to as much as 40% reduction in process time, saving significant costs for boat builders and boat yards.

Schooner Gold also enters the market and with its advanced UV package and outstanding gloss, it is the longest-lasting one-part varnish Interlux has ever observed. Test results, conducted by Interlux in Florida over a 12-month period, have proven the gloss retention of Schooner Gold to outlast other leading varnish products. Additional benefits include a reduction in the need to sand in between each coat, which saves labor effort, time and costs. The traditional, warm amber hue of Schooner Gold enhances the color of natural wood. Schooner Gold has been optimized for application in warm and higher temperature climates.

Compass complements the traditional qualities of Schooner Gold with a brand new, fast-drying extremely durable one-part polyurethane varnish. Offering reduced labor and project time: Apply 2 coats per day – dust contamination is minimized – sanding only after every 2nd or 3rd coat.

Consistent with all Interlux high performance varnishes, Compass contains ‘best in class’ HALS (Hindered Amine Light Stabilizers) and UV absorbers to protect wooden substrates from sunlight degradation, enhance durability and prolong the lifespan of the coating. Compass is light amber in color to emphasize the natural appearance of wood. Superior flow and application characteristics ensure a smooth, professional finish.

Perfection Plus, Schooner Gold & Compass can be applied direct to all types of wood, including oily timbers such as teak and mahogany.

Interlux starts with Copper free antifouling in the USA

In a statement from Union today, Interlux Vice President of Marketing Bob Donat said “Interlux is proud to introduce Pacifica Plus, the first antifouling paint with Econea for pleasure craft. Econea is a new antifouling agent that targets shell fouling. Pacifica Plus provides an alternative to boat owners, boatyards and those in the boating community looking for a copper free antifouling paint.”

Formulated to meet the most stringent VOC regulations in the country, Pacifica Plus uses a controlled biocide release mechanism to combat fouling and Biolux® Technology to control slime. It erodes away over time, which reduces paint build-up and minimizes surface preparation when it is time to recoat. Boatyards will love the fast-dry properties of Pacifica Plus, which allow boats to be painted and launched the same day.

Pacifica Plus will be available in late spring 2009 (in the U.S. only) in clean, crisp, bright colors including blue, black and red and is compatible with most other antifouling paints. Being copper free, Pacifica Plus is ideal for use on all underwater metal surfaces including fiberglass, wood and aluminum. The high solids, low VOC formula has proven effective for power and sail boats.

ECONEA™, a metal-free antifouling agent, protects boat hulls without accumulating in the marine environment. Compared to metal-based antifouling products, ECONEA™ offers clear advantages: Effective at low usage levels, Better for the environment,Long-lasting protection,Better color selection,Better color stability,Ideal for all types of boat hulls,Extended service life,Enables weight reduction.

Ultrasonic Antifouling : A new smart system without using paint

Ultrasonic Antifouling is adding 'intelligent' switch mode technology to its Ultra system with the new Ultra 10 dual and Ultra 20 dual.

This smart recognition technology recognizes the power supply available and automatically switches to the best option, removing the possibility of the unit being accidentally switched off.
The benefit of this technology is that the Ultra system works constantly to protect your hull from fouling, so if you have a pontoon berth and you remove your shore power, the system will automatically switch to your boat's battery supply.  Conversely, when you return to your berth, the system will automatically switch back to shore power supply. This new addition means that Ultrasonic Antifouling now recognizes when the power supply changes and switches to compensate, so you can fit it and forget it.  There's no maintenance and now with the new smart recognition technology, once fitted, you never have to give antifouling another thought.

Ultrasonic Antifouling has many benefits over other sonar products in the market.  The Ultra system uses just one transducer for boats up to 10 metres and only two for boats up to 20 metres.  Other systems may claim smaller power consumptions, but use many more transducers.  The Ultra system is neat and unobtrusive and can be self-installed.  Other systems have to be installed by a specifically trained engineer at extra cost, or risk negating the warranty.  The Ultra system is simple and easy to install for any DIY handyman - and the warranty stands whoever fits it.  Units are available and can be despatched from stock straight away, there's no waiting for product to arrive and the Ultra system is now available worldwide either through a dealer network, or direct from the UK.  Best of all is the price - it costs around 50% less than other similar products (and that's even before you take into account the cost of installation for other systems).

Ultrasonic Antifouling has now been fitted to hundreds of boats all over the world with fantastic results.  See www.ultrasonic-antifouling.com for testimonials from some of Ultrasonic Antifouling's happy users or for more information.

Specification and prices

Dual voltage units: switching between 12 - 24v and 100 - 240v incorporating a smart recognition feature.
Power consumption: maximum 20watts (depending on power source)
Weight: 2.5 kg approx depending on model

Ultra 10 dual System, single transducer - £899 ex VAT
Ultra 20 dual System, twin transducers - £1599 ex VAT

Ultrasonic Antifouling has appointed three new retailers, selling to both trade and consumers, in the territories of France, The Caribbean and Finland.  All will specialise in the sale and installation of Ultrasonic Antifouling equipment.

In France, Ultrasonic Antifouling will be represented by TIBONOTIK, in Finland by MarineMan and in the Carribean, Guadeloupe, St. Martin and Martinique, by Madco.

The French company TIBONOTIK has been set up by Thibaut Lehouck specifically to sell Ultrasonic Antifouling products. Thibaut was so impressed with the units that he started up TIBONOTIK exclusively to retail and promote them.

Located in Helsinki, MarineMan imports and provides specialist components for the Marine industry. Ole Sandaman, Managing Director of MarineMan, has over 40 years experience in the marine industry and recognised the potential of Ultrasonic Antifouling.  He is now delighted to have the rights to Ultrasonic Antifouling as part of MarineMan’s portfolio.

Madco are a large, established company, specialising in the sale and distribution of marine equipment.  Hervé Claret of Madco is well known and respected, with extensive contacts, and is looking forward to promoting Ultrasonic Antifouling throughout the islands of the Caribbean.

Head Office remains in the UK and will continue to sell and distribute product throughout the rest of the world.

David Sothcott, Managing Director of Ultrasonic Antifouling, commented, “The three new ‘concessionaires’ are professional retailers of marine equipment and we are very pleased they have agreed to represent us in their respective countries.  We are looking forward to working with all of our new retailers to significantly grow the Ultrasonic Antifouling brand presence within these markets. Ultrasonic Antifouling already has a strong presence across the world and we plan to extend that in the coming years by providing an excellent sales network for Ultrasonic Antifouling products.”
Hundreds of Ultrasonic Antifouling units have now been fitted to boats in almost every country across the world, with fantastic results. Over 400 units have been sold in the last 12 months to boat owners in the UK, Europe, Australia, The Middle East, the U.S.A and The Far East, making it likely to be the biggest selling of the ultrasonic antifouling products.

The appointment of these three new retailers will increase the level of sales and service support for existing and future Ultrasonic Antifouling customers

 

Hempel claims to have the answer with Hempasil X3

Cutting-edge hydrogel fouling technology – HEMPASIL X3 has a unique blend of silicone polymers
that form a hydrogel microlayer between the paint surface and the seawater. The result is dramatically enhanced fouling release properties, and improved self-cleaning potential.

Document fuel savings as you go – HEMPASIL X3 is backed up by the innovative SeaTrend
software programme. Designed by FORCE Technology, SeaTrend monitors the performance of
your paint, enabling you to track your fuel consumption.

Fuel savings guarantee – fouling release coatings work because they reduce hull friction,
thereby improving fuel effi ciency. So it stands to reason that the better the coating, the
better the savings. Suffice it to say that we’re so confident in HEMPASIL X3’s performance,
we’re guaranteeing it will save you money on fuel.

Save at lower speeds – unlike most fouling release coatings, HEMPASIL X3 works just as
effectively at lower speeds. In fact, HEMPASIL X3’s self-cleaning ability is equally as potent
at 8 knots as it is at 15 knots.

Longer service intervals – most fouling release coatings work well for the first two or three
years and cease being effective after five years. HEMPASIL X3 is different. It offers fuel
savings over an impressive 90-month period, dramatically reducing drydock cost.

Euronav chooses Hempel’s fouling release silicone for two Tankers

Euronav has made an agreement with Hempel to apply Hempasil, the company's silicone fouling release system, to its two ultra-large crude carriers, the TI Asia and the TI Europe. The 380-meter tankers, which have a deadweight tonnage of more than 440,000 tons, will drydock for maintenance and survey later this year. 

Hempel has worked closely with Euronav, an integrated tanker company which owns and manages a fleet of 36 crude oil tankers, to achieve this partnership. The Hempasil specification is guaranteed for five years and has a potential lifetime of a further five years, according to the company.

Hempasil is a silicone-based topcoat with outstanding adhesion properties incorporating Nexus tiecoat technology, which ensures a chemical bond between the epoxy anticorrosion layer and the silicone-based topcoat.

“This Nexus tiecoat is the key to achieving the excellent adhesion performance, which resists even strong abrasion,” said Hempel’s Torben Rasmussen, product manager, group marine marketing.

“Minimizing maintenance as well as maintaining a smooth hull during the entire service period is vital for efficient operation of our vessels, and a silicone fouling release product helps us to achieve this,” added Paul Moeyaert, general manager, Euronav ship management. “We also believe that the smoother topcoat should give us a reduction in fuel consumption and therefore reduce carbon emissions. This will also help us reduce the amount of biocides released into the sea, making our operations even more environmentally friendly.”   

Hempel’s own studies show that the reduced drag from Hempasil can deliver substantial fuel savings compared with premium tin-free antifoulings.

“By blasting back to bare metal and applying a high-quality anticorrosive coating system, we can extend the lifetime of the Hempasil system," said Rasmussen. "When the initial service time of five years has passed, the fouling release performance can be brought back to standard and reactivated by applying a fresh layer of topcoat."

The TI ASIA will drydock in Dubai where a full Hempasil system will be applied. ( source Coatings World )

Epifanes introduces new Seapower cleaners and Neosil fouling release system

Epifanes, the paint company from Aalsmeer, Holland is proud to present several new products for the maintenance of recreational yachts. For many years Seapower has offerd the best cleaning solution and protection of your boat, car or mobile home. Besides focusing on quality improvement, special attention is given for optimizing ease of use. As a result Seapower products can be used in both cold and warm weather and in full sun or shady conditions. Seapower has a practical solution for almost all surfaces such as polyester, painted surfaces, rubber, metal and wood. Most Seapower products can be applied by hand or by rotating polishing machines up to 1500 RPM. Seapower products are highly concentrated so little is needed for efficient cleaning, creating good value for money.

Cleaning regularly not only gives a shiny look but also delivers a long-lasting protection-layer against deterioration of the surface.

Epifanes Neosil Fouling Release System; a unique new formula for years of fouling free sailing

Epifanes Neosil is the latest state-of-the-art fouling release system (FRS) using silicon technology. The underwater surface of Epifanes Neosil is so slick and slippery that fouling has no chance of getting grip.

Neosil does not need to be reapplied every year. Neosil Topcoat will prevent fouling growth up to 5 years without hauling the ship. for more info click here !

New Nautical Coatings announces tin free Biocop TF Sea Hawk antifouling

Environmental regulations banning tin-based antifouling in the U.S. have left boaters searching for an effective alternative. Thanks to Sea Hawk's investment in extensive biocide research and development, new tin-free Biocop TF protects hulls in the harshest fouling situations. It is also environmentally friendly. Rigorous quality assurance testing has proved that Biocop TF outperforms previous tin-based products in both fresh and saltwater.

The multi-season paint uses a mixture of two effective biocides specifically formulated for ecologically safe biocide release. Biocop TF is a multi-season, self-polishing antifouling that helps improve fuel consumption and minimizes hull maintenance.

The paint is available in the popular marine colors red, light blue, dark blue, black, grey, green and teal. Biocop TF has excellent color-consistency to minimize shading issues.

It applies by brush, roller or spray with a consistent viscosity for better flow and rolling ability. Biocop TF may be applied over properly prepared tin-based paint on vessels from megayachts to runabouts. Available in quart, gallon, and five-gallon sizes, each gallon covers about 400 sq. ft. at the recommended film thickness. However it needs to be said that Seahawk was among the last companies in the USA, not to mention Europe to say goodbye to Tin antifouling.Biocop TF, along with Sea Hawk's complete line of environmentally friendly protection systems, are available through Sea Hawk certified applicators and many local boatyards. Sea Hawk Biocop TF is backed by a 12-month guarantee. Florida-based, family owned New Nautical Coatings constantly invests in new technology to deliver superior products. Its well-known Sea Hawk antifoulants Cukote, Tropikote, Monterey, Biocop TF, Mission Bay and Islands 77 Plus are part of a complete line of quality coatings systems.More info, click here.

Awlgrip launches temporary coating

Awlgrip is launching a new temporary, peelable coating, AwlCoat TPC, designed specifically to protect a freshly painted yacht surface from contaminants during assembly, production and transit.

When professionally applied, one application of AwlCoat TPC dries to form a tough, light grey protective film. Ideal for boatbuilders and yards, AwlCoat TPC provides excellent protection against a wide range of contaminants including dust, oil, grease, and fly rust, as well as coating overspray.

The single component, waterbased, temporary coating can be applied using standard industrial spray equipment, either conventional or airless spray. For smaller areas, a standard paint roller or brush can also be used. Awlgrip recommends using AwlCoat TPC over AwlgripP® Topcoat & AwlCraft® 2000.

AwlCoat TPC can be easily peeled off at a range of temperatures so that when it is no longer required or before the finished yacht is handed over to the customer, the coating is completely removed.

Zeca system allows aluminum yachts to use copper antifouling

The ZECA System is a proprietary anti-corrosive and barrier coating system for the protection of aluminium alloy hull immersed surfaces - specifically allowing the use of copper-based anti-foulings such as Altex  Supernavi AF 619 and AF 633.
Not all alloy hulls are suited to this application and on no account should the system be used on stern-drives or outboard motors.
It is well recognised that the use of copper anti-fouling coatings, even bronze fittings, in direct connection with aluminium in the presence of an electrolyte such as seawater can cause massive corrosion and depletion of the aluminium.
It is less well known, but nonetheless not uncommon practice, that copper based anti-fouling coatings can be applied to aluminium hulls as long as there is an efficient dielectric (electrically insulating) coating between the aluminium substrate and the copper anti-fouling.
The safe performance of such a coating system depends entirely on the insulating coating remaining intact and not allowing direct contact of both the copper and the aluminium with the common electrolyte - seawater.
Obviously as minor in-service underwater damage areas add up, exposing more and more aluminium, the risks of aluminium sacrificial corrosion increase with this simple 'insulation coating' concept.
Until the development of the ZECA System, originally in Canada in collaboration with the Alcan Aluminium Company, there was no coating system that provided a high level of protection for aluminium hulls using copper based anti-foulings - essential for increased hull efficiencies and decreased docking frequency.
In 1988-89 the Alcan Company smelter in British Columbia installed the ZECA System on their freight and passenger ferries and have since then continued enjoying the benefits of copper based anti-fouling protection to the present day.
The ZECA System retains the principle of installing an efficient water-barrier and dielectric coating but has the added advantage of a unique primer, the lynch-pin of the system - ZECA Primer.
The unusual chemical and physical qualities of the ZECA Primer give added protection when the underwater protective and anti-fouling system is breached to the aluminium substrate. Working vessels subject to underwater damage, such as fishing vessels, mussel harvesters, work barges, landing-craft etc. are offered advanced security and protection between extended dry-docking times.
The final tested 'ingredient' for the ZECA System is the importance of deploying only pure zinc anodes, not zinc alloy anodes or aluminium alloy anodes.