USE YOUR BOAT

As a ‘containment strategy’ using your boat might sound counter-intuitive: visiting different anchorages would surely increase the risk? Well, not if you have a clean hull, and clean hulls are largely a function of a well-used boat.

“The most widely-used antifouls are ablative and rely on the boat moving through the water to wash away any slime layer and release the biocides in the paint,” says Peter Lawless. “Wiping off the slime every month or so – coupled with regular use of your boat – will extend the paint’s life. That way pests have less chance to adhere.”

When marine pests attach to a hull the biocides can’t be released – they are essentially blocked by the fouling. A boat lying in a marina for months – even with the best antifoul – he says, is a sitting duck.

Lawless coordinates the Top of the South