Regular readers may remember that in June 2021 we began a long-term test of eight different antifouling products, from the latest silicone fouling release coatings to conventional copper-based paints and long-term treatment Coppercoat. The aim was not just to see how well they performed over a season but to assess their longevity, ease of application, environmental factors and cost.
We applied all eight products in evenly spaced vertical stripes to both sides of a regularly used Hardy 42 called Raymariner, which is owned and operated by Raymarine as a floating test bed for its navigation equipment. We also painted a GRP panel, of about one square metre in size, with the same products and in the same way as for the boat. This would allow us to see how the products performed over a longer period of time (Raymariner was repainted with fresh antifoul after our test ended last January). It is this static panel that forms the basis of this report, 18 months since the test began.
Before we get to the results, it’s important to remember that a), the static panel provided a valuable cross-check for the longer term performance of the products based on a visual assessment of the stripes, a finger swipe to see how easily any fouling came away, and a sponge wipe to check if the coating itself came away too.
