Which type is best for me?
The severity of fouling can vary dramatically depending upon the temperature, water salinity, water flow, time of year and amount of sunlight.
Seajet coatings are designed to cope with a wide spectrum of fouling and are used successfully throughout all corners of the world. We offer three main product types with solutions available for all substrates and mooring conditions.
Self Polishing (Eroding) – the popular choice
Self-polishing types such as Seajet 031 Samurai, 033 Shogun, 034 Emperor and 039 Platinum have been manufactured scientifically to gradually erode away in a controlled fashion. Advanced polishing mechanisms ensure a fresh layer of effective biocide and co-biocide is constantly exposed to the surface area keeping fouling at bay.
Following re-immersion, a chemical reaction combined with the physical movement of water across the hull triggers the formulation to start eroding in a consistent and reliable fashion. An analogy would be to think of a bar of soap, and how this constantly wears away through use.
Due to the relatively soft nature of the formulations, self-polishing types are not recommended for yachts with drying-moorings.
Most users find the Seajet self-polishing antifouling very hard to beat and provided enough film coating has been supplied from the outset, nothing more than an annual check and jet-wash to clear away slime and revive the coating is normally all that is needed until it’s time to re-apply.
Hard Types – for ultra fast hulls and drying-moorings
Due to the leaching nature of the biocide, hard types, such as Seajet 037 Coastal, are more resistant to abrasion and eroding. Therefore, yachts with drying moorings need hard types to resist the potential for short-lived erosion of the coating.
In these rugged conditions, liberal coats and re-application on an annual basis is recommended.
Owners of racing yachts for example find hard types advantageous because they lend themselves to burnishing with wet & dry paper, prior to launching.
Equally, owners of fast motor boats find that hard types work best for them by staying intact even at high hull planning speeds up to 70 knots in some cases.
Non-biocidal and Foul Release types
Non-biocidal types, such as 036 Shogun-Eco, are the popular choice for customers who insist upon copper free coatings. Likewise, customers who use their boats in those few remaining countries that still have restrictions in place on the use of copper find this technology ideal.
It’s worth noting, however, this technology tends to polish more quickly than other systems so, if in doubt, apply one extra coat from the outset.
As the term suggests Foul Release types rely upon the ultra-slippery nature of the treated surface on which fouling simply finds it difficult to adhere to. In the case of Seajet Peller Clean – a silicon based eco-friendly coating for props and stern gear – fouling may visibly gather on the surface, but detaches itself as soon as the yacht moves through the water and/or the propeller starts to turn.