Anti-Fouling Facts

Shane Subichin, GM of Queensland boatyard The Boat Works, says the most common mistake made by boat owners in relation to antifouling is waiting too long to antifoul in an attempt to save money … which actually results in the opposite, as they’ll generally have more issues with the boat, costing more in the long run.

“Cleaning a neglected hull is far more tedious than regular maintenance,” says Shane. “Other issues can also occur when antifouling is neglected, such as engines overheating because of blockages in the raw-water intake, or electrolysis because the anodes can’t do their work – that’s a high risk, especially on alloy hulls and components like sterndrives and saildrives.

If an Insurance claim is lodged, and the boat owner has neglected their boat or undertaken repairs or maintenance that don’t comply with a manufacturer’s recommendations and this has led to the issue occurring, then there’s a fair chance the claim will be rejected.

Biofouling on a hull forms a rough surface, which creates drag that slows the boat down, reduces manoeuvrability and impacts fuel efficiency. If the growth infiltrates moving parts and hull openings, these can seize up or block, potentially causing all sorts of trouble.

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