Marine Growth Prevention Methods For Your Boat

If you have been a yacht owner for even a little bit, you will know that a boat in water will attract a variety of marine life to stick onto it’s hull, propellers, and running gear. The growth of algae, barnacles, and other marine life on a boat is a process called biofouling. If left unaddressed, biofouling can decrease the efficiency of your vessel and reduce its life span by corroding key components and even causing blockages. Algae prevention and other marine growth prevention is an important part of ensuring your boat stays in top shape and performs like new. Check out these four key ways you can prevent marine growth on your boat’s hull.

Bottom Painting With Anti-Fouling Paint

A boat’s hull needs to have a layer of protection to stop marine growth from sticking onto its surfaces. This protective layer is provided by two coats or more of anti-fouling paint which is designed to protect marine growth from clinging onto the bottom half of your boat. When looking for the best boat bottom paint, make sure it has anti-fouling properties. Whether you are using marine paint or gel coat paint, make sure your yacht hull painting specialists apply an anti-fouling paint layer to ensure marine growth and algae prevention.

Invest In An Marine Growth Prevention System

In addition to anti-fouling paint, you can also invest in an anti-fouling system to further help with marine growth prevention on your boat’s hull and running gear. There are a few types of anti-fouling systems to choose from.

• Electrolytic Anti-Fouling System – A DC current is passed through pairs of copper and aluminum or iron anodes which produces copper ions. Copper ions prevent marine organisms from settling down on the boat’s surface.
• Ultrasonic Anti-Fouling System – High frequency waves are used to prevent marine growth and even reduce biofouling on a boat’s full and piping systems. This is known t be a highly effective method that not only keeps your hull cleaner, but also extends the life of bottom paint.
• Chemical Dosing – Small doses of anti-fouling chemical such as ferrous chloride or ethyl alcohol based chemical dispersant is periodically injected into the seawater cooling system close to the seawater intake point, typically in the sea water boxes. This creates a protective layer that prevents marine growth and corrosion in the boat’s pipework.
• Electro-Chlorination Anti-Fouling System – Chlorine is generated at platinum-coated titanium anodes to produce sodium hypochlorite which prevents biofouling. This system creates an environment where barnacles, algae, and other marine organisms are not able to survive.

Regular Bottom Cleaning Sessions

Anti-fouling paint and marine growth prevention systems can only go so far in keeping your boat’s hull and running gear clean and clear. Eventually, marine organisms will find a way to stick onto your hull’s surface and quickly expand. That’s when consistent boat bottom cleaning comes in to regularly scrub away marine growth build up from your vessel. Whether you book an underwater boat cleaning session or schedule a haul-out, bottom cleaning is an integral part of effective yacht maintenance.

Yacht Management South Florida, Inc. specializes in complete yacht care. As such, we offer expert boat bottom cleaning and hull painting services at our South Florida marina and boatyard. Certified yacht technicians will work hard to ensure your boat is well-maintained and splash ready. To schedule services or a haul-out at our full-service boatyard, contact us today!