You’ve had a great summer on the water, perhaps you’ve been enjoying some watersports with the family on your RIB or maybe you’ve been racing at world famous events such as Cowes Week and Round the Island, but the time has come to take your boat out of the winter for the season. So what now? It’s time to antifoul! Perhaps you’ve done this a million times before, or maybe this is your first season of sailing. Either way, we have some great tips from the pros and some stellar deals to help you prepare for the 2019 boating season.

Even for the saltiest of seadogs, selecting the right antifoul for your boat (and the right amount) can be confusing. We quizzed Andy, who works at our 4000 square foot chandlery in Endeavour Quay, Gosport.

Why is antifoul important?

Antifouling your boat is important as it provides protection to the hull from marine growth (algae, seaweed, barnacles). A heavily fouled boat can suffer significant performance reduction in speed up to 5kts in fast power craft and can increase fuel consumption by 30%

How often do you need to antifoul?

Generally, your boat will need to have fresh antifoul applied every 1-2 years, depending on use and area the boat is moored in (some area have higher marine growth rates) - regular use and a lift and scrub every 6months or so will help to maintain the condition of your hull and prolong the effectiveness of your anti-foul

What are the main different kinds of antifoul?

There are two main types of antifoul used by leisure boaters. They are self polishing / eroding anti foul paints which are suitable for non-planing and planing boats with a cruising speed of less than 25kts (yachts and smaller power boats) or hard / semi-permanent antifoul paints which are suitable for boats whose speed regularly exceeds 25kts (large fast power boats and racing yachts). We also recommend that any boat that is on a tidal mooring where the boat will sit in mud, gravel etc at low tide use a hard antifouling as this helps the paint from being worn away too quickly

What do you need to do to a boat before applying antifoul?

Before you apply your antifoul you need to ensure that your hull is prepared correctly - a jet wash and scrub will ensure that any marine growth is removed. If applying your paint over existing anti-foul then a light keying in with some sandpaper or wet n dry will help it to adhere. Use masking tape along all edges to ensure crisp lines. Apply paint with a good quality roller to achieve a good even finish - you're not painting a mural, but you still want it to look nice! If you are going to remove all the old anti-foul then you will need to either have the hull sand blasted or a good anti-foul stripper, scraper and some good old fashioned elbow grease to get the job done. You will need to use a suitable primer on the hull before you apply your anti-foul.

What deals do YouBoat currently have on antifoul?

At YouBoat we continue to offer competitive prices on all our antifoul paints. You can see our Best Quality Antifouling Products here or pop into one of our stores.

Choosing the right antifoul for your boat can be quite a confusing and daunting task. Please feel free to come into the shop or give us ring and our staff will only be too happy to discuss, advise and recommend the right antifoul for you and your boat.

We hope we’ve got you in the mood for some nautical TLC, and if you have any other questions we are always happy to help, simply email websales@youboatmarine.com. For all your chandlery needs, visit our website or in store in Gosport.