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Marine
(Antifouling) Paints and Varnishes
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CLICK ON ANY PRODUCT TO OPEN
A DATASHEET
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FLAG Bilge Paint
A high opacity solvent based paint that’s
tolerant to oil, fuel, grease, seawater and most other things that end up in
the bilge! Available in off-white.
FLAG Cruising Antifouling Copper
based antifouling free from booster biocides. This is an economical
(cruising grade) self eroding antifouling with proven performance within
a wide variety of UK conditions and many European locations. Proven to
create less 'build up' than many traditional antifoulings. This product
is self-priming when topping up existing (similar copper based)
antifoulings; otherwise FLAG Antifouling Primer or FLAG Multi-Purpose
Metallic Primer is required. Suitable for general sailing and
displacement craft with speeds up to around 8 knots. Also suitable for
fresh water.
Universal
primer suitable for above and below the waterline on all substrates with
good waterproofing and corrosion resisting performance. Also suitable as a
primer or barrier coat under FLAG and other traditional antifoulings. Contains
leafing pigment (excellent sealing/binding properties). Easy to apply
and relatively quick drying.
Copper
based antifouling. FLAG Performance Extra Antifouling is semi-hard to
enable use in most craft up to 35 knots but still able to refresh its
surface with some mild erosion. Proven performance for all types fouling
in all waters. This product is self-priming when topping up
existing (similar copper based) antifoulings; otherwise FLAG Antifouling
Primer or FLAG Multi-Purpose Metallic Primer is required. Also suitable
for long distance cruisers or racers via the semi-hard nature of the
paint system.
Uses the
metallic copper binding with PTFE based resin to also reduce
hull friction and the chance of marine organisms getting a hold. Being a
‘hard’ antifouling it can also be burnished for a racing finish. The paint
comes premixed (although it requires thorough stirring before and during
use), can be applied over most other ‘hard’ antifoulings and is extremely
cost effective. It is therefore suitable for racing, cruising, sail, power,
high speed, drying moorings, trailer boats, sea and fresh water.
(currently only available as a made to order bulk item)
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ANTIFOULING TIPS
• If no antifouling has been applied to the hull before, it will need to be
‘keyed’. Sand it with wet & dry paper and coat it with a primer. (It may
also need to be thoroughly cleaned with a solvent to remove any mould
release agent)
• On a hull which has been antifouled previously, ensure the new paint is
compatible with the old one, or apply a barrier coat (ie. Primer). Ensure
the substrate is not flaking; do not dry sand it. If changing to FLAG
CopperQuick it is recommended to remove any other non-PTFE based paint
first.
• Check the minimum period you need to leave between coats and minimum or
maximum time the boat should be left out of the water between painting and
relaunching.
• Keep cans of paint indoors until you need them. The paint will be easier
to apply if it is not too cold.
• Use good quality masking tape to mask off the waterline. A cheaper one
could allow paint to creep underneath for a messy finish and might not peel
off cleanly.
• Choose a dry day for painting. A damp atmosphere can adversely effect
adhesion.
• Always stir the paint well. And then stir it again before tipping into the
paint tray.
• Use either a brush or a roller to apply it, but not too large a roller. A
short mohair one is ideal (or sponge roller in the case of FLAG CopperQuick which can also be sprayed).
• Work the brush or roller in a criss-cross pattern, and don’t spread the
paint too thinly. Apply an extra coat to all leading and trailing edges,
such as the waterline, bow, keels and rudders where applicable.
REMEMBER
• Preparation is everything. If the substrate isn’t smooth and sound, you
can’t blame the paint you put on top of it!
• Antifoulings change colour after immersion, generally turning a little
lighter after a couple of weeks due to oxidation. This also shows the paint
is working.
• Do not use FLAG copper based antifoulings on aluminium outdrives or zinc
anodes.
• Iron keels should be ground and brushed until bright, any rust treated
with FLAG Rust Converter and then coated with FLAG Multi Purpose Metallic
Primer before antifouling.
• FLAG Antifoulings are compatible with most other conventional antifouling
but if in doubt, a barrier coat of FLAG Multi Purpose Metallic Primer should
be applied first.
TO APPLY
• Wear protective clothing and work in an open environment. Overalls,
gloves, hat and protective eye wear are essential and a mask is advisable
too. Tip: tape up the sleeve cuffs of your overalls with some masking tape
to stop paint running up your sleeve when applying overhead.
• STIR THE PAINT! Antifouling paint contains copper which is very heavy and
easily settles. Use a flat blade stirring knife or similar (an old
screwdriver won’t do!) and when you think you have stirred it enough, stir
it again! Keep on stirring it before pouring some out into your roller tray.
Tip: Keep the cans indoors before using them as it makes them easier to use
and store the cans upside down so you start with the copper at the top.
• Although sprayable, the most common methods used are brush and roller. Use
a short mohair or sponge roller suitable for gloss paint (emulsion rollers
will disintegrate very quickly). Smaller radiator size rollers are easier to
use with such a viscous paint but may take a little longer. Use a brush to
reach all the parts inaccessible to the roller. Tip: put your tray inside a
polythene shopping bag before use so the tray stays clean.
• Apply a minimum of 2 coats with extra around the waterline, leading and
trailing edges and anywhere else where turbulence may occur.
• Ensure the paint has enough time to cure properly before immersion to
ensure adhesion. It won’t dry underwater! Applying antifouling in warm windy
conditions will accelerate drying but may lead to an ‘orange peel’ effect
finish. Generally FLAG Antifoulings do not need extra thinning but up to 10%
can be added to assist applications in quick drying conditions.
• Do not paint over anodes or transducers.
HOW
MUCH PAINT?
The most likely reason an antifouling system might under-perform, is that
the boat-owner applies it too thinly or skips a coat so that the active
ingredient is exhausted early.
Clearly to make sure you have the right amount of paint, it is important to
be able to assess the underwater area of a hull. Preferably you want to do
so in square metres as that’s how most paints are quoted these days.
The formula for doing so is waterline length x (beam + draught) x 0.85 for
motor boats, x 0.80 for long keeled yachts and 0.75 for fin keeled yachts.
Our FLAG Antifoulings have a coverage of around 10sqm/ltr and FLAG
CopperQuick covers 12sqm/ltr
However, as a rougher guide, assuming two coats are required, you could use
the following:
NB: should be used as a guide only as hull
shapes vary considerably and it’s worth erring on the side of caution.
HOW IT WORKS
All FLAG antifoulings work using high concentrations
of copper. Copper is a naturally occurring element in our environment and in
fact in small concentrations is an essential trace element in plant growth.
When mixed with a resin binder (and colour of your choice!), the active
copper is applied to the bottom of your boat such that some of the copper is
always in direct contact with the water. The copper does not poison fouling
agents like the old banned TBT (Tri butyl tin), but reacts with sea water to
create ‘free ions’ or charged particles which in turn creates an unfriendly
environment for sea creatures to adhere too. (think licking the end of a 9V
battery and you’ll get the idea!)
FLAG does not use any additional organic biocides in its formulations,
maintaining only the use of naturally occurring inorganic compounds as the
active ingredient.
FLAG Performance Extra has one of the highest concentrations of copper
currently available and is made hard enough to be used on all types of craft
in all environments.
FLAG Cruising Antifouling has less copper concentration and is made slightly
softer so that fresh copper is exposed more quickly but is therefore more
suitable for displacement craft in medium fouling areas.
FLAG Antifoulings can be used on all substrates (wood, GRP, steel, ferro
etc) except aluminium as galvanic action between the copper and aluminium
will lead to serious corrosion.
WHY 2 COATS?
In order to gain the best performance from your
antifouling, we would always recommend two coats. This is because however
well you prepare the bottom of your boat, the difference in height between
the high and low points of the substrate surface are invariably going to be
greater than a single film of antifouling. That means the first coat dries
to leave the ‘valleys’ coated but the ‘peaks’ still sticking out of the
paint. Within a short space of time, algae will adhere to the peaks,
followed by weed and later animal growth, by which time it’s grown a bridge
across the valleys and the system has failed. By applying 2 (or more) coats,
the substrate is completely covered thereby producing an homologous surface
that does not allow any fouling to attach itself. Don’t be tempted to take a
look at a hull you’ve just painted and say it looks covered either –
remember for a paint to dry it will have to lose its solvent carrier and
thereby shrink back somewhat.
As with all antifouling paint, it’s the amount of active ingredient that is
applied to the hull which is the important attribute. Thinning it down or
buying ‘extra value’ cans with so much ‘free’ may give you more paint but
isn’t necessarily applying more antifouling. FLAG Antifoulings are supplied
in 2.5 litre cans and contain some of the highest concentrations of active
ingredients in their class.
VARNISH PRODUCTS
(Solvent-Based)
Cellulose
Lacquers
Quick drying lacquers for furniture. Spray applied to
give hard durable finish (a special order only product)
General Purpose
Varnish Flexible gloss general purpose varnish, good exterior
durability.
Polyurethane
Varnish Hard, durable clear varnish suitable for wood flooring,
furniture etc. Dries quickly to give a vary hard finish.
Pure Shellac
Varnish Heavy-duty shellac finish used where a traditional French
Polish finish is not required. Used as a protective coating on packing
boxes.
Quick Drying
Polyurethane Varnish Quick drying varnish giving a hard durable gloss
finishes. Ideal for commercial use where speed of drying is essential.
Yacht Varnish Highly durable exterior varnish giving good weathering
and UV resistant properties, non-yellowing high gloss finish.
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