I -ANTIFOULING COATING: SEAWAX® Fouling Release

1) Is SEAWAX® Fouling Release as efficient as a market antifouling containing copper salts?

Yes it is, as it contains greasy raw material from vegetal origin active agents to repel colonization caused by sea microorganisms thanks to its properties to his self-cleaning and anti sticking properties.

2) Can SEAWAX® Fouling Release be used on other surfaces than boat hulls?

Yes, it can, as it is very efficient when applied on immersed measuring devices, on soft or rigid PVC beacon or mooring buoys, once our SEAWAX® Etch Primer is applied first.

3) Does SEAWAX® Fouling Release contain silicones?

No, it does ’not contain silicone or Tefon® or VOC (Volatil Organic Component) that could contaminate surrounding environment.

4) How does SEAWAX® Fouling Release works? What are its direct actions on sea organisms?

It makes the fixation of sea organisms very unstable. Organisms that would try to settle will come off the substrate when the boat moves because the pressure created by water flushes on the hull.

5) Is it hazardous for sea life and human health?

No, it is not as it contains no toxic biocide, such as for example, copper oxides that are normally used in this kind of paints.

6) What are the main benefits when using SEAWAX® Fouling Release?

a) It is harmless for the worker’s health, and for sea life,

b) It can be applied over clean and dry existing antifouling coatings as long as this previous coating contains no silicones or no Teflon®,

c) Drying time is shorter than paints made with organic solvents,

d) It is in aqueous phase and easier to use,

e) No VOC is released in the air,

f) No mask device is required,

g) Brushes and tools can be cleaned with tap water.

7) Can SEAWAX® Fouling Release hull repair be easily remove from the hull for repairing?

Yes, manually wash the hull using low pressure (50/60 bars) cold water with SEAWAX® Cleaner, ecological degreasing solution made from vegetal natural raw materials.

8) How many layers are needed for a first application?

When applying for the first time, apply three layers, then two layers for renewal the following years.

9) Are overlapping time and waiting time before re launching shorter than with current antifouling coatings?

Yes they are, as SEAWAX® Fouling Release is an aqueous phase mono component polyurethane paint.

10) Is there any special point to care about when hoisting the boat and getting it back to the waters?

Protect the areas in contact with the pads or the belts against ragging or tearing effects. Protect this area by a flexible plastic sheet with air bubbles. Once the boat is launched in the water and the belts released, the remaining bubbles will make the plastic sheet easy to be taken at water surface and pick up when floating.

11) How long does SEAWAX® Fouling Release duration?

Its lifetime is one year.

12) Is SEAWAX® Fouling Release compatible with aluminium, steel or iron bodies?

Yes it can, as it contains no metallic particles generating electrolysis.

13) When applying SEAWAX® Fouling Release, do you need first to remove the remains of previous anti fouling paints?

We need to apply first on top of existing paints two layers of SEAWAX® Etch Primer before applying SEAWAX® Fouling Release. Previous paint must be clean, degreased and dry.

SEAWAX® Fouling Release has no compatibility with paints containing silicone or Teflon®. In that case the boat must be sand blasted by a professional, back to hull surface level.

14) Can we use SEAWAX® Fouling Release on boats moored on beach?

No, you cannot, as repetitive contact and friction with sand or pebbles can damage the coating on different areas of the hull. Nevertheless, there is any disadvantage for the bi skittles boats.

15) If a boat is first treated with SEAWAX® Fouling Release and parked outside on the land for a long time, will the efficiency be affected?

The storage of the boat outside will not affect the efficiency of SEAWAX® Fouling Release. Contrary to the others antifouling paints containing cooper salts and requiring a short launching time. The properties of SEAWAX® Fouling Release are purely mechanical thanks to its greasy vegetal raw material. Its efficiency will never affected by a long time exposure to the open air.

II -Etch Primer: SEAWAX® Etch Primer

1) Which etch primer can I use when first applying SEAWAX® Fouling Release?

SEAWAX® Etch Primer has been especially designed for a SEAWAX® Fouling Release better adhesion and gives the final colour to the hull.

2) When preparing SEAWAX® ETCH Primer, is it necessary to mix it with a catalyst or a hardener?

No, there is no need to do so, as SEAWAX® Etch Primer is a polyurethane mono-component product already fully stabilized. It is ready for use, therefore no adding is required.

3) What the main benefits when using SEAWAX® Etch Primer?

a) it is harmless for the worker’s health, and for sea life,

b) It can be applied over an existing antifouling coating as long as this previous coating contains no silicones or Teflon®,

c) Drying time is shorter than paints made with organic solvents,

d) It is in aqueous phase, then, it is easier to use,

e) It remains flexible when dried. Then it absorbs the small dimensional variations of the hull without cracking.

f) No VOC is released in the air,

g) No mask device is required,

h) Brushes and tools can be cleaned with tap water.

4) Can one easily remove SEAWAX® Etch Primer for hull repair?

Yes, by using SEAWAX® Cleaner, ecological degreasing solution made from vegetal natural raw materials or by making a dry sanding down.

5) Is overlapping time shorter than if using regular primer coatings?

Yes, they are as SEAWAX® Etch Primer is an aqueous mono component polyurethane paint.

6) How many layers are needed for a first application?

Three layers on a porous substrate, such as wood, and two layers on polyester, steel, aluminium, PVC mooring and beacon buoys.

7) What is the required overlapping time to apply the SEAWAX® Fouling Release antifouling coating?

In the average, 40 minutes approx, for 23°C ambient temperature and 50% humidity rate. For different temperature, please refer to the SEAWAX® Etch Primer technical data sheet.

8) Do you need to re apply SEAWAX® Etch Primer at the beginning of each new season?

No, you do not, unless if the hull has been repaired in the meantime or if you wish to change the colour.

9) Can you paint SEAWAX® Etch Primer directly on top of a newly made hull?

SEAWAX® Etch Primer protects the hull against scratches and other mechanical damages, but is entirely not an anti corrosion or anti osmosis treatment.

-On top of aluminium: never paint direct on metal. First treat the surface with phosphoric acid and apply a layer of epoxy primer. When dried lightly scratch the surface with sand paper then paint with two layers of SEAWAX® Etch Primer.

-On top of a steel hull: never paint direct on metal. First apply an anti corrosion treatment. When dried lightly scratch the surface with sand paper and paint with two layers of SEAWAX® Etch Primer.

-On top of a polyester hull: never paint direct on polyester. First apply an anti osmosis treatment. When dried, lightly scratch the surface with sand paper and paint with two layers of SEAWAX® Etch Primer.

10) Can we paint SEAWAX® Etch Primer directly on top of existing previous antifouling paints and what are compatibilities?

Yes, we can paint directly on top of existing paints without scraping them away from hull.

Previous paints must be dry, clean and degreased. SEAWAX® Etch Primer has no compatibility with paints containing silicone or Teflon®. In that case, the boat must be sand blasted by a professional, back to hull surface level.