Keep It Simple

In a world where possessions and aspirations are king, simplicity is profusely underrated.

You’ll know better than any that nothing quite beats the simple pleasure of being alone at sea with a clear sky and an equally clear head. Should you saturate the boat with passengers and unnecessary equipment, your thoughts also begin to clog and underperform.

It’s coming up to one week after the turn of the New Year and, typically speaking, many of us are probably occupied with resolutions to ‘better ourselves’. As fun as it may be to criticise ourselves for not fitting into last year’s wetsuit, or for ‘forgetting’ that you promised to clear out the garden shed, self-punishment isn’t the answer.

One resolution that’s both realistic and rewarding is to make things easy for yourself. By removing the unnecessary from our lives, we are forced to dedicate our attention to the things that actually matter.

To really make things easy, it’s always best to start small.

Take your boat, for example. For maximum enjoyment, you want to spend as little time as possible on maintenance. We want to make it really simple for you. We care like that.

Maintaining your propeller can be an arduous task. When antifouling, you don’t want to spend all that sanding, mixing, and application time, just to dive down six months later to find a small town’s worth of barnacles on the blades.

Propcote doesn’t want that either.

With one simple application, you won’t need to worry for the rest of the season. The formula’s non-stick technology means even the toughest of barnacles will slip off with the push of one finger. Simply grab a squeegee and reveal the mirror-finish you admired on the first day of application.

Now doesn’t that sound better? We certainly think so.

For more information, visit our website, or tweet us @Aquacote.

NEED TO KNOW: The Fouling Process

Are you ever baffled by mysterious appearance of fouling on your boat? Shockingly, there is no magic involved. The process is very similar to how plants grow even on bare concrete.

Although admittedly a little technical, understanding the process can really help you conquer the fouling problem once and for all. Science-phobes look away now.

First of all, it’s useful to know that animal fouling only really tends to occur when the boat is stationary. Conversely, marine plant organisms can colonise vessel surfaces even during prolonged periods of movement.

The primary fouling stage is centred on the bioaccumulation of slime. Largely consisting of microalgae, this filmy layer can grow easily on bare surfaces. Even though they may appear smooth, your boat’s surfaces are extremely rough on a microscopic level. These micro-scale lumps and bumps mean the tiny plants can anchor their roots without washing off.

The primary microalgae cultivate ideal conditions for the species that make up the secondary layer. Larger organisms rely on the initial slimy weed fouling for a suitable growth substrate. Using algal tufts as a classic example, the individual secondary plants are visible to the human eye, and gain nutrients from photosynthesis. This is why growth is less pronounced on the underside of flat-bottomed boats than any other surface.

The final tertiary layer is the most popular with animal fouling species. Algal tufts provide favourable living conditions for mussels, which grow ropes to stay together, allowing remain attached to the vessel even during movement.

Phew!

In simple terms, there are a few things to take away here. First of all, it suggests that prevention really is better than cure here. Cleaning off any slime growth will save you a lot of time at the end of the season, and will cut down maintenance time at the end of the season.

Without the initial growth, the later stages can’t occur. But the really smart ones will have spotted an even better solution. Smoothing the vessel surface on a microscopic level means the initial microalgae cannot get a proper grip. Even if they settle on the side, removing them will be as easy as dusting in the house.

This is all well and good, but surely, it can’t be easy smooth a boat on a microscopic scale?

Surprisingly, Aquacote products do exactly that, with their fouling release silicone technology.

Want to know more? Visit our website www.aqua-cote.com or tweet us @Aquacote, using the hashtag #FreedomFromFouling

THE BASICS: What is a 'Foul Release System'?

Even when the water looks clean, seawaters are home to thousands of microorganisms. In fact, these tiny creatures and plankton make up 90% of ocean wildlife. This is good news for nature, but bad news for your boat.

Unprotected vessel surfaces make great homes for microorganisms, and the rough hull attracts larger organisms, like barnacles and seaweed. All of these tiny hitchhikers are referred to as ‘foul’.

Traditional antifouling paints stop this from happening by emitting biocides to prevent these marine organisms from growing on the boat. However, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has expressed concerns about their effect on marine environments.

This is where we come in.

Foul release systems provide a smooth surface (on a microscopic level) that means micro-organisms and the like will simply wash off. Often, travelling at around 10 knots is enough to remove any build-up. In most cases, an annual cleanup is necessary, but a quick brush down is all you need, and your boat will be good to go.

The slippery smooth surface a foul release system provides is also great news for your fuel efficiency. It’s good for the environment, and good for your pocket.

Want to find out more? Visit our website or tweet us @Aquacote.