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ANTIFOULING CHANGES


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Yes, I know, here we are again. I've been in touch with the Altex rep because for the first time in 15 years I'm having problems with Altec No5.

I got more growth and barnacles than ever, plus a few new greeblies.. The rep told me that they  had not changed the formula, but were experimenting with new stuff as they acknowledge that the environment has changed.

I see that Burnsco is promoting an AF I haven't seen before - SeaHAwk AF33, more expensive [ of course!].

I  haven't managed to find out much about it - has anyone tried it, used it, seen any reports on it?

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"The trailerable AF-33 and Smart Solutions, the only completely metal-free paint in the test, also repelled barnacles. Both, however, had moderate coats of algae that would require cleaning to remove. "

Practical sailor- test https://www.practical-sailor.com/boat-maintenance/paints/bottom-paint-test-checkup  2012 updated 2021

Another update here https://www.practical-sailor.com/boat-maintenance/real-world-antifouling-testing 

A lot of the paints are not available here. I think Micron CSC is the only one available here.

 I bit the bullet and went back to International Ultra 2 but waiting for travel lift to complete maintenance.  Quayside boatyard,  Mahurangi river.

Seriously thinking of going back to coppercoat as have joined HIBC that has a grid to wipe slime of regularly and reburnish.

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Yes Altex did change formula a year or two ago, confirmed by the lacal Altex rep down here, I am having he same poor performance. Will change away from Altex next repaint in 16 months time.

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Sea Zone60 has been around for several years now. It does perform marginally better than the cheaper antifouls but still doesnt deal with the Bay of Islands barnies (My experience)

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By chance I spoke to the Altex  rep yesterday he advised there is are a few new antifouls heading to the market mid next year and to quote " the on the water Boat Show will be a good place to see if timing works out,  there is to be no press or public release until they are ready to go" I've heard product certification is pending .

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On 1/08/2025 at 5:32 PM, OkeBay said:

Sea Zone60 has been around for several years now. It does perform marginally better than the cheaper antifouls but still doesnt deal with the Bay of Islands barnies (My experience)

I was thinking of using it as it can be used over Altex number 5, but they recommend 3 coats with minimum 9 hours recoat in time which makes for a bit of a longer stay on the hard stand. Might stick with number 5 again this year and see what comes up in the future. 

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Based on anecdotes from fellow boaties over the years I have tried dosing my AF with 

Ivermectin

Roundup

Cayenne pepper 

I could not detect any benefit at all other than the Pepper made for a good underwater anti-skid finish, a mate tried dosing it with an antibiotic which also didn't work.

Just my experience, others might have had more luck 

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IMO if you think you can use a legal additive and improve an antifouling designed by industrial chemists and biologists you're dreaming. Most likely you'll make it worse. The most effective ingredient was Tributyltin - now illegal in most jurisdictions. See https://ftloscience.com/tragic-tale-tributyltin/ 

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Yup.  The wide range of active ingredients proposed (an intestinal parasite drench, a metabolic disrupter for green leafed plants, and an alkaline flavouring agent) suggests not a great understanding of the biochemistry at play...

 

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The rep also commented that  Altex AF has a comparatively high percentage of Cuprous Oxide so adding more of  that probably wouldn't help either.

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Spoke to the rep yesterday.  The new "Repel"  which has been awesome in testing is anywhere between one month and 100 years from market.  They don't know.  The powers that be haven't told them when its being tested.  He reckoned that Ivomectin will give you healthier barnacles.

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As responsible boaties its important our barnacles are made to finish their course of antibiotics or they may become drug resistant  and continue to multiply in fact the barnacles on my hull are already showing signs of that :-)

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