Antifoul that works?

[Bad Kitty 342]

Hiya Team, OK, we’ve all had this question before but here we go, what Antifoul is working these days?

Got Hempel Globic NCT9000 at present, which doesn’t seem that good?

Used to use Micron 66, but feel that the Micron 77 wasn’t as effective? 

But now there’s no nasties in it, maybe nothing is that good?

Boating is around d Auckland, Waiheke, Barrier, then up the coast every Xmas for 6 weeks.

Sailing cruising cat, bit faster than average production apartment block but no race boat.

Cruises at 8-14 knots?

Thanks in advance, popcorn & wine at hand!

[aardvarkash10 1,159]

Following.  Have to change from Warpaint...  A bit slower in the speed department than Kitty, and we live in the southern Big Muddy River (Clevedon)

[Frank 217]

There are lots of anecdotes about which brand works best mine included but my take on it is that despite a lot of noise and promise the panacea product is yet to arrive so I still rely on  your traditional copper oxide rich  brew. Yes there has been some changes  here and there due to the Gummint banning some additives but (apparently) they found substitutes and the copper oxide still does most of the heavy lifting I'm not sure the brand of copper oxide matters :-).

 

[Black Panther 1,817]

I'm still on my 8 year old coppercoat.  

[waikiore 517]

After 20 plus years on no. 5 I am looking too, it worked great in Okahu Bay ,Glendowie, Milford and Westhaven but not looking so good lately since the formula was changed.  Though I have just heard that there is a new mix been released -though only time will tell ...

[Frank 217]

Bearing in mind the change in ingredients was regulatory driven so all manufacturers will have complied in a similar manner, and most likely used the same substitutes.

[aardvarkash10 1,159]

Conversation with Altex Tech today....

[00:42] Ashton: We have been using Warpaint, now defunct. In a high flow tidal river mooring (Wairoa River, Clevedon) [00:42] Ashton: What is hte practical difference between #5 and #5plus, and then Seaforce? [00:43] Michael Wheatley: i take it you mean sea barrier 3000? [00:43] Ashton: Sorry, Sea-zone [00:43] Michael Wheatley: ahh. [00:44] Michael Wheatley: the #5 is an ablative antifoul, the #5 + is ablative antifoul with a newer resin backbone and the sea-zone is a harder antifoul [00:45] Michael Wheatley: performance wise the best performing product is the sea-zone then its even with the #5 and #5+ [00:46] Michael Wheatley: as with any antifouls at present there is an issue with the barnacles [00:46] Ashton: yeah, we are not bad for barnies, but get a lot of algse and green buildup [00:47] Michael Wheatley: the sea zone is harder and would allow the boat to be scrubbed easier while the #5 and #5+ will ablate with hard scrubbing [00:47] Ashton: ease of application? And applying over the old Warpaint? We went back to hull three seasons ago, not keen on that again... [00:48] Michael Wheatley: not an issue, waterblast to remove any loose/ hydrolysed af light sand then apply any of these af [00:49] Michael Wheatley: but if you do go the seazone 60 product you will need to stay with that product in the future [00:49] Michael Wheatley: it will go over the top of other af but other af do not like going over the top of this. [00:50] Ashton: Does your Avondale store stock them? [00:50] Michael Wheatley: yes it has stock of all these roducts [00:51] Ashton: Thanks Mike. I think thats all I need. [00:51] Michael Wheatley: no problem

[ex Elly 276]

Thanks, that is good info. 

I am looking for something to go over the Warpaint.

Sounds like this Seazone 60 could be worth trying. But this is a bit of a worry "if you do go the seazone 60 product you will need to stay with that product in the future"

 

[Vivaldi 62]

I’ve been using Altex #5 for quite some time and usually get two seasons out of it. This heat when I hauled out I noticed a lot more barnacles and frustrations on the hull than usual. While I was anti fouling I had a visit from the Altex rep. She said that they have a new brew coming out that contains more copper and other stuff. She reckoned that it will probably hit the shelves around march 26 but that is was dependant on getting the required approvals. 
she wasn’t sure if it could be applied over the top of #5m but she thought that it could. 

[Vivaldi 62]

*crustaceans - not frustrations 😁 

[aardvarkash10 1,159]

2 hours ago, Vivaldi said:

*crustaceans - not frustrations 😁 

interchangeable terms.

[Vivaldi 62]

What was frustrating was that after scraping the little buggers off there was a slightly translucent layer left behind if you didn’t scrape hard enough. When you went over them with the antifoul the solvents in the paint would release them and they’d stick to your roller and make nice little circular marks on the hull. All good fun!

[Priscilla II 475]

On 6/11/2025 at 6:56 PM, Vivaldi said:

she wasn’t sure if it could be applied over the top of #5m but she thought that it could.

Not exactly the sharpest pencil in the case was she.

[Vivaldi 62]

20 hours ago, Priscilla II said:

Not exactly the sharpest pencil in the case was she.

Well she did take a photo of our boat sitting on the cradle on its keel, and said “is this a yacht?” So…..

 

‘’but I could see why they hired her 😁

[Psyche 899]

All anti fouls are struggling currently due to environmental changes, that means water quality, temperature and organisms. The Altex tech guy I spoke to said they can replace biocides with equally effective ones but there is only so much they can do in response to the environment. Also interestingly he said the cost was mostly in the binders, not the biocides or copper.

[Priscilla II 475]

We have recently returned to Westhaven after a 5 year absence, is it just me but the water quality in Westhaven which was never that great has certainly taken a turn for the worst since the closing off the breakwater entry /exit.

 

[LBD 212]

I see "Altex #5 PLUS" now on the shelves. Does anyone have any info or experience with this product yet?

The info sheet advises it has a much greater level of copper.

[Leftred 49]

Always amusing when companies do something like that. "The new product that the original one should be to start with".

[ex Elly 276]

Altex No 5 Plus is now available. Right after we applied the old number 5 - drat!

https://www.smartmarine.co.nz/product/37657/no5-plus-antifouling?srsltid=AfmBOoqAfJ91JXZoLGRlPbC46rfKmP5ha-6MWzaCnw2_pnEiCc6WujRc

https://www.burnsco.co.nz/altex-no-5-plus-antifouling-4l?srsltid=AfmBOooa9Lcz9kcjZ5D60OOxGkrHNtdJNog_sfnh2pF4bKkPT19PrLBe

[Cameron 109]

On 11/11/2025 at 5:43 PM, Priscilla II said:

We have recently returned to Westhaven after a 5 year absence, is it just me but the water quality in Westhaven which was never that great has certainly taken a turn for the worst since the closing off the breakwater entry /exit.

 

I agree... despite Westhaven going on about how many "clean marina" and enviro awards it has won... I think the water quality is poor. I always thought there should be some tunnels under the road in the vacinity of Buoy so the marina could flush more effectively.