Antifouling additives

[MartinRF 82]

This episode of 99% invisible may be of interest:

https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/668-drug-story-ivermectin/

/Martin

[Psyche 955]

No one is doubting the efficacy of ivermectin for indicated use, its the off label applications that become problematic. People have been putting additives into anti-fouling for as long as I can remember, the list is extensive; chilli powder to copper powder, antibiotics to ivermectin and so far nothing has repeatable evidence supported results that would inspire me to add product X to my $300 can of paint. TBT works, but do I really want to swim on my boat and clean it with that in the paint if one could even (illegally) obtain it? 

For any particular brand and formulation of paint there are people for whom it works really well and others who are bitterly disappointed, some people are happy with a bit of growth,  cleaning the boat once a year while racers demand a spotlessly clean bottom as long as possible. Apart from expectations, there are local and seasonal environment factors and how often the boat is used and for what purpose etc. there is no conspiracy against the boating community by paint companies, they are doing their best within a very strict regulatory environment. People also forget they are competing with each other for market share – if they found the magic bullet they would absolutely use it.

All of that said if anyone is serious about additives then it's pretty easy to make a few sample boards with whatever your testing including a control panel and hang them in the water next to your boat. 

[Frank 229]

"People also forget they are competing with each other for market share – if they found the magic bullet they would absolutely use it."

That's the critical thinking aspect, if such an ingredient was available and legal, even if it only lifted  performance by 10% it would be in use by all the manufacturers.

 

[motorb 59]

17 hours ago, Frank said:

If such an ingredient was available and legal, even if it only lifted  performance by 10% it would be in use by all the manufacturers.

 

Or they would patent it and make it part of their marketing strategy 

[LBD 227]

On 2/06/2026 at 5:14 PM, Frank said:

"People also forget they are competing with each other for market share – if they found the magic bullet they would absolutely use it."

That's the critical thinking aspect, if such an ingredient was available and legal, even if it only lifted  performance by 10% it would be in use by all the manufacturers.

 

Call me a cynic... but paint companies now have a regulatory scape goat for poor performing antifouling that serves straight into their collective plans to increase paint sales and the support the marine maintenance industry.

Take silicon antifouling's for example, gaining popularity around the world but held back here because they reduce paint industry dependance.

[aardvarkash10 1,176]

6 hours ago, LBD said:

Call me a cynic... but paint companies now have a regulatory scape goat for poor performing antifouling that serves straight into their collective plans to increase paint sales and the support the marine maintenance industry.

Take silicon antifouling's for example, gaining popularity around the world but held back here because they reduce paint industry dependance.

Paranoid=/=Cynical

[K4309 460]

1 hour ago, aardvarkash10 said:

Paranoid=/=Cynical

Cynic=/=effective critical thinker

[Psyche 955]

sounds like there's a few people doing their own research

[Frank 229]

On 5/06/2026 at 9:02 AM, K4309 said:

Cynic=/=effective critical thinker

Yes a certain cynicism is healthy  if it leads you to research your doubts but a weary cynicism can be the opposite  its  the kind that comes from deep distrust where you  expect all people/companies to be cynical and colluding for their own selfish needs (a contradiction in terms ?) this is the opposite of critical thinking.