Foul Release Coatings

[bud.oconnor]

Has anyone had any experience with Foul Release Coatings on sailboats. I have have found out that Intersleek 1100sr is suppose to release at 3 knots. Any comments would be appreciated.

SV Sannyasi

[billknny]

Read carefully. Intersleek will release slime. No mention of hard growth. That's always been the issue with release coatings, and why their performance has been so spotty in the recreational market.

If there is no biofilm ("slime") on the surface barnacles (and most other hard critters) will not attach. It's kind of complex, but the barnacle larvae don't actually attach to bare inorganic solids. They need that first colonizing layer of algae and such to tell them it's a "good" place to make their forever home. (FWIW, this is a good reason to keep your bottom wiped clean even if it is "just a little slime" growing on it!)

The issue for recreational boats is that they move so rarely and for short periods compared to commercial vessels. They develop a slime layer and before the boat moves enough to completely wash off that slime, hard growth starts, and--game over.

For a charter boat that sailed every day or two, maybe. For a boat that routinely sits still for 5 or 6 days a week, it's not going to work.