Flag Antifouling Original. The antifouling category page tells you all you need to know about this product! Its rated among its loyal followers and will give you a clean hull year after year (with annual application) often keeping the hull cleaner than its more expensive competitors in some of the hashest waters!

ANTIFOULING TIPS

If no antifouling has been applied to the hull before, it will need to be ‘keyed'. Sand it with wet & dry paper and coat it with a primer. (It may also need to be thoroughly cleaned with a solvent to remove any mould release agent)

On a hull which has been antifouled previously, ensure the new paint is compatible with the old one, or apply a barrier coat (ie. Primer). Ensure the substrate is not flaking; do not dry sand it. If changing to FLAG CopperQuick it is recommended to remove any other non-PTFE based paint first.

Check the minimum period you need to leave between coats and minimum or maximum time the boat should be left out of the water between painting and relaunching. Keep cans of paint indoors until you need them. The paint will be easier to apply if it is not too cold.

Use good quality masking tape to mask off the waterline. A cheaper one could allow paint to creep underneath for a messy finish and might not peel off cleanly. Choose a dry day for painting. A damp atmosphere can adversely effect adhesion.

Always stir the paint well. And then stir it again before tipping into the paint tray. Use either a brush or a roller to apply it, but not too large a roller. A short mohair one is ideal (or sponge roller in the case of FLAG CopperQuick which can also be sprayed).

Work the brush or roller in a criss-cross pattern, and don't spread the paint too thinly. Apply an extra coat to all leading and trailing edges, such as the waterline, bow, keels and rudders where applicable. Do not paint over anodes or transducers.

HOW MUCH PAINT?

The most likely reason an antifouling system might under-perform, is that the boat-owner applies it too thinly or skips a coat so that the active ingredient is exhausted early. Clearly to make sure you have the right amount of paint, it is important to be able to assess the underwater area of a hull. Preferably you want to do so in square metres as that's how most paints are quoted these days.

The formula for doing so is waterline length x (beam + draught) x 0.85 for motor boats, x 0.80 for long keeled yachts and 0.75 for fin keeled yachts. Measurements in metres to give approximate litres required.

Our FLAG Antifoulings have a coverage of around 10sqm per litre.

Flag Flagship Antifouling Technical Sheet

Flag Flagship Antifouling Safety Data Sheet