Leisure boat marine coatings come in three main types- anti-corrosion coatings, anti-fouling coatings, and foul-release coatings. These coatings help in offering protection to the concerned leisure boat from biofouling, corrosion, abrasion, etc. Some of these types not only offer excellent resistance to water, but also provide great mechanical strength to the vessel, thus ensuring that the life of the leisure boat increases.

Leisure boats are nothing but vessels used for various recreational activities like water-sports, fishing, etc. Naturally, just like other boats, leisure boats too face problems related to corrosion, biofouling, and similar such degrading actions. Moreover, since leisure boats, on account of being very expensive, need regular maintenance, the cost of repairs may incur a hefty sum of money to the owner. A major role in the maintenance of such leisure boats is played by leisure boat marine coatings.

Types of Leisure Boat Marine Coatings

Leisure boat marine coatings are protective coatings that are perfectly suited for the marine environment and helps in safeguarding the vessel from corrosive action of the water, biofouling, abrasion, etc. Depending on the water in which the leisure boat is used and protection it needs, leisure boat marine coatings are segmented accordingly. Some of the types of such coatings are described below:

1. Anti-corrosion Coatings

One of the most formidable challenges that any boat, or any metallic material which is in continuous contact with water for that matter, faces is that of corrosion. Naturally, anti-corrosion coatings form one of the most important segments of the leisure boat marine coatings. Anti-corrosion coatings have several sub-types:

• Chlorinated rubber coatings

Chlorinated rubber coatings offer excellent resistance to water and possess excellent adhesion and drying ability even in very low temperature conditions. However, chlorinated rubber coatings don’t offer that much of a resistance against heat.

Amine-epoxy coatings are helpful especially when leisure boats are used in waters that are somewhat acidic in nature. This type of anti-corrosion leisure boat marine coating not only offers resistance to chemicals but also provides mechanical strength and abrasion proofing to the vessel.

One of the biggest advantages of coal-tar-epoxy coatings is that these coatings offer protection to the vessel both in fresh waters and saline waters. Also, these coatings offer excellence resistance against cathodic disbondment. 

2. Anti-fouling Coatings

Biofouling is probably the biggest reason behind premature degradation of a leisure boat. This is because biofouling mainly attacks the hull of the ship which effectively renders the boat useless. Since biofouling attacks the very heart of the leisure boat, anti-fouling coatings form the most important segment of the leisure boat marine coating market. Anti-fouling agents generally contain cuprous oxide and similar other biocides which restrict the growth of algae, microorganisms, and barnacles on the submerged part of the boat, especially the hull. Certain anti-fouling coatings that have recently come into the market have Teflon and silicone in them which also helps in providing good mechanical strength to the vessel.

3. Foul-release Coatings

Foul-release coatings, too, are manufactured keeping in mind the problem of biofouling. However, the way in which foul-release coatings address this issue is very different from the working principle of regular anti-fouling coatings. Foul-release coatings are designed in such a way that upon applying these coating to the concerned leisure boat, the coated surface become slippery due to which microorganisms and algae don’t get attached and stuck to the coated surface. This unique way of dealing with the biofouling problem has attracted a lot of attention from leisure boat owners in the recent years. Additionally, these coating provide good mechanical strength to the boat.

The Bottom Line

Marine coatings have been in demand since a long time now, especially from the petroleum and natural gas industry, as exploration vessels remain in saline waters for a huge period of time. However, the emergence of different kinds of recreational activities and growing usage of leisure boats have led to a surge in the demand for leisure boat marine coatings also. The different coating products launched by leading market players shows how competitive the leisure boat marine market has become in recent years.