[Mark]

I’ve heard about enhanced antifouling products sold in Saint Lucia. Since the seller didn’t want to take sides for one brand or another, what would you recommend?
There was Sea Hawk No. 44+ or 77+, and Interlux Micron 66.
What do you think of Sea Hawk’s Tin Booster? Is it possible to mix it into an antifouling that meets “European” standards?

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[Matt]

Tin, tin, TBT, tributyltin, same poison

Exactly, these are “old-fashioned” antifoulings with TBT (tributyltin), very effective but also extremely toxic over the long term. Many countries have banned them to protect coral reefs and other creatures in mooring areas (among other reasons).

In more lax countries, it’s still for sale.

It should be checked, but it seems to me that it’s banned on all hulls in French waters, or simply on all French hulls (probably rarely checked). Additionally, it requires extreme precautions during maintenance (the “less toxic” ones are already potent poisons that you need to protect yourself from).

Personally, I wouldn’t use it, but I think a previous owner applied it to my hull, which would explain the residual effectiveness even though it should have been removed long ago.

[Dany]

Hello,
Illegal importation = no
Undeclared transport of dangerous materials = yes and no
All antifouling cans from the JOTUN brand are delivered with an exemption certificate on the can because they MUST be smaller than 30 liters to qualify for this.

The standard is called UN xxxxx (to be specified).

[Mark]

Indeed, Before departure, and based on good reviews, I bought the erodible Triton from Castlano. The seller told me one coat would be enough, but I still applied two to be sure.
Result: this is the third time I’ve had to clean the hull because since the Canaries, and especially Cape Verde, the growth has tripled. It’s quintupled upon arriving in the Caribbean. NO, I didn’t scrub too hard, and yes, I sail frequently.
I often go down to check the hull and compare, and it seems that hulls with silicone or Teflon coatings are a good alternative. However, cleaning from time to time is still necessary. The big difference seems to be that a simple sponge is enough. For me, glide is not my top priority, but an owner of a First 28, with almost the same route as ours, told me he noticed a clear speed difference under engine or in light winds. He uses VC17.
I’ll look into it for a few more months and get back to you with my conclusions on antifouling for a transatlantic crossing…

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