By most measures, the green boating trend is a
Once applied to a boat hull, the paint slowly and
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also
great thing. It’s good for the environment and it’s
steadily releases biocides (think: pesticides for marine
approves them. They still use copper, but have
been good for business, as new manufacturers have
life) that continually kill and prevent marine growth.
“perfected control of leach-out rates” to dramatically
emerged and established ones have continued to
A classic ingredient in this brew is copper, which,
limit the amount of heavy metal needed for the
innovate. If there’s a knock against green products,
once released into the environment, can build up to
paint to maintain yearlong effectiveness. Aquagard
it’s that sometimes there’s more marketing than
undesirable and even toxic levels. While the impact
Bottom Paint is water-based, which minimizes the
substance behind their claims. (Imagine a picture
of copper released from the bottom of one boat is
risk of toxic solvent exposure and means clean-
of baby fur seals drinking boat wash out of shot
pretty insignificant, the compound effect of all the
up requires only soap and water. It’s multi-season
glasses—“So safe, it’s a healthy snack!”)
boats in a large marina releasing copper year after
ablative, only activates when it’s in the water and
year can have a real effect on local ecosystems.
can be used over other hard ablative bottom paints.
The truth is, there are manufacturers putting good—dare we say, even great—science behind
Manufacturers have undertaken different
(aquagardboatpaint.com)
their products and improving them to the point that
strategies to make anti-fouling bottom paints less
they equal or exceed the performance of traditional
environmentally egregious. This includes using much
technologies. The challenge to boaters is discerning
less copper, but combining it with other, friendlier,
Pettit Paints
what’s marketing and what’s meaningful. This is
compounds to use it more efficiently. Another
Pettit’s Hydrocoat
complicated because there are no governmental
method has been to create non-copper biocides
SR anti-fouling paint
regulations for what’s really meant by “green,”
that use different chemistry to kill off marine growth.
is driven by “Clean
“environmentally safe,” “biodegradable,” “non-toxic”
Some paints are even water-based, avoiding the
Core Technology,”
and other frequently used terms. In fact, some
use of many harsh chemicals. We like this because
which reduces
independent testing has shown that products that
not only is it environmentally friendly, but it makes
the heavy metals
make no environmental claims can be a greener
clean-up a breeze and keeps our nose hair out of
found in traditional
choice than products claiming to be so safe that Al
harm’s way.
bottom paint
“Ozone” Gore himself personally uses them.
by 40 percent. Like other products, this reduction
The answer is to do a little homework before you
Aquagard
buy—first by digging into the manufacturer’s website
Aquagard’s anti-fouling paints are water-based and
release rates that use a small amount of copper very
and product information, and then by checking a
exceed federal and state VOC standards. The U.S.
efficiently. The company offers another product,
is possible because of highly controlled biocide
few third-party sources. Following is a sample of eco-
Ultima Eco, which employs a completely metal-free
smart products that our GHM team has researched
biocide called Econea. It’s safe for use on all boat
that will serve you well and keep your vessel in
hulls, including aluminum. Both products can be
tip-top shape.
used over most previously painted surfaces. (pettitpaints.com)
Bottom Business Traditional anti-fouling bottom paint is
ePaint
so noxious, one whiff will incinerate the
The technology behind ePaint’s
nose hair of your children’s children. It’s
anti-fouling products, such as its
the telltale sign that the paint contains
EP-2000, is unique because it doesn’t
VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds.
use any copper at all. Instead, it is
