About Eco-Clad®

A living surface that naturally resists fouling

Eco-Clad® antifouling bottom paint is based on breakthrough biotechnology designed to work with nature to repel and prevent hard fouling. It is a new class of paint that works on the principle of biomimicry; emulating nature’s method. When introduced into the water, a biofilm will grow on the Eco-Clad® paint surface. The paint is a food source for a preferred set of local and naturally occurring organisms that form the biofilm. Much like the slime on a fish, the bio-film repels and prevents hard fouling, keeping the boat bottom clean.  The slick surface also reduces hull drag, allowing the boat to move more easily and quickly through the water with less fuel demand.

Truly environmentally friendly coating

Traditional antifouling coatings are designed to kill everything.  They do it by leaching out toxic levels of copper and booster biocides, which works but damages the local environment.  Not Eco-Clad®.  Eco-Clad® paints are designed to support life – a beneficial biofilm – that fends off hard fouling species.

Eco-Clad® contains a two-part epoxy resin which is a food source for the biofilm and high purity metallic copper which acts as a micronutrient. It does not contain toxic booster biocides and copper leach rates are demonstrated to be lower than the U.S. Navy targets for low copper solutions.

Eco-Clad® has no VOCs (volatile organic compounds).  Most antifouling paints are more than half solvent and have a strong smell when applied, but Eco-Clad® is 100% solids.

Application

Eco-Clad® is applied as any other two-part epoxy coating.  The boat hull surface must be clean and solid.  Eco-Clad® can be applied directly over old Eco-Clad® paint, otherwise a primer or tie coat is required.  Eco-Clad® is supplied in two-parts (Part A and Part B).  The painter adds all of Part B to Part A, mixes, and applies with a roller/brush to a target thickness of 5-7 mils.  The coating cures in about a day, at which point the boat can be placed in the water.

What to expect in the water

Below the water line a biofilm will grow on the Eco-Clad® painted surfaces over a few days.

Maintenance Requirements

All antifouling coatings need a little maintenance to assure performance.  Testing shows Eco-Clad® coatings typically need about a third of the maintenance required with traditional coatings.

To extend the service life and assure optimal performance of your Eco-Clad® coating, inspect around the water line monthly and lightly scrub to remove any growth as needed. The boat should be pulled from the water, inspected and cleaned (power washed and lightly sanded if required) annually.

Dry Dock and Dry Storage

Eco-Clad® paint retains its ability to re-establish the biofilm very quickly even after being out of the water for extended periods of time. Storage on land over the winter is acceptable. It is recommended that the Eco-Clad® paint be cleaned (vigorously scrubbed or lightly sanded) prior to re-launching to allow the beneficial biofilm easy access to the coating surface.