EcoClad Newsletter December 2011
In this issue we highlight an interesting article from the Biomimicry Institute that discusses Eco-Clad® and its nature-inspired technology. Also, make sure to scroll down and read about Bob & Annie’s Boatyard and our latest Eco-Clad® enthusiast.
We are pleased to report our customer survey was a resounding success, showing high customer satisfaction with Eco-Clad® Antifouling Bottom Paint!
Our R&D Department has been busy and we anticipate some exciting New Product news in time for the Spring paint season! Make sure to stay in touch!
Our very best wishes to you and yours for a safe and joyful holiday season!
From the entire staff at Eco-Clad® and Luritek!
Biomimicry & Eco-Clad®
Biomimicry (from bios, meaning life, and mimesis, meaning to imitate) is a design discipline that seeks sustainable solutions by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies, e.g., a solar cell inspired by a leaf. The core idea is that Nature, imaginative by necessity, has already solved many of the problems we are grappling with: energy, food production, climate control, non-toxic chemistry, transportation, packaging, and a whole lot more.
The following excerpt is from an article written by the Biomimicry Institute and can be found at www.AskNature.org
Inspiring Strategy
Luritek’s patented paint, Eco-Clad®, protects boat hulls from unwanted marine fouling species. When a hull protected with Eco-Clad® is introduced to fresh or salt water, a biofilm of local and naturally occurring microorganisms forms. This biofilm provides a variety of functional benefits, including the production of natural repellents for unwanted marine fouling species.
Challenges Solved
Anti-fouling compounds are harmful to organisms and concern over harm to non-target organisms has reduced or eliminated their use in recent years. Eco-Clad® was designed to produce a more environmentally friendly way to prevent biological fouling of boats.
Differences from Existing Products
The coating contains only solids, no solvents. This eliminates the use of VOCs (volatile organic compounds), and other toxicity issues of biocides to control organisms that attach to boat surfaces. The biofilm attracted to the Eco-Clad® paint creates a slick surface which increases the fuel efficiency of boats by decreasing drag. Other benefits include reduced frequency of hull cleaning and repainting and increased speed.
The Biomimicry Story
Eco-Clad® paint is inspired by some organisms like fish that have a coating consisting of bacteria and other substances. This coating repels undesirable organisms that can slow fish down. The coating was created to include nutrients that would attract the right kind of biofilms.
Dealer Spotlight: Bob & Annie’s Boatyard
Bob & Annie’s Boatyard is a full service marine repair facility that has been proudly serving Southwest Florida and beyond for over 33 years and three generations. They have long been a favorite destination for multi-hulls from Texas and as far away as Puerto Rico.
Chris Conover, Owner/Operator recently told us: “We are proud to be an Eco-Clad® dealer. We have found the application of Eco-Clad® very fast, saving us time on bottom jobs. It is especially nice to have satisfied customers. We have been in business for many years and our number one priority is to produce quality work and have repeat clients. The feedback from our customers has been very good. Thanks for letting us be an Eco-Clad® dealer!”
Bob & Annie’s is located at 3420 Stringfellow Rd. St. James City, FL 33956 Office: 239-283-3962 Fax: 239-283-4210
Eco-Clad® Enthusiast: Manny Hernandez
Manny Hernandez had his 25′ Angler painted with Eco-Clad® at Bob & Annie’s Boatyard in April 2011. Manny wrote in to tell us:
“The application of Eco-Clad® went off without a hitch. Before my boat had any bottom paint at all, its maximum speed was 52 MPH. After it was painted with traditional bottom paint, the maximum speed was reduced to 47 MPH. After the Eco-Clad® was applied, the maximum speed rose to 50.5 MPH – which is a 10% improvement! As far as growth is concern, when she is not run for an extended period I can begin to notice the biofilm, but any soft growth sloughs off when we run her.”
Manny’s experience is very typical: enhanced speed, great antifouling and environmental responsibility at the same time!
Did you know?
Natural biocides are common in nature. Marine microalgae alone produce over 3600 secondary metabolites that play complex ecological roles including antifouling protection.
Bhadury, P (2004). “Exploitation of marine algae: biogenic compounds for potential antifouling applications” 219 (4): 561-578
