Eco-Clad® in the News
Practical Sailor Gives Eco-Clad Highest Rating
Practical Sailor in the March 2013 issue rated Eco-Clad among the best performing antifouling bottom paints after 15 months of testing. Eco-Clad was “Recommended” by Practical Sailor and received a rating of “Good” the highest rating given to the paints tested. Eco-Clad was one of two environmentally friendly paints to receive the high rating. We are confident that Eco-Clad will continue to show superior performance as the test progresses.
Eco-Clad® Wins the Prestigious Pittman Award
Eco-Clad is pleased to announce winning the 2013 Pittman Innovation Award in the GREENTECH catagory. The Pittman Award, offered by Sail Magazine and named after Freeman Pittman who was Sail’s highly respected technical editor for 14 years, highlights new products demonstrating technical and product innovation. Eco-Clad is ideally suited from both sail boaters and power boaters interested in reducing their environmental footprint.
http://www.sailmagazine.com/pittman-innovation-awards/2013-pittman-innovation-awards
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Premium Antifouling Paint that Doesn’t Compromise the Environment – Soundings Trade Only
Soundings Trade Only June 2012
Ever since boats became too big to carry ashore, boat owners have struggled with barnacles. That age-old battle has propelled bottom paint technology a long, long way. Innovative technologies continue to come to market, and after 15 years of development, Eco-Ciad stands out as a truly effective alternative to traditional bottom paint. Eco-Ciad is an internationally patented, hardwearing epoxy-copper coating engineered to perform best in its class. According to the manufacturer, this biotechbased anti fouling paint lasts longer, reduces fuel consumption, increases speed. and can be easy to clean.
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Gear+Review – Sail Magazine
Sail Magazine May 2012
Eco-Clad antifouling paint features what manufacturer Luritek Inc. describes as a “biomimicry” process similar to what fish use to keep their bodies weed-free, The paint is engineered to create a naturally slimy biofilm that repels barnacles and other marine species that would otherwise set up shop on your hull According to Luritek, the technology works in all climates and conditions, including both fresh and saltwater. Eco-Clad is available in red, blue, black, green and bronze, It can be applied over many existing bottom paints using a tie coat or primer. read more
The Bottom Paint Decision – Coastal Angler
Coastal Angler Magazine June 2012
Choosing the right bottom paint can be confusing. For anyone who keeps their vessel in the water more than just occasionally, the decision to paint and protect the bottom of your boat from the marine elements is wrought with trade outs. Reduced speed, and the ongoing maintenance of repainting are serious considerations that seemed to be just part of the overall downside of the use of bottom paint. There’s also the ecological considerations with bottom paints. They leach out fairly toxic levels of copper and booster biocides; that’s what makes them work, but that’s also what makes them dangerous to the local environment.
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New paint: A Slick Way to Spruce Things Up – Soundings Online
Soundings Online April 2012
Eco-Clad, on the market for about a year, is another “green” bottom paint. Steve Schultz, president and chief executive of its manufacturer, Luritek, says the company’s goal is to show that “green products can, in fact, deliver long-term effectiveness.”
Eco-Clad contains a “bio-limiting” material and a “bio-supportive” material. When it is placed into salt water or fresh water it forms a slick, invisible film designed to repel and prevent fouling while improving speed and fuel efficiency — as much as 10 percent, according to Schultz. read more
Boat Bottom Paint
Lakeland Boating Magazine April 2012
Eco-Clad antifouling bottom paint is based on the principle of biomimicry; emulating nature’s method of not accumulating hard growth. When introduced into the water, a biofilm will grow on the paint surface. According to its manufacturer Luritek, the paint is a food source for naturally occurring organisms that form the biofilm, which is like slime on a fish. The slick surface is supposed to reduce hull drag, therefore reducing fuel consumption and increasing speed. Eco-Clad contains a two-part epoxy resin and high purity metallic copper, so keep in mind this is not a copper-free paint. However, its “greenness” comes from having no toxic booster biocides, no zinc and no VOCS (volatile organic compounds). It also touts low copper leach rates. To apply, the boat hull surface must be clean, and a primer or tie coat is required. The paint goes on with a roller & brush to a target thickness of 5 to 7 mils and cures in about a day. Once back in the water, the protective biofilm begins to grow. Since it’s a hard paint, there’s no ablative release, even when scrubbing during hull cleaning. read more
Eco-Clad the best Environmentally Friendly Bottom Paint
Boating Times April 2012
From an antifouling paint perspective, Luritek’s Eco-Clad represents the next generation of environmentally responsible bottom paints. Steve Schultz, President of Luritek, said “Eco-Clad does not prevent fouling by releasing heavy metals or biocides into the water. It works by following nature’s approach to keep barnacles from attaching to a fish. Eco-Clad creates a biofilm on the surface of the bottom of the boat that barnacles don’t like. read more
EcoClad: Finally an Environmentally Friendly Bottom Paint that Really Works!!!
Florida Mariner Magazine April 2012
EcoClad antifouling bottom paint is based on patented biotechnology designed to work with nature to repel and prevent fouling. It is a new class of paint that works on the principle of biomimicry; emulating nature’s methods. When introduced to seawater, an invisible biofilm will grow on the EcoClad 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 protective coating on a fish, the surface repels and prevents 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.
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EcoClad rated as Excellent
Practical Sailor Magazine March 2012
The third new contender was EcoClad from Luritek, based in West Chester Pennsylvania. EcoClad is a two part paint that uses elemental copper, as used in copper pipes, instead of cuprous oxicle. According to the maker, the paint is very abrasion resistant and passes EPA assay criteria for being classified as non-toxic. read more
