Vinyl wrap under the water line - anti-fouling

[BigVee]

I had a brain-wave the other night. We've seen cars with vinyl wrap and it seems very durable. Could it be used as anti-fouling? heck, wrap the whole thing - from deck seam to deck seam. Thoughts?

[Orion Jim]

You first. Let us know how it works out.

[a64pilot]

You going to paint the vinyl?
Cause you can’t scrape growth off of it.
I’ve wrapped, or more truthfully had a couple of aircraft wrapped.
Many, many boats are of course above the waterline, nearly everything that races, pro fishing etc that have sponsors.
Usually the wrap has either tiny channels underneath or tiny hoes in the wrap to let trapped air out, and I’m sure that would let water in.

[BigVee]

Originally Posted by Orion Jim

You first. Let us know how it works out.

Hundreds of people have looked at this thread. But since they did not have anything of value to add, did not post anything. Maybe you should learn from the adults here.

But I will indulge you for a moment. I researched this for a few days now. And it is something that I will actually try. Vinyl wraps are very easy to put on a boat (flat surfaces) and take off leaving zero residue.

[44'cruisingcat]

To use it as antifoul, wouldn't it need to have some anti-fouling properties?

[valhalla360]

Not too many barnacles growing on car bodies.

How do you propose to stop the growth? Are you going to put on a couple dozen layers and peal them off (along with the growth) every few weeks?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Not too many barnacles growing on car bodies.

How do you propose to stop the growth? Are you going to put on a couple dozen layers and peal them off (along with the growth) every few weeks?

The boat doesn't go back in the water, it's all about the bling factor so needs to be stored ashore in a prominent position near the marina entrance so everyone can see it and marvel at the finish.

Pete

[BigVee]

Originally Posted by a64pilot

You going to paint the vinyl?
Cause you can’t scrape growth off of it.
I’ve wrapped, or more truthfully had a couple of aircraft wrapped.
Many, many boats are of course above the waterline, nearly everything that races, pro fishing etc that have sponsors.
Usually the wrap has either tiny channels underneath or tiny hoes in the wrap to let trapped air out, and I’m sure that would let water in.

No, not painting. Although, there is a patent application by a Chinese university for a vinyl-based antifouling paint. I was thinking wrapping like sponsor logos.

But I wonder if racers wrap the whole boat?

[sailormed]

Exists already, look up MacGlide in your favorite SE.

[BigVee]

Originally Posted by valhalla360

Not too many barnacles growing on car bodies.

How do you propose to stop the growth? Are you going to put on a couple dozen layers and peal them off (along with the growth) every few weeks?

That is the crux of the issue. Marine growth does not just grow. It “implants” using some bio-glue and proceeds to harvest nutrients from the surrounding water to grow. My thought is, if you stop the implant, you stop growth. The smoothness of the surface may make it difficult for the critters to adhere. This as opposed to the the traditional “flat” paint used in anti-fouling.

Although, I am also wondering if using this in combination with a bio-cide adhesive may work even better??

[BigVee]

Originally Posted by sailormed

Exists already, look up MacGlide in your favorite SE.

Wow! That’s it! Thank you!

For the benefit of others :-

https://www.mactacgraphics.eu/en/product/macglide-foil

[DeborahLee]

Might be easier and cheaper to wrap something smaller and hang it in the water. If it stays stationary and doesn't pick up any stowaways you might then want to spend the big bucks.

[fstbttms]

The MacGlide film is a "foul-release" anti fouling solution. That means it theoretically provides a surface too slick for fouling organisms to readily adhere to. There are many other foul-release coatings, although most are liquids that must be sprayed onto the boat hull. My issue with this particular one is the several falsehoods being presented as fact on their website (whether intentional or not, who knows?), the fact that the product has apparently only been tested in the low fouling waters of the Med and Northern Europe and the lack of any mention of whether or not the product can be repaired when damaged (and it will get damaged) or how easy or not it might be to remove from the hull if a change in anti fouling is desired.

Here's my advice when it comes to new and unproven anti fouling products- don't be the guinea pig.

[S/V Illusion]

"Compatibility - Metal and non-porous substrates"


Last time I checked, fiberglass is neither. See- lipstick on a pig

[a64pilot]

My long dead Father was a Dentist, had his own lab and was very active in new technologies etc. now this is old data, but he said many times the holy grail for a dental adhesive was whatever an Oyster used it adhere itself to structures, there was no adhesive man made that worked as well. It would stick to anything, including Teflon and of course worked in a wet environment, the perfect Dental adhesive.