Paint Type
Antifouling Paint
Antifouling paint is an underwater marine coating that limits fouling on boat hulls, with formulas chosen for hull material and local water conditions.
Antifouling paint surface compatibility
Antifouling paint works on prepared underwater hull surfaces when approved for the substrate, while aluminum requires a compatible corrosion-safe formula.
| Surface | Compatibility | Preparation | Primer or ground | Finish | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberglass | Excellent with antifouling paint approved for fiberglass hulls | Remove wax, contamination, fouling, and incompatible or failing coatings, then prepare the gelcoat or existing bottom paint as specified. | Use the barrier coat, tie coat, or antifouling primer required by the selected system; some compatible existing antifouling coatings can be recoated directly after preparation. | Hard, ablative, or polishing underwater finish depending on the product and expected service. | — |
| Wood | Excellent with antifouling systems approved for wooden hulls | Make sure the wood and any existing coating are sound, clean, dry enough for the system, and prepared to the manufacturer's requirements. | Use the wood sealer, underwater primer, or other specified base system before antifouling paint when required. | Protective underwater antifouling film; ablative and hard systems wear and renew differently in service. | — |
| Metal | Excellent when the antifouling formula and primer system are approved for the specific underwater metal | Remove corrosion, oxidation, grease, salts, and failing paint, then prepare the metal to the coating system's specified profile. | Proper underwater metal primer is normally critical for adhesion and corrosion control before antifouling paint. | Hard or ablative antifouling protection selected for the metal, water, wear, and fouling conditions. | — |
| Aluminum | Excellent only with an aluminum-approved antifouling system | Remove oxidation and contamination and prepare the aluminum promptly as directed so the primer system can protect the metal. | Use the exact aluminum-compatible primer system specified for the selected antifouling paint. | Use only an aluminum-safe antifouling formula; avoid products containing metallic copper or cuprous oxide unless the manufacturer explicitly identifies a different compatible chemistry and system. | — |
Sources: Interlux Fouling Control, Interlux ProGuard Ablative, Interlux Antifouling for Aluminum, Pettit Hydrocoat ECO, and TotalBoat Krypton.
Painters who used antifouling paint
Frank Stella’s and Davide D’Elia’s antifouling-paint uses show how marine coatings mark constructed supports and transform found objects into art.
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Frank Stella
Menil conservators documented Stella’s use of copper-based antifouling paint in Lake City (1962), where he applied several coats to a constructed support. He described buckling and surface problems, making the work a documented experiment with marine coating rather than a standard studio material.
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Davide D’Elia
For NOS Production’s FRESCO project, D’Elia coated salvaged frames and canvases with antifouling boat paint. The marine coating partially covers found objects and surfaces, making material change and preservation visible throughout the installation. The project documents this boat coating as part of its treatment of salvaged materials.
Sources: Menil Collection: Artist Documentation Program; NOS Production: FRESCO; Designboom: Antivegetativa.
Antifouling paint articles
PaintZeal has no antifouling paint articles yet, so this guide covers hull compatibility, water conditions, corrosion risks, and use limits for boats.