Gael Force own brand anti fouling paint

[Fingal]

Anyone used it? Did it work? Just thinking about what, in due course, to anoint my bottom with and this seems like an economical product.

[marisca]

I used it 2 years ago - went back to the ludicrously expensive Hempel Ocean Performer last year and will be spending on it again this year. I definitely needed a mid season scrub with the Gael Force, only a wee bit slime after 9 months with the liquid gold.
Of course if you intend to take part in any races, the hairier your arse, the better.

[cpedw]

Prior to Geoff's bulk purchase, I used it for several years. Not being a super fast wave skimming sort, I found it was thoroughly satisfactory and, prior to Geoff's any-colour-you-like-as-long-as-it's-blue scheme, more economical than anything else I could find.

Derek

[mm5aho]

I wonder who makes Gale Force's brew? I don't think its Flag, the brand we bulk bought.
Contender had that Flag Blue on it last year and despite being quite close to Marisca on a mooring, didn't have more than a wee bit slime at year end on haul-out. In fact there was more above the waterline from the ferry wash (and maybe a few other smoking billies trundling past). This year's plan for that is a 100mm contrast colour boot topping in a hard antifoul (scrubbable). I don't know if that will work, but we'll see. Trying to get that stuff of bare gelcoat was very difficult. Lying in the dinghy for an hour with a scourer, knife, and scrubbing brush was arm-aching.
I might use red for the contrast!

[Bodach na mara]

In reply to Geoff's idea about a 100mm boot topping, we found that round the corner (in Cardwell Bay) the rolling induced by the ferries caused the topsides to be sullied by growth of weed and deposition of oily sh1te to a level well above the static waterline. Over the years we raised the level of the top of the antifouling so much that there was a suggestion that I could use a strip of 100mm wide masking tape under the rubbing strip as a guide. The good thing about using the soft antifouling is that at least the scum scrubs off more easily than from gelcoat.

We have now succumbed to the ravages of age and are keeping the boat in a marina, where the calmer water has discouraged the climbing varieties of weed. Mind you, having to lay-up in July also helped.

[JeffNev]

A friend of mine has used it before and wasn't particularly complimentary about it, I am of the opinion it is better to spend that bit more.

[aquaplane]

I couldn't get black Cruiser Uno so got the stuff on spesh from Duncans, just so I had something to put on.

It was only £50 or maybe £60 for 2 X 2.5l tins so it was cheap.

I commented to the bloke jet washing Seminole at Ardfern when she was coming out to get redone "it looks like that antifouling I put on last year was too cheap" he said "no, that's not bad at all coming out in July, it's done OK".

OK it's only done one year but if you are going to do it every year there is no point spending mega bucks, the Azco Nobel stuff works.

[wully]

One of the paint brands is installing an antifouling paint test raft locally..

It’ll be interesting to see what works..

[BlowingOldBoots]

I am on year three of Cruiser Uno, new formula, and while I have had a bit of grass skirt, which went away, some slime, in general I am weed free. Boat activity has been sedentary for most of the time, berthed bows into the midday sun. I have noticed that the dark blue colour has nearly all leached out for the older lighter blue colour of the previous Cruiser Uno. Since I bought the yacht in 2008, I have been using Cruiser Uno, applied every two years. It works for me. This spring I'll apply a new coating.