Boat hull coatings protect the boat hull from harsh marine environments. They are also used to reduce friction between the boat hull and the water surface. Many conventional paints and coatings are based on copper and silicone. Such coatings are good at repelling water and preventing the growth of marine organisms. However, they fail to offer long-lasting and eco-friendly performance. For example, copper-based coatings leach harmful metals into seawater, and silicone coatings degrade over time.
That’s why we introduced Sea-Slide® Boat Hull Coatings. Sea-Slide is a hydrophilic marine coating that uses a unique bonded inter-polymer complex to bind water to the hull. This forms a highly lubricious, slippery surface on the hull with a low interfacial energy. The result is a coating that minimizes turbulence, increases speed and fuel efficiency, and ensures a smoother boating experience.
What are Hydrophilic Coatings?
The term “hydro” means water, and “philic” means affinity or love for. As such, hydrophilic coatings are surface treatments that make surfaces “water-loving.”
These coatings can be applied to a variety of materials, including metals, polymers, glass, wood, and ceramics. They create a thin, highly lubricious layer on the surface when exposed to the surrounding liquids. Their friction-reducing property makes them an ideal choice as industrial coatings for various applications, including marine coatings.
Hydromer®, Inc. became the first company to use hydrophilic coatings to solve the challenges and limitations of traditional coatings faced by boaters. We introduced Sea-Slide, which is both a high-performance and environment-friendly boat hull coating.
What is Sea-Slide Boat Hull Coating?
Sea-Slide is an easily applied, hydrophilic marine coating applied to the boat’s hull. Its main purpose is to reduce the turbulence generated by the hull as the vessel passes through water.
In contrast to conventional hull paints and coatings, watercraft coated with Sea-Slide experience less hydrodynamic drag. As a result, your vessel can glide more smoothly through the water. As a result it helps you to improve speed as well as improve fuel efficiency.
Sea-Slide is a sophisticated water-based polyurethane inter-polymer dispersion. It cures to a durable, nearly invisible, hydrophilic coating. As soon as the hull comes in contact with the water, it absorbs the surrounding water and becomes slippery (lubricious).
It also replaces standard anti-fouling, bottom paint. Sea-Slide has advanced anti-fouling technology, which protects your boat against unwanted growth and elements. That means Sea-Slide can also act as your normal boat bottom, anti-fouling paint.
The coating is also highly durable, ensuring it will last the entire boating season for most users. And when necessary, you can easily reapply Sea-Slide using standard application methods, such as spraying or rolling.
Benefits of Using Sea-Slide on Your Boat Hull
When compared to other boat paints the benefits offered by the Sea-Slide are unmatched. It can make a remarkable difference in both your boating experience as well as in cost savings.
1. Sea-Slide Helps you Go Faster
Sea-Slide makes the boat hull surface “water-loving.” The coating attracts, absorbs, and binds water.
How does this help you go faster?
The surface of your hull becomes extremely slippery when wet. This reduces the interfacial energy and hydrodynamic drag (ranging from 9% to 16%) between the hull and the water surface. Less drag allows the boat to move at higher speeds, while also reducing the amount of power required.
Many powerboat owners and racing teams praise the impressive speed advantage gained from using Sea-Slide hydrophilic coatings.
Below you can see test results showing speed and fuel consumption changes on three vessels with and without Sea-Slide boat hull coating.
2. Fuel Efficiency
Sea-Slide hydrophilic coatings drastically reduce the turbulence generated by the hull as the boat passes through the water. This reduced turbulence, and reduced drag ensures a faster and more fuel-efficient boating experience.
When Sea-Slide is applied to cruise ships, commercial shipping boats, and cargo boats, operators can make significant reductions in fuel (and operating) costs.
The same is true for recreational boaters. Fuel costs are one of the highest operational costs of owning a boat. Applying Sea-Slide helps recreational boaters enjoy their boat more while spending less on fuel.
3. Anti-Fouling
Biofouling is typical on boats that stay in contact with the seawater for a longer period. Even boats that are removed from the water are susceptible if not properly cleaned after each use. This marine growth, such as algae, reduces the efficiency of your watercraft.
Foul resistance is one of the key properties and benefits of Sea-Slide.
Sea-Slide lowers biofouling adhesion to make sure that your vessel remains clean. This property also helps you maintain your boat’s performance even in harsh marine environments.
As an additional benefit, our boat hull coating is based on hydrophilic polymers. It is an advanced water-based polyurethane inter-polymer dispersion. This is important as it does not contain any harmful, toxic, anti-fouling elements.
4. Environmentally-Friendly
Seawater pollution directly threatens the health of aquatic habitats and the cleanliness of seawater. The growing carbon footprint within the marine shipping industry calls for eco-friendly solutions.
At Hydromer, we have come up with Sea-Slide, an environmentally-friendly, biocide-free, and non-sacrificial marine coating. It is an advanced water-based polymeric composite material inter-polymer dispersion. It does not release any pollutants during both application and operation.
Our insoluble, non-toxic boat hull coatings aim to protect the marine ecosystem at its best.
5. Easy Application and Touch Up
Sea-Slide is a safe and easy-to-apply boat hull coating. It can be applied by most people using basic methods and tools.
Make sure to properly prepare the boat hull as you would with any hull coating. Remove any saltwater residue, dirt, and marine growth before applying Sea-Slide.
You can use a standard paintbrush, roller or spray gun to apply the coating. It takes 3 to 4 hours (above 50°F) to properly dry and chemically cure.
Types of Watercraft that can be Coated with Sea-Slide Boat Hull Coatings
Sea-Slide coatings are useful for many types of boaters. They are recommended for the following watercraft:
1. Recreational Boats
Sea-Slide is a must-have for any recreational boat owners looking for a smoother and quieter boating experience.
Any recreational boater would benefit from the coating. Here’s a non-exhaustive list of recreational boats that can use Sea-Slide:
- Sailboats
- Speedboats
- Powerboats
- Jet Skis
- Personal Watercraft (PWC)
- Yachts
Speedboats and powerboats will especially benefit from enhanced speed and fuel efficiency. All boats, including larger craft will benefit from the reduced fuel costs.
These coatings can also be applied to small aluminum or fiberglass fishing boats for improved navigation and responsiveness.
The coating is easy to apply. You can do it even with a standard paintbrush. It may hardly take 3 to 4 hours to cure and become durable, hydrophilic coatings.
2. Racing Boats
Minimal drag is critical for high-performance racing vessels. Sea-Slide attracts and binds water molecules to the surface of your boat hull. It creates a lubricated layer between the hull and the surrounding environment. Such a lubricated layer significantly reduces the turbulence generated by a boat’s hull as it passes through water.
In short, in competitive settings, these coatings increase your chances of winning through greater speed and efficiency.
3. Commercial Vessels
Reduced friction between the boat hull and seawater can drastically improve fuel efficiency during heavy-duty operations. As such, it can help shipping and cargo boat owners significantly reduce their operational fuel costs. Sea-Slide is also proven to be an excellent choice for ferries and barges. The same is true for cruise ship operators looking to reduce fuel costs as well as their carbon footprint goals.
4. Research Vessels
Both performance and precision play a vital role in the success of specialty vessels, such as underwater drones, remotely operated vehicles (ROVs), autonomous surface vessels, and oceanographic research boats. In contrast to conventional coatings and paints, Sea-Slide® offers exceptional benefits to these vessels. It minimizes the drag, reduces biofouling, and ensures quiet performance during scientific exploration, environmental monitoring, and underwater data collection.
5. Government & Rescue Watercraft
Sea-Slide can be applied to the following military, government, and search & rescue use watercraft:
- Naval Patrol Boats
- Search Boats
- Rescue Boats
Sea-Slide helps improve the speed, efficiency, and maneuverability of these watercraft. It also achieves higher fuel efficiency, allowing these boats to stay out for longer. Such properties are vital for critical government and search and rescue operations when every seconds counts.
How to Apply Sea-Slide Boat Hull Coatings
Sea-Slide hull coatings can be easily applied by most individuals following simple steps. Here are the steps to properly apply them:
1. Surface Preparation
There is one thing that is true for any coating. Proper coating application requires proper surface preparation. It ensures proper adherence of coating materials and long-lasting protection against harsh marine environments.
The preparation process includes cleaning and treating the surfaces of your vessel. You need to remove all dirt, salt residues, marine growth, grease, and old paint or coating for a clean and smooth surface. If there are any cracks, gouges, or imperfections, please use and apply the appropriate patching materials before applying your Sea-Slide coating.
2. Applying Sea-Slide Boat Hull Coatings
It is an important step that starts with the selection of your preferred tool to apply the coating. There is a lot of freedom in how you apply the coating. You can use a paintbrush, roller, or even a spray gun to apply Sea-Slide boat hull coatings.
Make sure to coat the surface evenly to prevent runs and pooling. A thin, evenly applied coating is the key to success and optimal performance.
3. Dry Time
Once, applied let the Sea-Slide coating air-dry for at least 3-4 hours at temperatures above 50°F. During this time, solvents and water will evaporate, leaving behind a solid layer of coating on the surface of your vessel’s hull. The layer is nearly invisible and non-sticky/tacky once cured.
4. Activation
Please let the coating fully dry for the best results. Once the coating is cured it is activated by being put into the water.
Upon submersion, the Sea-Slide hydrophilic coating activates by absorbing a large amount of water. It takes on a slightly milky appearance when wetted and becomes very slippery. As a result, the interfacial energy between the boat hull and the water surface is significantly minimized.
Conclusion
Sea-Slide is a unique marine coating that absorbs water to create a slippery, low-friction surface with low interfacial energy. It offers unmatched benefits over conventional boat hull paints and coatings.
You will experience the best-in-class boat speed and fuel efficiency with this advanced coating. At the same time you will get excellent protection against saltwater and marine biofouling.
Are you ready for a better boating experience? Do you want to achieve higher speeds? Need to reduce your fuel costs? Buy Sea-Slide today by clicking on the button below. Or reach out to our team with questions or for larger orders.
Who is Hydromer®, Inc.?
The technology behind our Sea-Slide boat hull coating originates from medical coating research and development invented by our parent company, Hydromer Inc.
Our company has 40+ years of experience manufacturing and supplying advanced hydrophilic coatings across the globe. We aim to use our expertise to develop high-performance marine coatings that offer a faster and more fuel-efficient boating experience.
So, what are you waiting for?
Contact us today to buy Sea-Slide and take your boating experience to the next level. If you have any questions, we’re here to help!
Phone: 704-490-4031
Email: pm****@******er.com
