Antifouling in Maltese water: how long it really lasts
Warm water and a long season change the maths. When to haul out and what to specify.
The honest number
Antifouling sold on a “12 to 18 month” promise was tested in colder water than ours. In Malta, a boat that sits in a marina all summer will show growth at the waterline within nine months, sooner if it is not used.
In short
- Plan on hauling out every 12 months if the boat is used, sooner if it is not.
- Extra coats at the waterline and on the leading edges earn their cost.
- A diver’s scrub between haul-outs is cheaper than dragging growth around.
What to specify
Ask for the product name, the number of coats, and where the extra coats go. A quote that says “antifoul” and a price is not a quote. Ours lists all three, with a photo of each coat going on.
Signs it is time
Slower speed at the same revs, a rougher waterline when you run a hand along it, and higher engine temperatures on a motor boat all point the same way.
Need this done on your boat?
Antifouling & haul-out
Lift booked, hull washed, anodes, seacocks, two coats, polish.