Onboard Magazine

TO SERVE
AND TO
PROTECT
FRANCES AND MICHAEL HOWORTH LOOK AT THE LATEST PAINT AND
ANTIFOULING COATINGS ALONG WITH VINYL WRAPPINGS IN USE
THROUGHOUT THE SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY

132 | WINTER 2019 | ONBOARD
Call it the big cover up or even, if you want to; a
protection racket but the fact is: we are not entering
the realms of writing about crime fiction. We are
talking here about protective coatings as applied
to superyachts.
With the constant need to keep a superyacht looking good, the
informed maintenance and application of protective coatings is
becoming an increasingly important task for the accomplished
member of crew. Today’s crew person needs to know how everyday
issues relating to paint and varnish can be coped with and with
manufacturers each claiming that their product can either cut
emissions, boost performance or improve fuel economy, there
is a lot more to the protection racket than just a chamois and
squeezy blade.
Yachts live in some of the most corrosive conditions for paintwork
in the world attacked constantly by high doses of ultra violet
light and salt water. Paint surfaces are porous with millions
of microscopic holes. Salt crystals get into these holes and
act a little like the tip of a screwdriver boring away making the
pores bigger. The sooner these salt crystals are removed the
less damage is done. The less damage is done the smoother
the surface and the smoother the surface the shinier the boat
looks, as light is refracted in a focussed single beam rather than
diffused in many directions.
Yacht detailing products and yacht cleaning supplies from the
US based Sea-Shield have been developed over the years by
experienced professionals working within the superyacht industry.
Their Francisco Linares understands better than most, the
task involved in yacht detailing and the importance of adding a
protective barrier against the damaging effects of the sun and
the sea. He says, “We developed products to make the crew’s
life easier. When our products are applied maintenance time
is substantially reduced. Future wash downs get easier every
time Sea Shield is used and so insures the yacht has the best
protection available.”
The application of ceramic protective coatings will seal the pores
on paint, glass and stainless, preventing them from being damaged
and creating an uneven surface that will never shine no matter
how many wash downs are done. From the crew’s point of view,
washing down a surface sealed with a smooth ceramic coating is
TO SERVE
AND TO
PROTECT
FRANCES AND MICHAEL HOWORTH LOOK AT THE LATEST PAINT AND
ANTIFOULING COATINGS ALONG WITH VINYL WRAPPINGS IN USE
THROUGHOUT THE SUPERYACHT INDUSTRY
ONBOARD | WINTER 2019 | 133
ABSOLUTE BOAT CARE
Paintwork, varnishing, antifouling, polishing, gelcoat repairs…
all done by one company. No more subcontractors arguing
about who’s doing what and when. Absolute Boat Care do it all,
so you don’t waste time organising various subcontractors and
you can get on with more important work. Absolute Boat Care
adjusts to changes in schedule easily and without fuss. The team
understands that at peak times they need to be flexible, and we
go out of our way to make sure that our work is done on time and
in budget.
For more details Tel: +34 649 989 909
or visit www.absoluteboatcare.net
ONBOARD | WINTER 2019 | 135
COATINGS
quick and easy and results in the perfect shine. These specialist
polymer and ceramic coatings enhance and protect the exterior
paint surfaces against ultra violet, salt, dirt, exhaust fumes,
oil and a host of other contaminates.Using a good polish can
delay a paint cycle and if applied from new or whilst still in good
condition can extend the life of the paint for years.
When discussing this with Andy Williams from CeraShield he
explains “All our coatings have been especially formulated and
engineered. With the harsh environments that superyachts
find themselves operating in its essential to protect against
harmful and damaging UV rays, soot and exhaust emissions,
acid rain oxidation and salt deposits. Our next generation,
premium Ceramic and Sio2 coatings can also restore and seal
faded paint and gel coats. Once applied the ceramic coating
forms a gas barrier which means no soot or exhaust emissions
can penetrate the coating and leaves the surface with a slick,
glass like finish that is very easy to clean and maintain without
the use of aggressive chemicals and leaves the crew free to
perform other important duties around the vessel.”
Isofan and Stoppani are paints made for the yachting market by
the German Lechler Brand. Since 1883 Stoppani has dedicated
special care to product quality and reliability. The product range
they offer is continuously evolving using Lechler’s technological
expertise with the aim of offering innovative paint processes to
fully satisfy the different yachting segments’ needs. The Isofan
Marine product range includes solid, metallic and pearl finishes
of matchless gloss, light fastness and ageing resistance for
yachts, pleasure and sailing boats.
The difference between a good paint job and a poor one is always said
to be down to the preparation. It is a cliché, but it is also true, that
99% of every good paint job lies in the preparation. It doesn’t matter
if the finish is wood or fibreglass, the prep work still has to be done.
This begins with removing all hardware, railings and decorative
strips. Except where the complete removal of the object cannot
be safely achieved the use of masking tape should be avoided.
Before applying any coating, check that air conditioning units
that vent on the area to be coated are cleaned or if possible
that the fans have been turned off. It is a sad fact of life that the
Sahara Desert is just too close to the marinas on the northern
shores of the Mediterranean. That and the fact that superyacht
docks are often close to roads, means that whenever crew are
trying to paint a surface outside they encounter dust. Minute
particles of sand or road grit are generally invisible to the eye
but add a layer of wet coating to a surface and the annoying
molecules of grit can quickly spoil hours of hard work. It’s a
really good idea to use an air compressor to blow away dust
from its surface and then to sprinkle clean fresh water on the
deck, in the area being coated. This will help keep dust on the
deck and help prevent it moving around in the air.
Kevin Viles recently sold out his fairing and painting company
Concept Yachts Finishing brand to Finishing De Luxe in Germany
and joined the board of the newly enlarged company as Commercial
Director. Now with offices in the UK, Holland and Germany the
company currently has five projects over 50 metres running
simultaneously inside Heesen Yachts, along with two 90 metre
refit projects underway at Royal Huisman.” Director Chasan
Kalfoglou says, “For us it goes without saying that good
preparation is one of the most important steps that we take
on our projects. A high standard of preparation starts from day
one and we maintain a high standard throughout the process.
CERASHIELD
CeraShield has become the market leader in offering first class
application and removal of premium ceramic and Si02 coatings to
paint, glass and stainless steel which offer performance, protection
and durability for the exterior and interior of superyachts. The
experienced team of applicators are pioneers in this advanced
technology with over 10 years’ experience in applying ceramic
coatings and Sio2 coatings to superyachts. The company
management and project management have their roots firmly
embedded in the industry and in the painting sector. They pride
themselves on the bespoke service and support given to the clients.
Specs include 10 and 7 micron ceramic coatings, 7 micron Sio2
coating, with the benefits of restoring and sealing faded paint and
gel coats, and extending the life of new paint, adding a high gloss,
cleaning and wash downs are easier, it protects against soot and
exhaust emissions, harmful UV rays, salt and acid rain & there are no
adverse effects to the future painting programme.
For more details Tel: +34 635 395 345
or visit www.cerashield.net
ONBOARD | WINTER 2019 | 137
These steps in preparation are crucial for the final
result as poor preparation is easily spotted in the
final top coat (gloss) and could easily compromise
both manufacturers warranties and the overall
finish of the vessel. The client expects a very
high quality finish and as a standard we strive to
provide this every time. Taking steps backwards on
a project due to poor preparation is never efficient
and extremely costly, so why risk it?”
Longevity, high gloss and easy cleaning are the
standout features offered by a new class of coating
made possible by recent advances in ceramic
chemistry: Zytexx Clear-Coat. When using this
revolutionary ceramic coating, salts, pollutants,
acid rain streaks, oils and diesel soot are all easily
removed. The hard, slick, abrasion-resistant finish does not wear
down like waxes, polishes and polymers.
More importantly the product cuts crew cleaning time down to
a fraction. By preventing diesel soot from permanently staining
polyurethane paints, crew can avoid unsightly and expensive
damage and eliminate the need to tediously polish out these
defects. With its hard, scratch-resistant properties, fenders
and hawsers mark Zytexx far less than paint. The company has
supplied over 90 vessels in the Mediterranean alone all are using
it to great effect. Captain Eddie West, in command of Sarafsa,
is a big fan and has stated, “Zytexx has without doubt, extended
the life of our paintwork to the extent where we have original
paint of 11 years old in some areas. Glass readings were as low
as 7 prior to using Zytexx and now readings are in the high 80s
on this old paint. The application team are quick and efficient,
just give them a cherry picker and leave them to it.”
Speaking for the company, Michael Pass says Captains
should look out for Zytexx for glass surfaces. He says, “Our
Glass Treatment restores salt pitted windows to clarity, greatly
enhancing the look of your vessel. Treated windows become
extremely water repellent; Water literally rolls right off eliminating
spotting and reducing further etching. Even on windows fitted
with wiper blades, Zytexx Glass Treatment provides long-lasting
hydrophobicity.”
Nico Roper of Atlas Paint Consultants believes it is important
before contemplating any large scale painting project, specialist
firms such as his are called in. The job of a consultant should
be to carry out a full pre refit paint status survey. Once that is
done the consultant should prepare a bid book to reflect all the
necessary requirements. Then he should have the yard and or the
paint contractor prepare a paint manual. “It is vital,” he says,
“to list the responsibilities and communication lines to make
sure there are clear and open corporation between all parties”.
Painted surfaces that have a dappled look about them are often
referred to as having an orange peel finish because of the texture
of the surface after coating resembles the skin of an orange or
grapefruit. This phenomenon is almost certainly the result of
improper painting a technique, and can often be caused by fast
evaporation of thinners or when using an incorrectly set up spray
gun. It can also arise when a surface is painted with a roller
using too little pain or too thick a paint so that the surface dries
before the texture as a whole does so. When using a spray gun
check the air pressure and ensure the correctly sized nozzle is
fitted. Avoid spraying paint at an angle other than perpendicular
to the surface and never apply an over excessive amount of paint.
When painting, it is always best to avoid extreme air quality
or temperature conditions. Low temperatures will for example
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A GOOD
PAINT JOB AND A POOR ONE IS DOWN TO
THE PREPARATION. IT IS A CLICHÉ, BUT IT
IS ALSO TRUE THAT 99% OF EVERY GOOD
PAINT JOB LIES IN THE PREPARATION
ATLAS PAINT CONSULTANTS
For most of the different disciplines on a yacht sophisticated systems
are developed and in use, on which long term maintenance is based.
These systems clearly stipulate what kind of work is required, when
it needs to be carried out and what the costs involved are to keep
the vessel in top condition. Such a maintenance system has not
been developed for the paint discipline, which is one of the largest
returning items on yachts. Atlas Paint Consultants has recognised the
need for such Paint Maintenance Manual and has developed such a
document. In general the purpose of the document is to create and
maintain a data bank of the paint condition on a yacht. Enabling yacht
managers and/or captains to adequately plan and budget their future
paint refit work.
For more details Tel: +31 (0)10 2681495
or visit www.atlaspaintconsultants.com
COATINGS
ONBOARD | WINTER 2019 | 139
COPPERCOAT SUPERYACHT
Coppercoat® Superyacht is the longest
lasting anti-foul coating available. With a
lifespan of between 10 and 20 years per
treatment, this ultra hard wearing epoxy
anti-foul eliminates the need for the
repeated costly and time-consuming dry
dockings necessary for reapplications of
conventional anti-foul. By removing the
need to continually dock and re-anti-foul,
long life Coppercoat® Superyacht provides
unbeatable value for money. The
original Coppercoat® was launched some 20
years ago and is now used by over 60,000
vessels Worldwide. Coppercoat® Superyacht is
specific to the larger boat market, being made
suitable for application by spray as well as roller.
For more details Tel: +44 (0)1258 861059
or visit www.coppercoat-superyacht.com
increase drying times while high temperatures will reduce drying
times and can make application more difficult, as product flow
and levelling is compromised. Optimal painting conditions are
when the ambient temperature is between 10 – 26°C and relative
humidity is below 65%.
It is always best to avoid painting in direct sunlight, or when
the substrate itself is excessively warm. One good way to check
this is to check the surface temperature using a specialised
surface thermometer.
With over 20 years experience crewing superyachts, Duncan
Sykes the Managing Director at Absolute Boat Care, understand
absolutely the requirements and demands of captains and owners
alike. Based in Mallorca, they have a large, highly professional
team who have the capabilities to undertake absolutely any job,
whatever the size. Captain Jason Lambourne, of the motor
yacht Angara has enjoyed working with Absolute Boat Care and
done so for the past four years. He says, “The products and the
knowledge they employ when polishing Angara have always given
her an incredible shine and made sure she is looking fantastic
for her owners every season.”
When applying epoxies in high humidity conditions they can
develop an ‘amine blush’ on the surface particularly at lower
temperatures. This slightly sticky substance must be removed
and can normally be washed off with soap and water. If the blush
is not removed it can lead to the delamination of subsequent
coats. High humidity conditions can reduce the amount of solvent
evaporation during the drying/curing stages; with epoxies this
can lead to a ‘soft cure’ where solvent can remain trapped in
the film for many days leading to slow or poor final cure.
Patching paint is always tricky. There are some who say patching
should always be thought of as a temporary repair because it
will more than likely always be identified as such. Others believe
that done well it is hard to tell if a patch repair has been made
or not. It is a truism, however, that hard cut lines are almost
always visible, especially in darker colours the likes of dark blues
and blacks. They should, be avoided in areas where they are going
to be very easy to spot.
It is of course imperative to use the same brand and colour as
the original when trying to perfect the repair. One good tip is to
keep a log of what is painted when it was completed and what
COATINGS
FINISHING DE LUXE
Finishing De Luxe are a family run superyacht fairing and painting
company with experience that goes back over 30 years. Regarded
as one of the best kept secrets in the superyacht finishing
industry, and with a team of over 250 highly experienced
professionals, FDL are leading the way and setting the industries
highest standards. Boasting an international management team
and offices in the UK, Germany and Holland, Finishing De Luxe
are a truly global company. FDL pride themselves on not having
to rely on subcontractor teams, as do so many other larger
finishing companies, Last season the company successfully ran
and completed multiple projects in five different countries at the
same time.
For more details Tel: +49 (0) 177 38 80 410
or visit www.finishing-deluxe.com
ONBOARD | WINTER 2019 | 141
product was used noting any batch numbers or identification
codes shown on the tin. That way you know exactly what colour
was originally used.
Some experts suggest it is best not to polish hard cut lines
advising, hard cut lines will look worse than if they were simply
left as they were. It is sometimes better to paint an entire
section than a patch in the middle of a surface, as you would
have less risk of it being visible. Larger areas are often better
than smaller ones. Polishing out soft cut lines using specialist
polishes is always the better solution. Certain paints can be
polished and others cannot be polished, so be aware of what
is possible before you start. A well polished patch when done
properly will be almost invisible.
Based in Palma de Mallorca, Pure, headed up by Nic Clarke has
painted over 20 superyachts in the 10 years the company has
been in business project managing refits. He says, “I know a
bit about paint and coatings but could not be regarded as an
expert. That is why we always retain the services of a paint
surveyor, sometimes much to the annoyance of the applicators
working on the project. It was the project management style
of the company that secured the responsibility of completely
repainting the exterior of the 70 metre Lurssen built Saint
Nicholas and it was perhaps because of the paint quality that
this yacht exchanged hands so quickly one released onto the
brokerage market.
Versatility
One certain benefit of Ceramic and Sio2 coatings from CeraShield
is the ease of cleaning. “All that’s needed by the crew is a simple
pH neutral soapy washdown” says Andy Williams. “No aggressive
chemicals or polishing is required, which considerably cuts down
the time crew members are kept away from other important
tasks and is obviously better for the overall health and safety of
the crew and means that no harsh chemicals are being dispersed
into our oceans”
Williams continues, “But it’s not just the paint work that can
benefit, why not apply to metals and glass? Metals onboard
would no longer need to be polished before every boss or guest
trip. The coating keeps the metal looking bright with that ‘just
SEA-SHIELD
The SEA-SHIELD brand has been developed over the years by
experienced professionals working within the boating and mega
yacht industry. SEA-SHIELD understands better than most the
task involved in yacht detailing and the importance of adding a
protective barrier against the damaging effects of the sun and
the sea. When SEA-SHIELD products are applied your yacht and
maintenance time can be substantially reduced. Future wash
downs get easier every time you use the products insuring your
yacht has the best protection available.
For more details Tel: +1 954 519 2014
or visit www.sea-shield.com
COATINGS
polished look’. Plus glass, which quickly becomes oxidised and
suffers from calcium build up can be protected. Once the coating
is applied the surface becomes hydrophobic and repels the harsh
environments for a much longer period of time. And, for the longer
term we have devised a 5 year gloss protection programme. For
its duration, and longer if required, we send CeraShield teams
to wherever the vessel is having downtime for maintenance, to
undertake an agreed portion of the 5 year protection plan. This
will then guarantee the vessels exterior painted surfaces will
always remain glossy, simple!”
LECHLER
Stoppani is the specialist painting system
and product developed for yachting by
the Lechler brand. The brand has enjoyed
success in this field since 1883 and is well
known for the quality of its products. The
product range is composed of antifoulings,
primers and intermediates, lightweight
epoxy fillers, topcoats, clear varnishes, teak
products, and is continuously evolving
with the aim of offering worldwide reliable
and innovative paint processes. The colour
selection is broad and complements the
preparation paint processes in order to
guarantee solid, metallic and pearl finishes
of matchless gloss, light fastness and
ageing resistance for yachts and other
marine vessels.
For more details Tel: +39 031586111
or visit www.lechler.eu
ONBOARD | WINTER 2019 | 143
Bottom coats
Aquarius Marine Coatings Ltd. manufactures the high-performance
multi-season antifouls Coppercoat, Coppercoat-Superyacht and
Coppercoat Commercial. Since launching in 1991, these coatings
have proven to be durable and long-lasting. These hard-wearing
and densely copper-filled epoxy resins provide protection against
unwanted marine growth for many years (commonly over a
decade). To date, more than 60,000 sail and power vessels have
been treated with Coppercoat in the leisure, commercial and
superyacht sectors.
Coppercoat consists of copper powder and resin, and its nonablative characteristics mean it will firmly adhere to a wide variety
of surfaces including GRP, concrete, steel, iron and aluminium. Its
leach rate is less than 50mcg/cu/cm2 after 30 days. Managing
Director at Coppercoat Ewan Clark says, “Increasingly restrictive
laws governing the use of biocides in ant-fouls weighs heavily on
coating manufacturers. Within Europe, the latest Biocides and
Pesticides Register has reduced the number of allowable biocides
by approximately 80%. The armoury available to paint chemists
has been severely depleted.” He adds, “But a restricted choice
of ingredients and a lowering of biocide levels need not result in
poor performance. The latest coatings technology concentrates
on making best use of the ingredients. The latest CoppercoatSuperyacht anti-foul being a case in point. The water-based epoxy carrier is loaded with pure copper particles,
curing to create a semi-permanent outer surface so copper-rich
as to be inhospitable to virtually all bio-fouling.”
The proof of the pudding is they say is in the eating. Coppercoat
is currently celebrating its own memorable proof in the aftermath
of the 2017-2018 Clipper Round The World Race. When the
Clipper boats were finally lifted out after 40,000NM of racing
and 16 months of continual immersion, the Coppercoat on their
ZYTEXX
The Hybrid-Ceramic Coating Paint Protection PG44XX
Series. Zytexx laboratories are at the forefront of the
ceramic coating industry. Year in, year out they continue
to develop and advance the proprietary clear-coats
designed for the marine industry. “We had continual
issues with the hull staining after long passages, and
being a large area, began to be quite time consuming
for the crew to keep on top of keeping the hull looking
good. The application of ZYTEXX was a eureka moment,
suddenly everything became easier, and additionally the
hull finish was gleaming” Eddie Cooney, M/Y Grace E .
For more details Tel: +33(0)4 83 28 2178
or visit www.zytexx.com
hulls revealed almost no loss of coating thickness. Barring the
faintest trace of slime at the waterline in some parts, the hulls
were virtually spotless.
So well did the Coppercoat antifoul perform that, for the first
time in the Clipper’s 22-year history, the boats did not need to
be lifted out at the race’s halfway mark in Sydney. As every boat
owner is all too painfully aware, lifting out vessels to clean off old
antifoul and apply a new coat can be a slow and costly business,
so Coppercoat’s matchless resilience meant substantial savings
in time and money for Clipper Race organisers and crews alike.
“This enormously successful outcome understandably delighted
us, the crews and the race organisers in equal measure,” adds
Ewan Clark. “Look no further for a clear vindication of Coppercoat’s
efficiency and longevity.”
Such positive feedback contrasts markedly with recent testimony
from sailors involved in other global circumnavigations, who
reported that rival coatings used on their boat hulls only lasted
for less than six months. Even, by this point, barnacle growth on
hulls was so advanced that it was calculated to be responsible
for a 0.5 to 1 knot reduction in boat speed for every hour sailed.
It’s a wrap
Paints and varnishes are not the only way to protect surfaces
and keep things smart. Vinyl wrapping is a way of protecting a
paint finish with a plastic layer, rather than a chemical topcoat.
The process known as wrapping has developed dramatically
over the past decade and has moved into the premier league of
coatings and is no longer simply in the realm of those seeking
to temporarily advertise a new product or design on the side of
a commercial white van. Vinyl allows for special effects the likes
of pearlescent or matt effect to be applied if required, and we
are now seeing many interiors receiving a fresh coat of vinyl…
COATINGS
THESE HARD-WEARING AND
DENSELY COPPER-FILLED EPOXY
RESINS PROVIDE PROTECTION
AGAINST UNWANTED MARINE
GROWTH FOR MANY YEARS