Dear fellows,
After almost two years of controlled experiments, I am happy to report that the antifouling samples are finally ready for comparison, and I will be publishing full photographs and results here shortly.
Across this project, I created 192 experimental samples using the following coatings:
Juton Altex 5
Altex 5 Plus
Seahawks
International Micron 2
Vivid Petite
Two custom mixes based on Teflon and Titanium Oxide
Despite the large number of initial variants, only 4 samples survived to the finals.
The Winning Formula
The standout and likely best performer was:
Vivid Petite + 20% copper powder + 10% zinc pyrithione (ZnPT)
2 kg copper powder per 10 litres 1 litre of professional anti-mould additive
($135/L in paint shops versus $30 for 75 mL at Bunnings)
Three Budget Alternatives
Based on Altex 5 Plus, modified with:
20% anti-mould additive 10% zinc pyrithione (ZnPT) Copper sulphate at 5%, 10%, and 20% dissolved same day in purified water
Results
Zero slime on all four after 12 months By 17 Feb 2026, they will reach 24 months submerged Single coats only Static immersion, not moved Each has a control sample for comparison
After 18 months, these samples had not a gram of slime, while freshly antifouled boats in the bay looked terrible after a single year.
Environmental Reality Nothing Harmful Here
Copper
Naturally abundant in seawater. Every marine organism evolved with it. Nothing unnatural was added.
Zinc (ZnPT)
In every sunscreen. People swim, jump in the water tonnes of zinc enter oceans every summer. Far smaller impact here.
Anti-mould additive
Biodegrades just like antibiotics do through wastewater. Microbes break them down. The ocean breaks them down. Same pathways, same story.
So all three:
Copper, Zinc and Anti-mould additives
.are far less intrusive than what's already entering the oceans every single day from normal human coastal life.
Why I chose these blends
I could push the chemistry further, but that would step over my line of environmental responsibility.
This mix is safe, balanced, and still triples the effectiveness of mainstream paints.
Paint Purchasing Tip (Massive Savings)
If you want to save real money and I mean real money buy your paints directly from Altex in Smithfield (Sydney area).
10 litres will cost under $500 while Whitworths will charge around $800 for exactly the same volume
That's $300 saved straight away.
Same story with Vivid Petite huge savings. If you have to get in the car and drive there do it. You will thank yourself. Petite is better paint but price is as well.
And I want to make this absolutely clear:
I do not have any financial gain from saying this. I am doing this purely to help fellow sailors save money, avoid waste, and enjoy better performing antifouling without being ripped off by divers and marine shops.
We look after each other that's the whole point of this post. Not promotion. Not advertising. Just genuine help from one sailor to another.
Next Sunday
I will:
Retrieve the samples Photograph them properly Photograph their control references Publish everything here
It's going to be one of the more eye-opening antifouling comparisons this forum has seen.
