Anyone ever tried spraying anti-foul with a consumer grade airless gun like this?
https://www.bunnings.com.au/ozito-700w-airless-paint-sprayer_p0048851

Give your local Wattyl paints rep a call, they'll have a good idea.

Not wanting to make a meal of it but spraying afoul has obvious covenants as per here;
www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/pesticides/17p0370-apply-antifoul-paint-marinas.pdf
Realise you are looking at an airless system but I assume most councils would have a guideline document similar to the 72 pages here for your idle hours reading.........
www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/125380/Environmental-Action-for-Marinas-Boatsheds-and-Slipways.pdf
What size boat are you doing? Rolling and tipping off with a suitable high quality brush can give nearly the same if not the same result without all the expense of the spray gun and the worry of wind blown issues.

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r13 said..
Not wanting to make a meal of it but spraying afoul has obvious covenants as per here;
www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/pesticides/17p0370-apply-antifoul-paint-marinas.pdf
Realise you are looking at an airless system but I assume most councils would have a guideline document similar to the 72 pages here for your idle hours reading.........
www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/125380/Environmental-Action-for-Marinas-Boatsheds-and-Slipways.pdf
What size boat are you doing? Rolling and tipping off with a suitable high quality brush can give nearly the same if not the same result without all the expense of the spray gun and the worry of wind blown issues.

r13, if you tip as you roll anitfoul, do you get a much smoother result? I rolled mine recently and it was a pretty rough texture.

Spraying antifoul with an airless gun is the best method by far. It has been banned by the local council at our slipway because of noise! One bloke complained! It is an irritating noise but it's only for a short time. I used to spray my fishing vessel with a quality Wagner gun with the small paint container. This meant constant filling of the container and a couple of the deckhands would be constantly stirring and filling the pot. Did not thin the paint. Used the open jet setting and painted the whole boat with 10 litres in about 15 minutes. Several minutes were wasted just filling the pot but have to work fast to prevent clogging. Local charter operator who had 3 boats over 40 feet had a motor driven airless gun with a remote tank. His workers would do the job in under 10 minutes so the noise was not for long. Easy to control the paint thickness and boats only ever need one coat. No overspray and not effected by the wind much if it's below about 10 knots.
Local trawlers sail down to Eden for slipping and painting by airless gun.

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2bish said..

r13 said..
Not wanting to make a meal of it but spraying afoul has obvious covenants as per here;
www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/pesticides/17p0370-apply-antifoul-paint-marinas.pdf
Realise you are looking at an airless system but I assume most councils would have a guideline document similar to the 72 pages here for your idle hours reading.........
www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/125380/Environmental-Action-for-Marinas-Boatsheds-and-Slipways.pdf
What size boat are you doing? Rolling and tipping off with a suitable high quality brush can give nearly the same if not the same result without all the expense of the spray gun and the worry of wind blown issues.

r13, if you tip as you roll anitfoul, do you get a much smoother result? I rolled mine recently and it was a pretty rough texture.

I've never thought to try tipping antifoul, but I found a massive difference in finish, based on which rollers you used.

First time or two around, not knowing any better, just used whatever came with the roller handles and trays, figuring I was only going to throw the damn things out anyways. Wasn't super happy with the result.

Ended up trying out these www.whitworths.com.au/redtree-foam-paint-roller-cover-230mm foam rollers from Whitworths after talking with one of the paint guys at the boat show. Huge difference - less mess from the nap falling in there and even handled paint that was starting to get tacky a bit better.

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Planeray said..

2bish said..

r13 said..
Not wanting to make a meal of it but spraying afoul has obvious covenants as per here;
www.epa.nsw.gov.au/-/media/epa/corporate-site/resources/pesticides/17p0370-apply-antifoul-paint-marinas.pdf
Realise you are looking at an airless system but I assume most councils would have a guideline document similar to the 72 pages here for your idle hours reading.........
www.hornsby.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/125380/Environmental-Action-for-Marinas-Boatsheds-and-Slipways.pdf
What size boat are you doing? Rolling and tipping off with a suitable high quality brush can give nearly the same if not the same result without all the expense of the spray gun and the worry of wind blown issues.

r13, if you tip as you roll anitfoul, do you get a much smoother result? I rolled mine recently and it was a pretty rough texture.

I've never thought to try tipping antifoul, but I found a massive difference in finish, based on which rollers you used.

First time or two around, not knowing any better, just used whatever came with the roller handles and trays, figuring I was only going to throw the damn things out anyways. Wasn't super happy with the result.

Ended up trying out these www.whitworths.com.au/redtree-foam-paint-roller-cover-230mm foam rollers from Whitworths after talking with one of the paint guys at the boat show. Huge difference - less mess from the nap falling in there and even handled paint that was starting to get tacky a bit better.

Good tip Planeray, I'll keep these in mind. Did they produce a smoother finish overall?

I must say that the idea of a quick spray application producing a smooth finish, like Ramona has done, is looking pretty appealing.

Yes we have done it and it makes a difference if a good quality brush is used but it's very labour intensive. As per Planeray a very smooth roller assists and final roll from bow to stern for smoothness - or if this is not possible from waterline to hull centreline. We use Altex Petit Vivid - 2bish which afoul are you using?

www.misterantifoul.com.au/products/altex-pettit-vivid-antifouling

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r13 said..
Yes we have done it and it makes a difference if a good quality brush is used but it's very labour intensive. As per Planeray a very smooth roller assists and final roll from bow to stern for smoothness - or if this is not possible from waterline to hull centreline. We use Altex Petit Vivid - 2bish which afoul are you using?

www.misterantifoul.com.au/products/altex-pettit-vivid-antifouling

Cheers r13, I used Wattyl SeaPro CU120. Sounds like the Petit gave you a bit longer working time? mine was going off fast even with the recommended max thinner amount and in Tas winter weather. So it would defintely be a job for two to keep ahead of it. A mate of mine had his hull sprayed with CU120 earlier this year and the finish was impressively smooth. I'm thinking that when I scrub the boat in the water over summer, I'll use a cork block or similar to see if it burnishes it any smoother, ever tried that?

Hi all

I am surprised by the comments that a brush gives a better finish than a roller because when I do mine and brush the edges and roll in between the rolled finish is better using one of these www.whitworths.com.au/uni-pro-antifoul-roller-kit-230mm

Regards Don

Based on the assumption that everyone is a very good painter, guess it depends on the afoul used.
2bish - yes we scrub in the water over summer to keep the racing performance up - after a few months we need to do it every 2 weeks. We use a light pad scrubber from Whitworths which I cannot find at the moment - guess it would be similar to this but around twice as big in area.
www.whitworths.com.au/glitterbug-spare-pad-light-white

a slightly stippled finish is faster any how !!! tell yourself that and just roll it on !! BTW true

Thanks for the ideas. Might stick to roller this time but will report back if I get the courage to try the cheap sprayer. Ramona out of interest do you know what size nozzle you used?

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Donk107 said..
Hi all

I am surprised by the comments that a brush gives a better finish than a roller because when I do mine and brush the edges and roll in between the rolled finish is better using one of these www.whitworths.com.au/uni-pro-antifoul-roller-kit-230mm

Regards Don

Found the trays in the kit a bit flimsy and long nap sheds easily plus it leaves a rough texture. For the same cost next time try the short microfibre with the Monarch deep tray which holds much more paint.
www.bunnings.com.au/uni-pro-230mm-x-4mm-microfibre-nap-roller-cover_p1662800
www.bunnings.com.au/monarch-230mm-deep-well-paint-tray_p1662149

I also use this rollers with 2 pack epoxy primers as well and they hold a lot better then the Redtree foam.

For OP , haven't try that particular airless sprayer but tried one of the cheapie small electric airless one with Micron Extra, ended up clogged about 1/4 way trough the job so I threw it out and finished the job with the roller. Maybe if I used it with thinners and strained it before filling the pot. Probably worth using it on large boats with industrial sprayer and the 20L tins but for small boats by the time you add the time to prep the boat for overspray and time to clean the gun afterwards its faster to use a roller and throw away the roller when finished.

Golf balls aren't smooth.......

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David88 said..
Thanks for the ideas. Might stick to roller this time but will report back if I get the courage to try the cheap sprayer. Ramona out of interest do you know what size nozzle you used?

It's a long time ago. The machine was a Wagner and it was the largest in the range. I used the stock nozzle wide open. Used to empty the pot in about a minute. With this method you need a team of two helpers at least to keep up the rapid supply of paint and to move things about. Any delay will have you will a drying nozzle and piston. With the remote pot systems you will need an assistant to move everything along as well, you can not stop once you start.

On my 28 footer the only thing that needs masking up is the waterline and it takes about 3 easy hours to brush the edges and roll on one coat and then brush the waterline and leading edges again with a second coat when the first has dried

I throw away the roller,tray and the two cheap brushes and so it would take some convincing for me to bother spraying it with the extra masking and cleaning up the gear

Regards Don

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Donk107 said..
On my 28 footer the only thing that needs masking up is the waterline and it takes about 3 easy hours to brush the edges and roll on one coat and then brush the waterline and leading edges again with a second coat when the first has dried

I throw away the roller,tray and the two cheap brushes and so it would take some convincing for me to bother spraying it with the extra masking and cleaning up the gear

Regards Don

i agree

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r13 said..
Based on the assumption that everyone is a very good painter, guess it depends on the afoul used.
2bish - yes we scrub in the water over summer to keep the racing performance up - after a few months we need to do it every 2 weeks. We use a light pad scrubber from Whitworths which I cannot find at the moment - guess it would be similar to this but around twice as big in area.
www.whitworths.com.au/glitterbug-spare-pad-light-white

Thanks, I'll have a look at that pad.

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Donk107 said..
Hi all

I am surprised by the comments that a brush gives a better finish than a roller because when I do mine and brush the edges and roll in between the rolled finish is better using one of these www.whitworths.com.au/uni-pro-antifoul-roller-kit-230mm

Regards Don

Interesting Don, which anti foul did you use?

Hi 2nish

I use Hempel Olympic soft

REgards Don

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Donk107 said..
Hi 2nish

I use Hempel Olympic soft

REgards Don

Cheers Don, maybe that rolls better than others? Is that antifoul used a bit down your way for Huon conditions, works well does it?

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SandS said..

Donk107 said..
On my 28 footer the only thing that needs masking up is the waterline and it takes about 3 easy hours to brush the edges and roll on one coat and then brush the waterline and leading edges again with a second coat when the first has dried

I throw away the roller,tray and the two cheap brushes and so it would take some convincing for me to bother spraying it with the extra masking and cleaning up the gear

Regards Don

i agree

Me too, and the disposable roller tray liners are excellent

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2bish said..

Donk107 said..
Hi 2nish

I use Hempel Olympic soft

REgards Don

Cheers Don, maybe that rolls better than others? Is that antifoul used a bit down your way for Huon conditions, works well does it?

Hi 2bish

When the boat was slipped in Hobart a few years ago when i was looking at buying it it had been in the water at the DSS for a while as the elderly owner had passed away and when it came out it didn't have a lot of growth on it

I looked in the cabin and there was half a tin of Hempel there so I decided to stay with what the previous owner had been using

I don't know how many people down here use Hempel but Franklin Marine stock it so it probably is used a bit

To be honest when boats are lifted on the Yacht Club Slip they normally don't have a lot of barnacle and weed growth on them but mainly slime so it probably doesn't matter too much what type of anti foul is used

I am pretty lucky as the bottom of the boat is lovely and smooth with no buildup of anti foul and the Hempel goes on fairly easy (I don't thin it) as long as they day is warm enough (I normally slip it in September before the start of the season) and I normally use between 2 and 3 litres to do my 28 footer

Regards Don

Thanks for that Don, it's always handy to hear what's working for people close by. She looks good in the pics! Mine gets a bit more growth around Kettering. This was a bit over two years since an anti foul, and 6 months since I did a scrub in the water. I don't know what they'd put on it in Pittwater just before we purchased the boat.