Essential Shipyard Industries (ESI), based in Friday Harbor, just opened a second facility in the Skyline area of Anacortes, providing customers with essential boatyard services, including bottom coatings. ESI has partnered with North American SeaWide to distribute Hempel bottom coating products. Hempel is a world leader in antifouling technology, high-performance, copper-free and biocide-free antifouling coatings – Silic One and Hempaspeed Thin Film (TF) acrylic. These unique and non-reactive polymers create an invisible barrier between the hull’s surface and the water, fooling marine life into believing that the hull is liquid, significantly reducing their attachment. This Fouling Release System can be used on all types of boats, except wood, and in both fresh and saltwater.
It’s no secret that regulations in Washington State are more stringent than in other states regarding bottom paints, with a law that calls for the phaseout of any substances or chemicals in antifouling paints and coatings that are toxic to the marine environment used on recreational vessels. As more specific regulations are likely to come in the near future, Hempel products are already available and proven. Essential Shipyard Industries (ESI) provides bottom painting services for Hempel coatings and also caters to other boater needs such as maintenance, repair, hull waxing, shrink wrapping, and brokerage. The company boasts a crew of dedicated professionals with extensive mechanical, electrical, and yachting experience. ESI offers two prime locations in Washington – Friday Harbor on San Juan Island (1293 Turn Pt. Rd.), and now in Anacortes (1910 Skyline Way) for services and Hempel coating applications.
How Hempel Products Work. Unlike antifouling, the Fouling Release System does not rely on biocides. Based on silicone and hydrogel, the surface coating has water-like properties, making it difficult for fouling organisms to attach firmly to the hull. When the boat is in motion, the organisms are easily released. Antifouling on the other hand works by releasing biocides, the top layer is dissolved and the biocides “leach” onto the coating surface, keeping fouling organisms away.
Cost Difference. Maintenace costs in the second and third year are lower with the Silicone Fouling Release System, while the costs for Antifouling are lower in the first year compared to the Fouling Release System. Preparation to apply the Hempel product may be significant for the first year of application.
Hempel’s Silic One. A silicone-based bottom coating that incorporates Hydrogel technology has been available in North America since the fall of 2023. The unique formula creates a super-slippery surface that prohibits organisms like barnacles and algae from sticking to the hull of a vessel, reducing drag and fuel consumption. The product is safer for applicators and can be used on both brand-new boats and vessels already coated with antifouling. Silic One comes in shades of blue, black, and red.
Hempaspeed TF is a high-performance, hard, biocide-free, thin-film coating used as an antifouling for boats of fiberglass, steel, and aluminum. Hempaspeed TF is used for pleasure boats and racing/regatta boats for ultimate performance and is suitable for both salt and fresh waters. It’s extremely easy to clean, with no risk of run-off contamination. Hempaspeed TF comes in shades of blue, black, white, and grey.
Hempel was founded in Copenhagen, Denmark and their paints and coatings can be found in almost every country of the world. SeaWide Distribution is the national wholesale distributor for North America. According to Lacey Neahr, Category Director for SeaWide Marine, “Hempel’s Silic One and Hempaspeed thin-film acrylic not only adheres to Washington State guidelines, but blows them out of the water.” President of Essential Shipyard Industries Jason Knott says that “Hempel bottom coating products are as close to a magic bullet as we can get when it comes to ecologically safe bottom coatings.”
Photos: Hempel
