Seasonal
How often should I antifoul my boat?
Most UK boats are antifouled annually, typically at spring lift-out or launch. Boats in warm, nutrient-rich estuaries or left unused for long spells may need it yearly without fail; a lightly fouled boat in cold water can sometimes stretch to two seasons with a scrub and touch-up.
The deciding factors are water temperature, how much the boat moves, and the paint system already on the hull. A boat that is used weekly polishes its own hull to some extent; one that sits all summer grows a beard whatever paint is on it.
Build-up matters as much as the interval. Layer on layer of old antifoul eventually cracks and sheds, and then you are paying for a full strip back rather than a coat. If the existing paint is flaking or you can count many layers at the waterline, budget for preparation as part of the job.
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