Cost guides
Antifouling cost UK 2026: what a full hull job should come to
Marine Match · · 6 min read
Antifouling is one of the few marine jobs where owners can sanity-check a quote themselves, because the variables are simple: hull area, how bad the old coating is, and whether the yard or the engineer supplies the paint.
What a normal quote includes
A standard job covers pressure washing on lift-out, masking the waterline and anodes, abrading or de-nibbing the existing coating, and two coats of antifoul. Paint is often the smaller half of the bill — labour and prep are where the money goes.
What is usually quoted separately
Lift-out and standing time in the yard, anode replacement, propeller coating, osmosis inspection and any gelcoat repair are almost always separate lines. If a quote looks unusually low, check whether the lift is inside it.
Hard, eroding or foul-release
Eroding coatings suit most cruising boats and are the cheapest per season. Hard antifoul costs more up front but suits boats that are scrubbed or dry-sailed. Foul-release coatings are a different order of expense and only pay back on high-mileage or commercial hulls.
How to keep the number down
Book the antifoul into the same lift as your other underwater work — anodes, cutless bearing, prop service — so you pay for one lift and one mobilisation, not three.
Indicative costs
Indicative antifouling quote ranges (pressure wash, prep, two coats, paint included)
| Job | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 26ft | £450 – £750 | Single-season coating, light abrading |
| 27–34ft | £600 – £1,100 | Most common yacht size on the platform |
| 35–42ft | £950 – £1,700 | More paint, more staging time |
| 43ft+ / catamaran | £1,600 – £3,000+ | Two hulls or deep keels add labour |
| Full strip back to gelcoat | +£1,200 – £3,500 | Quoted separately, usually by the day |
Guide ranges compiled by the Marine Match team from UK quotes and published yard tariffs. Prices vary by region, yard and vessel condition — always get your own quotes.
Frequently asked
- How often should a UK boat be antifouled?
- Most UK cruising boats are antifouled every season. Boats on hard standing over winter or lightly used may stretch a coating to two seasons if the yard is happy with its condition.
- Is antifouling cheaper if I do the prep myself?
- Yes — washing and abrading is the labour-heavy part. Many yards will let you prep and have a professional apply the coating, which typically takes a meaningful slice off the labour line. Check your yard's rules on sanding first.
- Does the price include lift-out?
- Usually not. Lift-out, pressure wash and standing time are normally yard charges quoted separately from the applicator's price.