Hull fouling costs boat owners time and money!

Fouling can negatively affect your boat’s fuel efficiency, speed and cause increased maintenance costs to remove the fouling. It causes a powerboat to use more fuel and slows down sailboats because of the increased drag. It can affect the maneuverability of the boat. And if you leave fouling attached to your boat for too long you can damage the paint and cause deterioration of your boat overall.

Hull fouling is highest for boats that remain stationary in the water for long periods of time and are not protected by antifouling paint. Trailered boats do not usually have enough time in the water to be affected by hull fouling. However, they can carry plants and animals on the anchor, anchor chain, prop, lines and fishing gear and sometimes even in bilge water.

• Inspect and clean your boat regularly


• Clean your boat before you leave port


• Apply antifouling paint and renew it within the manufacturer’s suggested timeframe


• Use manual cleaning together with antifouling paints. Research shows that manual cleaning alone can actually increase the rate of fouling, unless followed by an application of antifouling paint.


• Dispose of fouling in landfill. If using an intertidal rack do not leave the fouling in the intertidal to be swept away with the next tide.

For more information on hull fouling and antifouling paint there are resources on the following sites.

Environment Canada's Best Management Practices for Hull Maintenance at Boatyards and Marinas

Georgia Strait Alliance's Green Boating Products and Services