An environmentally friendly antifouling
For many years, antifouling paints have been at the heart of research by boaters and the industry to try to limit the impact of boating on its environment. Inspired by sea urchin spikes, the product developed by Finsulate has a biomimetic behavior. The hairs of the coating prevent the fixation of dirt on the hull of the boat. "Finsulate is a non-toxic product, with no chemical substances and no release into the environment. It has a purely mechanical action. It meets an environmental need. Today, 50 million tons of paint are used every year" underlines Marion Padioleau, director of Finsulate France.
Efficient installation and guaranteed effectiveness
Installed in the form of strips, the Finsulate is implemented by a network that continues to grow on the French coast. Once the hull has been prepared by the yachtsman, with a fairing and 2 coats of epoxy primer, the approved teams come to install the coating.
Confident in its technology, Finsulate offers a 5-year warranty. "We have now 10 years of experience. There are more than 800 boats already equipped in the world, including about fifty in France. At the end of 5 years, we make a complete check with the customer and carry out the possible repairs, and it is left for a long time" explains Marion Padioleau.
Research and development continues. Two versions are available with different pile lengths depending on the type of boat, its speed and its frequency of navigation. With a price around 100 euros/sqm installed and a long life span, Finsulate is competitive with conventional solutions while offering an ecological advantage.
Regular hull maintenance and fairing savings
Finsulate works as long as the boat's living works are cleaned regularly. "It's not magic. It doesn't stop dirt from settling, but it doesn't cling. To keep it long and effective, it is necessary to accept to clean it 3 to 5 times per year according to the place and the nature of water" concedes the director of Finsulate.
The cleaning is done by hand, possibly with a spatula or a brush. It can be done with a karcher after a few hours in the water or by diving. Finsulate is working on a service offer of divers for its customers and the authorization to do it in the ports, given the absence of toxic products.
