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Frequently asked Questions about Sea-Slide®

What is Sea-Slide?

It is a urethane-based marine overcoat designed especially for marine use to improve speed, fuel efficiency, ride and handling.  It is recommended for both for pleasure boats and commercial vessels.   It is an easy to apply coating that uses a unique, bonded inter-polymer complex that binds water to the hull.  The water layer then reduces friction between the boat hull and the surrounding water.   It can be used over most anti-fouling paints.  

Is there a more technical definition?

Sea-Slide is a cross linked, three dimensional polymeric hydrophilic (Water loving) polyurethane/ polyvinylpyrrolidone over coating which can also be described itself as a paint. Sea-Slide, when cured , is not a long chain polymer.

It swells in the presence of water to bind water to the hull to reduce hydrodynamic drag via promoting a water-water interface rather than hull - water.   Like most paints including the bottom paints and gelcoats, it is comprised of cross linked polymers so the definition is rather broad. It does not use detergents or surfactants.  It also does not leach out anything or dissolve in water.

How Does Sea-Slide Work?

Sea-Slide absorbs water but is not dissolved by water. The coating is a water based urethane inter-polymer dispersion, which cures on drying to a durable, hydrophilic (wettable) coating. It produces a surface with a low interfacial energy, which reduces the turbulence generated by a ship's hull as it passes through water. Reduced water turbulence means less hydrodynamic drag (the boat slides through the water with less resistance) and therefore more speed using less fuel as, or in the case of sail powered vessels, faster speed in lighter winds. 

How Do I Apply Sea-Slide?

Sea-Slide may be applied with a sponge brush or roller. Coating should be spread to form an even film. Apply on a clean dry surface. Allow to dry and cure for 3 to 4 hours, preferably in direct sunlight. If weather is cool or damp - allow curing for at least 1 additional hour. Curing takes place after the coating dries to the touch. After curing, the boat may be launched or kept from water indefinitely. 

The coating will not be adversely affected by repeated wetting/drying cycles. Once cured, the coating will be insoluble in water, but should not be scrubbed or sanded. Sea-Slide can be used on fiberglass, aluminum, wood and painted surfaces. Sea-Slide will form a clear coating when dry. The cured coating is extremely slippery when wet!

Surface preparation is very important, as is the case with any marine coating.  On Painted Hull Surfaces Sea-Slide can be used on wood, metal and fiberglass hulls that have been properly cleaned and prepared.   Grease, wax and oils will impair proper coating adhesion.  Coating adhesion and durability is also substantially reduced if Sea-Slide is applied over soft or "self-polishing" anti-fouling paints. Recent anti-fouling paint applications must be completely dried in accordance with manufacturer's instructions, preferably overnight. On Bare Hull Surfaces: Bare fiberglass hulls should be pre-treated with a marine primer to improve adhesion. Allow primer coat to dry according to label instructions. Where no primer is available, a thorough sanding will improve adhesion.  When no anti-foulant is used, dilute Sea-Slide 2 parts Sea-Slide to one part tap water.  Stir well.

To increase duration on hull, actually too thick of a coating is worse than too thin.  A thick application can swell and slough off as a sheet. You can also try thinning the coating with a 50/50 mixture of isopropyl alcohol and water to a maximum of two parts Sea-Slide: 1 part alcohol/water mixture.  This will dry faster and typically harder.

Will Sea-Slide Harm My Boat Or Interfere With My Anti-Foulant?

Sea-Slide is a water based urethane coating that will not harm the finish of your boat.  It can be removed during annual servicing with a wet Scotch Brite® pad or a high-pressure power washer.  University testing has shown it does not inhibit the performance of anti-foulant paints and can last up to 50,000 miles of open seas travel (simulated).  It acts as a “sponge”, allowing the anti-foulant actives in hard coat bottom paints to leach through the coating and prevent marine growth.  

Sea-Slide itself, due to its very slippery nature, also inhibits the physical attachment of marine growth.  A simple wiping with a soft cloth or high-speed cruising is usually sufficient to dislodge anything that may attach to the hull, even without an anti-foulant.

Can I Use Sea-Slide With An Ablative (Self Polishing) Anti-Foulant?

Sea-Slide is formulated to work best with hard coat bottom paints that leach active materials to prevent marine growth.  Sea-Slide works with self-polishing paints, but the duration in which it lasts will be a function of how soft the ablative coating is.  By their very nature, self-polishing paints come off over time.  Sea-Slide will not inhibit this process to any great extent.

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