Marine coatings aren’t just for the warmer months. In addition to preventing the buildup of microorganisms and other animals, such as barnacles on the bottoms of hull surfaces, marine coatings offer specific benefits in icy conditions. If you are looking at marine coatings for harsh winter weather, here is what you will need to know.    

Sailing in icy waters has its own very specific problems. When it comes to protecting the underwater portion of your ship’s hull, you want a quality marine coating that can handle severe weather. Constantly being hit by chunks of ice causes impact and abrasion damage.

The steel of the hull will flex when contact is made with large pieces of ice, causing one of two things to happen: your paint will adhere to the metal and survive, or the bending motion will force away the paint from the hull which will be rubbed away under the impact.  Any flaking, blistering or missing paint will cause additional friction, thus leading to a whole other set of problems.

Sea water corrosion causes rust. Rust causes the ship to drag. The dragging effects gas consumption. By the end of winter, you may not have a vessel if you don’t use a top-quality marine coating.

Let the marine coating work for you. Actually, by using the right marine coating, the reduction in surface resistance in icy water can result in an increase of 18 to 20% in speed and a fuel savings of 8 to 12%. By using marine coatings during harsh winter weather, you are saving yourself money, maximizing speed, and saving your ship from the rigorous damage caused by icy waters.

Marine coatings offer a layer of protection that can be applied to virtually any surface including wood, fiberglass, and metals. Other places you can use marine coatings are decks, ramps, storage compartments, platforms, and more. To learn more about how the right marine coating can save your ship, or to learn about protective coatings for other types of vehicles, give Scorpion a call.