Hempel Silic One
TYPE Biocide-free medium term antifoul PREPARATION Hempel Light Primer 4 coats, Silic One Tie-Coat 1 coat
INITIAL COST £1,045
ANNUALISED COST £233
Silic One had the most stringent set of application instructions of our group. It’s strongly advised to apply it on to a stripped hull but, if the existing coating is in good order, a barrier coat of Hempel’s Silic Seal will enable the switch.
Commencing with Hempel’s two-component Light Primer, the bare surface must be built up with a minimum of four thin layers. Next, a tie-coat must be applied while the last coat of primer is still tacky. After two hours the first of two coats of Silic One can be applied, the second a minimum of eight hours hours later, then a 16-hour minimum drying time before immersion.
If it sounds like an involved process that’s because it is, taking nearly three days from start to finish once drying intervals have been factored in. However, the results speak for themselves. After seven months, Silic One has performed the best of all our group, with no signs of weed or shell growth and the least amount of surface slime. It also wiped off exceptionally easily. An impressive result for a biocide-free antifouling.
Because it has a recommended lifespan of two years before topping up with one fresh coat of Silic One, the high initial application cost is offset over time.
Its six-year annualised cost comes in lower than all other products on test except Hempel Tiger Xtra 7100 and Coppercoat if you exclude the cost of shotblasting.
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