1. Nontoxic Antifouling Strategies for Boats
Leigh Taylor Johnson & Jamie Anne Miller
UC Sea Grant Extension Program
San Diego County

2. University of California Sea Grant Extension Program
7 Marine Advisors and 1 Specialist
Enhance understanding, conservation, sustainable use of nation’s coastal and marine resources
Direct link for communication between university, industry, and public
Applied research and education to assist policy makers and stakeholders in making wise decisions on issues affecting coastal and marine resources
Water quality focus in San Diego County
Improve water quality and maintain viable boating industry
CA boating industry worth $11 billion in 1995

3. Copper-Based Antifouling Paints
Designed to release copper into surface waters to prevent organisms from growing on boat bottom
Crowded boat basins with low circulation
Copper builds up in water column and sediment and can reach toxic levels
Regulations to reduce dissolved copper levels are being planned

4. Elevated Dissolved Copper Levels
Harmful levels of dissolved copper detected in boat basins
Exceed federal and state standards of 3.1 ppb
San Diego Bay, Dana Point Harbor, Oceanside Harbor, Newport Bay, Marina Del Rey
TMDLs San Diego Bay, Newport Bay, Marina Del Rey
Boatyard discharges in Santa Barbara and Morro Bay
Affects growth, development, reproduction, survival at various life stages of: mussels, oysters, scallops, crustaceans, sea urchins
95% of dissolved copper comes from passive leaching by antifouling paints

5. International Issue
Copper-based bottom paints banned in Netherlands and east coast of Sweden
Nontoxic Antifouling Strategies Conference in 2000 attracted international audience
Presented technical, environmental, and regulatory aspects of issue
Stakeholders developed recommendations presented to state and local officials

6. Nontoxic Bottom Paint Demonstration Project
Funded in part by US EPA and California State Water Resources Control Board
Purpose to help boat owners make decisions about nontoxic antifouling strategies
Tracked performance of silicone, epoxy, and ceramic-epoxy coatings on 6 recreational boats in San Diego Bay
Underwater hull cleaners report:
coating conditions
fouling growth levels
diver effort levels
type of cleaning tools used

7. Nontoxic Bottom Paint Characteristics
Must be able to withstand more frequent and possibly more aggressive cleaning
May last long enough to make up higher application costs and twice as frequent hull cleaning
Epoxy coatings are durable and are expected to last many years
Silicone coatings are “fouling release” when vessel exceeds certain speed (20 knots often cited)

8. Demonstration Project Results
Epoxy Coating (sail)
Almost 5 years old; 2 more years expected
Coating condition rated at 3 out of 5
Coating smoother as wears down from cleaning
After one year:
Epoxy Coating (power)
Nearly new condition
Some wearing on edges
Surface lightly etched
Ceramic Epoxy Coating (sail and diesel-electric)
Minor scarring from calcareous fouling growth
Coating has sheen but no shine

9. Sea Grant Extension Program Demonstration Project Field Days
Educate boating community on nontoxic alternatives to copper bottom paints
Opportunity for attendees to:
View hull cleaning of project boats with underwater camera
Speak to boatyard, underwater hull cleaner, paint company, Sea Grant representatives
View project boat bottoms out of water

10. Senate Bill 315
Directed California Department of Boating and Waterways to fund study of incentives for boat owners to switch to nontoxic alternatives
UC Davis Center for Pest Management, Research, and Education also supported study
Collaborative effort
Sea Grant Extension Program of San Diego County
UCSD Department of Economics
Purpose of study
Identify incentives for boaters to switch to nontoxic alternatives

11. Economic Incentives Study
Surveyed 200 boaters in San Diego Bay
Use of antifouling coatings
Frequency of re-coating and stripping of copper paint
Willingness to pay for nontoxic coating
Awareness of availability of nontoxic paint
Surveyed boatyard, under water hull cleaner, marina manager, paint company representatives
Collected costs on application and maintenance of nontoxic coatings

12. Comparison of Costs Hull maintenance costs include
Cost to prepare hull and apply coating
Cost of hull coating
Frequency coating needs to be applied
How often coating needs to be stripped
Hull cleaning frequency
Compare costs over total lifetime of boat: copper versus nontoxic coatings

13. Survey Results Copper-based paints Nontoxic Paints
Less expensive to apply
Cleaned about every 4 weeks
Re-applied every 2.5 years
Stripped every 6th application (every 15 years)
Nontoxic Paints
More expensive to apply
Cleaned about every 2 weeks
May last 5-10 years or more
May never need to be stripped
(San Diego boat has had epoxy coating almost 5 years; expect 2 more)
Won’t adhere to copper paint

14. Economic Study Finding
Most effective candidates for nontoxic paint:
New boats
Boats that need to be stripped of old copper paint
Requiring new boats to use only nontoxic paints will begin the phase-out of copper
Announcing a future ban will increase nontoxic hull value and encourage boaters to switch

15. Boatyard Capacity Constraints
Quickest time to phase out copper paint in San Diego Bay is 7 years for $20 million
Least cost policy to phase out copper paint in San Diego Bay is 15 years for $1 million
Significant difference
Allows newest existing boats painted with copper to go the typical 15 years before paint is stripped
**Nontoxic paint can not adhere to copper paint**

16. Looking to the Future UCTV Documentary
Project evaluation and results extended
Present seminars to state, regional, and local associations of boat owners and boating businesses
Review of other nontoxic or less toxic antifouling strategies being developed (based on funding availability)

17. Questions and Comments
Thank you!