Do I need to buff VS721 between coats?

Skipper July 6, 2016 Ask The Skipper

JP asked:

I used the vs721 last season and it definitely worked better than nothing at all. It sat in the New England salt water all but the last 2 weeks with vs721 and had no barnacles but did get some slime / algae. Took it out cleaned the bottom with acid cleaner and put it back in for the last 2 weeks, at the end on the 2 weeks I had barnacles starting to attach to the hull luckily I got it out and cleaned quickly.

This season I’m trying it again but was thinking of leaving it on heavier and not buffing the area below the water line Is there any reason not to do it this way?

Answer:

For your convenience, I’ve highlighted the hyperlinks. Click on the hyperlink to get more information about the selected product.

VS721 works by making the surface of your boat super slippery so that marine life has difficulty attaching. If you leave the haze on the surface, it negates this property and makes it easier for fouling. It’s more slippery than water. In independent tests the people at Power Boat magazine found that at 20 mph the drag was reduced by 16%. The smoother, the better.

If you’re looking for more long lasting protection put 3 coats on.

In future, when you see slime attaching, you should be able to knock it off with a sponge or Marine Power Mitt. That way you won’t disrupt the slippery surface and it should last longer. Even if you get some barnacle growth starting, it will be much easier to clean off. VS721 also seals the pores of the gelcoat so they can’t anchor their adhesive in there, but are forced to reside only on the surface. Another bonus is that by sealing the pores of the gelcoat, it will prevent osmosis blisters.

Thanks for your question,

Captain Aurora
Richard Kittar