It is at this time of year that boat owners take their vessels out of the water for hull cleaning and re coating with anti fouling paint to ensure a nice clean hull for their summer cruising. This is not just for appearances, our boats go a lot faster with a clean bottom and we spend a lot less money on fuel.

I have often thought that buying the cheapest antifouling paint would be foolish and so invariably have picked a mid price brand made by a well known company.

Mark Turly from the magazine Motor Boats Monthly gave a report on 15 different anti fouling paints in the April issue.

These paints had been painted in strips on the hull of the magazine's Fairline Targa 40 early in 2007, the boat was craned out earlier this year and the effectiveness of each of the various paints was assessed.

The most expensive, which cost 148 euros for a 2.5 liter tin in fact fared the worst in this test gaining only two ticks out of a maximum of five for its performance, you may be surprised that the cheapest, 'International Cruiser Uno', at 82 euros for a 3 liter tin (equating to 68 euros for a 2.5 liter tin) was the only anti fouling paint to be awarded 5 ticks out of 5! So with anti fouling you certainly don't get a better product by buying the most expensive!