So you have questions?

Naturally, you have questions.........

1. Alright, alright, this SeaShell antifouling coating sounds great! How much does it actually cost?
2. Why should I care about the Environment?
3. Can I apply SeaShell myself?
4. How long does it take to apply SeaShell?
5. What happens if I damage SeaShell?
6. I've heard Cupronickel can be heavy is that true?
7. How do I become a Marine EcoCoatings, Inc. licensee of SeaShell antifoulant?

Alright, alright, this SeaShell antifouling coating sounds great! How much does it actually cost?

SeaShell pricing is based upon the WETTED surface area of the hull. So, the first step in determining how much it is going to cost to protect your vessel is to calculate, or obtain from the boat manufacturer, the square footage of that wetted surface area. The best measurement is always obtained from the boat manufacturer, but can be estimated by any good naval architect, or MEC can obtain that information for you from our consultant naval architect. And, of course, MEC will be happy to help you confirm your actual wetted surface area through our own consultant naval architect or from our accumulated data files.

Fiberglass is the least costly hull material upon which to apply SeaShell, followed by Carbon Fiber, Steel, Aluminum, Ferrocement, and Wood. The final cost is also dependent on the amount of hull preparation needed prior to the application of SeaShell

This all means that we can't give you an exact price here on the website; you'll have to contact us with a little more information, before we can determine the cost of SeaShell protection for your boat or your tanker fleet. Generally, though, once can estimate that SeaShell costs around 3-4 times what nasty antifouling paint does. But, you need to remember that SeaShell's initial cost will be quickly recouped through your savings in fuel cost, reduction in hull maintenance costs, absence of repeated haul-out charges, reduction in lost vessel service time, and, of course, being able to forget the ever-increasing costs of repetitive traditional bottom painting. AND, just think how much lighter your conscience will feel, when you stop fouling our air and our marine water quality by getting rid of the dirty alternative used all over the world until now.

Why should I care about the Environment?

Well, quite frankly because you have to. The United States Environmental Protection Agency and the European Union have served notice to the maritime world that environmentally harmful anti-fouling bottom paints that are traditionally used will be increasingly subject to ever more severe restrictions as to allowable levels of the toxins they contain.

That is because, all currently existing commercially available anti-fouling paints work by continuous deterioration that results in the entry of copper compounds and other toxins into the marine environment. And that's the reason they have to be renewed every 1 to 3 years, depending on the water temperature in which they spend the majority of their time.

Regulatory agencies cite as their justification the fact that such toxins actually end up in the food chain for all marine life and, as a result, contaminate seafood consumed by humans. Huummm, not something I want in my piece of haddock.

Using a formula widely recognized as the most effective biofouling preventative, SeaShell has been proven safe to sensitive marine environments. Depending on the bodies of water traversed by a vessel, amazingly, SeaShell leaches out only .03 to .08 parts per billion of copper ions. To understand how tiny this really is, the new EPA regulations specify an allowable copper leachout limit of 1.9 PPB, down from the previous limit of 3.2 PPB. To our knowledge, no currently available antifouling paint can meet even this comparatively huge limit, because to do so, they would have to be weakened to the point of ineffectiveness, and they would have to be replaced in very short intervals of a few months to a little over a year. No wonder their parent companies have been scrambling desperately to come up with alternatives, though none have been found that can be either affordable, sufficiently effective, or durable enough to justify the huge expenses necessary to make such a product economically viable for any of those companies. Instead, all of them are counting on the EPA just to keep looking the other way, rather than actually enforcing these new regulations. SeaShell has none of those problems, so there is no reason to continue polluting our planet with the nasty consequences of now obsolete antifouling technology.

Can I apply SeaShell myself?

The application of SeaShell is ONLY performed by Marine EcoCoatings Licensees. Applying SeaShell requires some of the most cutting edge technology and skilled personnel. For this reason, and in order to offer the amazing 10 year guarantee, all SeaShell installations must be performed only by MEC and its authorized licensees. To find your nearest licensee contact us.

How long does it take to apply SeaShell?

The SeaShell process itself generally can be completed within a 7 day time frame for most boats under 60 feet LOA. Larger boats, naturally, require a longer time. For wooden vessels, the hull must be sufficiently dry to accept epoxy primer. The preparation period to render the vessel's hull ready for SeaShell will depend, of course, upon the hull condition. Owners will be informed of an estimated time frame, once an MEC licensee has inspected the boat hull.

Also, for wooden vessels, it is essential that the interior of the wetted surface area be coated with an epoxy to render that surface impervious to water entry into the wood substrate. Absent this step, water ingress into the bilge would result in wetting the hull from the inside surface and could cause water-filled blisters to form under the hull coating. Although this situation would not alter the antifoulant characteristics of the coating, it eventually could lead to substantial reduction in the longevity of the coating and would void MEC's Guarantee. Therefore, we strongly recommend that interior hull waterproofing be carried out prior to application of SeaShell.

In the case of older fiberglass hulls, unless already protected against water intrusion into the fiberglass substrate, the same waterproofing should be carried out. Boats with no tendency to form blisters are far less likely to suffer such water entry, and they may not require interior hull treatment. Naturally, if any doubt exists in this regard, we will coat the hull interior, rather than take any risk of water intrusion into the hull substrate.

What happens if I damage SeaShell?

Well, first of all you scream and shout at whoever's fault the damage was - because of course it wasn't yours. Once you have that out of your system, all you need to do is call your nearest MEC licensee. If you are overseas when damage occurs, or too far away from an MEC Licensee, we should be able to transport necessary equipment and personnel to any location in the world* with a boat lift capable of hauling your boat out of the water and with a source of either 110v or 220v electricity. SeaShell repair will likely require about 3 days out of the water in most cases. Obviously, if damage is truly major, some longer period might be required, especially if any structural damage first must be repaired.

* Marine EcoCoatings, Inc. reserves the right to refuse to travel to dangerous parts of the world, such as war zones, etc. Expenses related to any necessary travel will be borne by the vessel owner.

I've heard Cupronickel can be heavy is that true?

There is only a negligible effect on the weight of the vessel, as SeaShell is a coating that, although really strong and durable, has minimal thickness is compared to the hull itself.

How do I become a Marine EcoCoatings, Inc. licensee of SeaShell

Give us a call; Send us an email; Facebook us; Send a carrier pigeon; or simply fire a flare, because we are on the hunt for more licensees in coastal locations around the United States and elsewhere on our wonderful, and soon-to-be cleaner planet.

Upon completion of on-site training at our wonderful Marina Del Rey headquarters in sunny southern California, or by special arrangement elsewhere around the globe, Licensees will be awarded an EXCLUSIVE TERRITORY for SeaShell product and process. This means that any owner desiring SeaShell application within that territory will be referred directly to the Licensee within that territory.

Successful candidates will have no criminal record, acceptable credit, a good reputation for reliability, know their starboard from their port and be able to sing a few great seafaring songs.

For full terms and license fees please contact us.

To find out more information about a SeaShell coating for your vessel or discover the location of your nearest Marine EcoCoatings, Inc. Licensee click here.