Yacht owners now have new coatings technology available to make their boats more durable and better-looking. AkzoNobel will be on deck at the 2018 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) from Oct. 31 – Nov. 4, 2018, to showcase its newest coatings technology at its Awlgrip and Interlux booths.
 
Awlgrip HDT (high definition technology) polyurethane clearcoat, AkzoNobel’s newest premium yacht coatings system, already passed the ultimate test during the latest edition of the grueling Volvo Ocean Race. Put through its paces in this punishing offshore sailing event, Awlgrip HDT proved it is not only more durable and abrasion-resistant than current market offerings, but it’s also repairable and lower in VOCs (volatile organic compounds).
 
“We’re really proud and excited to offer customers the chance to benefit from high-performance coatings technology that has been tested in some of the world’s most extreme environments,” said Hans Slegtenhorst, global segment manager yacht for AkzoNobel. “We spent more than three years developing Awlgrip HDT and worked closely with the Volvo Ocean Race Boatyard team to fine-tune its formulation. It means yacht owners can now enjoy a longer-lasting, easier-to-maintain finish – safe in the knowledge that the product has passed the toughest of tests.”
 
Awlgrip HDT, already available in North America and Europe, can be used over the full range of Awlcraft SE basecoats, which currently features 18,000 colors – the largest selection on the yacht market. 

“This is just the latest example of how we are continuously innovating to meet customer needs,” said Slegtenhorst. “We’re also working on a single-stage version of Awlgrip HDT, which will combine a color basecoat with the topcoat in one easy-to-use product. We expect to bring this product to the market in mid-2019.”
 
AkzoNobel was the official supplier to the Volvo Ocean Race Boatyard for the 2017-18 edition. This included coating the entire fleet of seven boats (including team AkzoNobel’s VO65 boat). In total, more than 1850 gallons of AkzoNobel’s International and Awlgrip products were used during the race.
 
At FLIBS, show attendees can learn all about Awlgrip HDT at the Awlgrip booth (#609) and Interlux booth (#628) – both in the Superyacht Pavilion at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center.
 
Awlgrip HDT is now available with three products right now:

• Awlgrip Quick Build: Award-winning Quick Build Sealer or Surfacer is an advanced and versatile yacht priming system, formulated to increase productivity at every stage of application. Using an innovative system of six primary color primers, Quick Build can create a color base to closely match any topcoat color and is compatible with any Awlgrip topcoat, resulting in improved hiding characteristics and allowing a full system to be achieved in a single day;
• Interlux Micron WA: Micron WA is the latest Interlux water-based antifouling coating, offering boaters and boatyards a choice for Multi-seasonal protection, including Fiberglass Bottomkote Aqua or single season protection with Aqua-One. Micron WA combines powerful antifouling performance while reducing the impact on the environment, and leaving a smooth, clean hull. It is ideal for cruise, power and sailboats and suitable for all waters. Using a novel paint technology called Water Activated Matrix, Micron WA delivers a crisp, vibrant color and uniform appearance to provide a striking, attractive finish, while at the same time efficiently releasing the active ingredients to deliver powerful antifouling performance;
• Micron 99: Micron 99 is a premium true Self Polishing Copolymer (SPC) antifouling developed especially for professional use on hulls over 82 feet, with ultimate multi­-season performance in salt, fresh and brackish waters. Using the latest resin and biocide technology to deliver unmatched performance, the high-solid, low-VOC formula reduces emissions to the environment and requires fewer coats and less-frequent application – thus reducing maintenance costs and haul-outs.