What is a fairing?
Updated on: 26/05/2025Hull maintenance refers to a set of maintenance tasks performed on a boat’s hull (the part of the hull located below the waterline). Periodically, usually once a year, the boat is taken out of the water and the following tasks are performed:
- cleaning the hull by removing barnacles and algae that have attached themselves to it in order to restore its smooth glide. A dirty hull creates significant drag and can easily cause a loss of one-third of the boat’s speed!
- applying a new coat of antifouling paint, which contains a toxic substance that temporarily protects the hull from organisms that might attach themselves to it.
Regulations are becoming increasingly strict regarding the biocides allowed in antifouling paints due to their harmful effects on the environment; this is why current products contain less poison than in the past, leading to faster organism growth.
In warm waters, particularly in exotic destinations, algae grow more rapidly.
Example of a dirty hull requiring a refit
