Which paint can you use where?
It depends on where the boat spends most of the season:
- West coast, from Trelleborg up to the Norwegian border: paints approved for the west coast.
- East coast, from Örskär down to Trelleborg: paints approved for the east coast.
- Lakes and the Gulf of Bothnia, for example Mälaren: biocide-free paints or hull washing only.
The rules apply to boats weighing more than 200 kg. Unsure about a tin? The Swedish Chemicals Agency (Kemikalieinspektionen) has a register where you can search by name and see where the paint may be used.
Antifouling requires approval
Antifouling with biocides against fouling is a pesticide in the legal sense. It may only be sold if Kemikalieinspektionen has approved it. Approval does not make it environmentally friendly. Paint that only makes the surface slippery needs no approval and can be used anywhere.
The Environmental Code treats you as the operator when you paint. That means you are responsible for knowing the rules where the boat is kept, preventing spills on land and in the water, and choosing the least harmful paint or method that works for you.
Wash instead of painting
- Brush wash: you drive the boat into a wash with rotating brushes. According to Transportstyrelsen, if you wash 1 to 3 times per season you don't need to use antifouling paint.
- By hand: rotary brush or pressure washer.
- Dry: boat lift or floating dock between trips.
In Bottenviken the growth is light and soft. There it is often enough to wash when the boat is hauled out.
A brush wash should have a basin that collects what is scraped off, so it doesn't end up in the water.
TBT and old paint layers
TBT has been banned for leisure boats since 1989, but it remains in old paint layers and still leaches out. As a boat owner, you need to make sure it doesn't spread any further. If you're removing old paint, there are three recommended methods:
- Sanding or dry scraping connected to a vacuum cleaner.
- Gel and scraper.
- Blasting, preferably by a professional.
Lay plastic sheeting on the ground and work when it's dry and calm. That way you catch more than 98 % of the paint particles. If you'd rather have a yard do the job, ask for a quote that states the method and how the waste will be handled.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use biocidal antifouling in Mälaren?
No. For boats mainly moored in a lake or in the Gulf of Bothnia, only biocide-free paints or alternative methods may be used.
How do I know if an antifouling paint is approved?
Search for the product in Kemikalieinspektionen's (Swedish Chemicals Agency) register of approved biocides and check which area the approval covers.
Do I need antifouling if I use a brush wash?
If you wash the hull 1 to 3 times per season while the fouling is new, you don't need to paint. That is what the Swedish Transport Agency says.
How do I remove old antifouling?
By sanding or dry scraping connected to a vacuum, gel stripping or blasting, with the ground protected. Old paint may contain banned TBT.
Sources
- Regler om båtbottenfärg, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Olika färger för ostkusten respektive västkusten, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Färger för båtar i insjöar och Bottniska viken, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Ren båtbotten utan färg, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Sanering av båtbotten, Transportstyrelsen transportstyrelsen.se
- Register över godkända bekämpningsmedel, Kemikalieinspektionen kemi.se