# Dan Dillon | Aquaphobix | Ep. 996

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tom-rowland-podcast-891759/dan-dillon-aquaphobix-ep-996
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/tom-rowland-podcast-891759/dan-dillon-aquaphobix-ep-996.md
Podcast: [Tom Rowland Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/tom-rowland-podcast-891759)
Published: 2025-10-27T18:51:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/WPCM5462113967.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/pdst.fm/e/traffic.megaphone.fm/WPCM5462113967.mp3
Processing state: not_requested
JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/tom-rowland-podcast-891759/episodes/dan-dillon-aquaphobix-ep-996
Duration seconds: 3229

## Resource

Dan Dillon is the founder behind Aquaphobix, a heat-applied, non-ablative marine coating that started in swimming pools and is now being tested on fiberglass boats. In this conversation, we dig into the torch-on application, why copper-based bottom paint is still everywhere, and how certifications like Marine Life Safe and Drinking Water Safe translate from pools to marinas and beyond. Some of the moments I found most meaningful in this conversation were: How a pool coating ended up on boats — and why the blowtorch is part of the magic The honest breakdown of copper paints, “ablative” flakes, and microplastics in our water and fish Certifications that actually matter (not greenwashing): marine life and drinking-water safe Real-world cases: SeaWorld exhibits, a 102-year-old public pool, and what marinas care about (hint: sanding revenue) The ROI angle for anglers: fewer haul-outs, better performance, less mess — and where this could go (buoys to cruise ships) Timestamps 00:00 Introduction 01:10 Dan’s background (pool contractor → Aquaphobix) 03:45 What Aquaphobix is (pneumatic thermal plastic) 06:20 Torch-on application: epoxy, powder, and bond strength 09:55 Why traditional bottom paint leaches (ablative vs. hard) 13:10 Microplastics, copper, and environmental impacts 16:05 Certifications: Marine Life Safe & Drinking Water Safe 20:00 SeaWorld & “Venetian Pool” case — draining into aquifer 24:35 Greenwashing claims vs. what’s actually in the can 28:40 Marina economics: sanding, haul-outs, fees, and ROI 32:30 Performance, fuel burn, and efficiency tradeoffs 36:15 Big-boat use cases (buoys, cruise ships testing & fines) 40:05 Family-owned company, exclusive rights, patent-pending 43:10 The viral video effect and dealing with comments 46:00 What’s next & how to get in touc…

## Actions

- request_transcript: `POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/tom-rowland-podcast-891759/episodes/dan-dillon-aquaphobix-ep-996/transcription-requests` — Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.
- read_markdown: `GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/tom-rowland-podcast-891759/dan-dillon-aquaphobix-ep-996.md` — Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.

A page view does not enqueue transcription. Agents should invoke `request_transcript` explicitly when they need this episode processed.

## Transcript

Full transcripts are not published on public pages unless there is a clear rights basis.