in the study, the effectiveness of different hull-covering materials to reduce surface friction was evaluated and a new kind of material with suitable elastic and damping properties proposed. the authors built an original experimental set-up consisting of a submergeable measurement table with four compartments containing strain-measurement scales on which the test pieces are mounted. the set-up can be used in a towing tank and enabled the authors to quickly rank the performances of the different coatings and assess the amount of friction reduction (compared to a plate of blank glass) . the following materials were tested: ecolion, a polyurethane adhesive film, a teflon adhesive film, an antifouling coating, a teflon coating, and a riblet adhesive film. only the last three reduced friction by about 3 to 4 percent, compared to blank glass, in the speed range of 2 to 3 meters/sec. the authors also did a theoretical study leading to the fabrication of a new type of flexible coating. the latter has not yet been tested due to flaws in the original batch