Synthesis, contact angle analysis, surface properties and biofouling characteristics of novel crosslinkable terpolymers with semifluoroalkyl substituted aromatic side chains have been described. These polymers are targeted for use as coatings to prevent marine biofouling. The marine antifouling properties of these materials were evaluated by laboratory assays employing the fouling diatom Nitzschia and ubiquitous Staphylococcus aureusi. Results indicated that the experimental coatings exhibited better antibiofouling performance than that of a standard Poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) coating. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 50:944-951, 2010. (C) 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers