The composition for coating marine watercraft has the property of reducing kinematic friction and includes a polymer comprising a polyhydroxystyrene of the novolak type. In a preferred embodiment the composition further comprises an antifouling agent. One of the methods entails coating an outer surface of a marine watercraft with the composition. Preferably the composition is applied in a solution in an appropriate solvent, for example, a low-molecular-weight oxygenated hydrocarbon such as an alcohol or ketone. The coated surface is smooth and free of tackiness and thus is not fouled by common water debris such as sand and weeds. The coating is insoluble in water and resists abrasion, giving a functional lifetime that has been estimated to be a few years of continuous use. An application of the composition of the present invention to a water-submersible surface results in a hydrophilic surface having a considerably reduced contact angle. Thus the use of the coating is beneficial on watercraft to increase the speed thereof and/or to improve the fuel utilization.