Bottom Paints (saltwater)
While there are differences between the effectiveness of bottom paints or antifouling coatings (the product itself), each paints effectiveness will depend upon where you're located, and the water temperature of where you're going to sail. For instance, antifouling paint will behave very differently on a boat located in saltwater vs freshwater. In fact, most paints are formulated for one or the other. Other factors to consider are the average water temperature (ie: warm vs cold), with saltwater appearing to create a wide variety of effective results, as well as how much water movement the boat experiences. For those of you who are interested in reading some good reviews and test results, Practical Sailor publishes annual with 2005 being their 14th consecutive year. Of the 54 paints they tested in 2005, none were for Fresh Water Bottom Paints.
Date: March 3, 2005 Dear Paul
Date: March 3, 2005 For the last several years, I have been using Pettite's Horizon (formerly ACP-50) and have had great success. Our E-42 is in Charleston, SC and I have been getting 3 years out of a paint job. She lies in a quiet harbor with little current to deal with, which can be a major factor, but Pettite stopped advertising this paint when they started promoting their new teflon formula paint. I think I paid about $85.00/gal last fall when I did my bottom. It is the standard paint for most boat yards. I use 3 gallons, which gives me 2 coats and a third 2 ft coat at the waterline, and on the leading edge of the keel and rudder. I actually bought 4 gals and didn't use the last gallon. I have it in storage. If you want any further info, please email me.
Date: March 3, 2005 When I first bought my E-33, the first time I hauled the boat I encountered the same situation, the yard had the same response, then on a subsequent haul out I stripped all the paint from the bottom and then put a barrier coat on the bare hull, I do not remember what the product was that we used, but it worked quite well, I had that boat approximately 6 more years and never had that problem again.
Date: March 4, 2005 Dear Dick and Debbie,
Date: March 4, 2005 Hi all,
Date: March 4, 2005 Calypso's Ketch, our E43, has had good protection from Trinidad/SR. We are in Miami Beach and after repainting CK's bottom, she always has several months of virtually NO growth followed by slightly increasing growth each month thereafter. We have CK hauled and repainted annually (more or less). I am aware of the 'fair' rating the Practical Sailor gave Trinidad/SR this year, and am as puzzled by such a drop in ranking as they are. We will certainly continue using Trinidad/SR until WE observe CK's bottom being less protected against growth and other fouling. Btw, we left Toledo Beach Marina on Lake Erie about 4 years ago. There is NOOOO similarity between the bottom fouling in fresh water (basically zebra mussels) vs salt water. Tropical salt water, such as we have in Miami, is full of critters and algae that think that boat hulls are great places to live and grow. Our (unprotected) inflatable dinghy's bottom will be covered with small barnacles, algae, slime, little red worms, etc, etc with 2 weeks of being left in the water. After a month in the water, the dinghy's bottom is pretty solidly covered with a variety of critters and algae - all getting bigger by the week. Nevertheless, you and your boat will love it down here.
Date: March 4, 2005 Check out the Petit Trinidad anti fouling paint. It's a hard epoxy and supposedly good for the warmer salt water.
Date: March 4, 2005 Hi all, we have a E40. In 2002 when we bought her we had Interlux Micron Extra with Biolux put on. This paint cannot be applied over just any paint. Since we didn't know the history of the paint on her, we stripped it all off and applied 2 coats. The initial cost was a little more because of the stripping but made for a better job. We are in Galveston Bay where water temps range from 50's to 80's. We live aboard and have been outfitting her for cruising by year end. The paint looks like new after 2.5 years. Another good thing about this paint is self ablative. It gradually wears off, when it comes time to do another bottom job, just scuff it up and paint. There is no scum line at the water line. We had a diver clean the bottom in the fall, his report was "looked new". Nothing was growing or sticking. The paint is probably the most expensive but will reduce cost on the next bottom job because of less prep work needed and has needed no maintenance. Hope this helps. Date: March 6, 2005 I've always found Practical Sailor to be "right on" with their research on products. I have used Micron CSC for over 10 years on my two Endeavours both of which were and are kept in western Long Island Sound. My results are consistent with the report in their current issue. The best test example is my dinghy which is used to row to out to my boat and back. It sits idle at the dock for the season from May to November and all I get is a brown algae slime that rinses off with the hose, without scrubbing. No barnacles at all, even on the occasional adjacent bare spot. The lower part of my mooring pennants, the part always in the water on the other hand are thick with barnacles and growth so I know that my dinghy, if untreated (which I did the first season), would be a mess of hard growth. My E38 gets a monthly scrub from a diver to keep it looking good.
From: Dick and Debbie Robertson rvrobertson@verizon.net
My E38 has Baltoplate paint which I wish to paint over. Being on Lake Erie I wish to choose a paint that will work well in the Carribean. Any recommendations?
From: Philip W. Mullins PWMULLINS@aol.com
From: Carl Hibbard Chgypsy@aol.com
From: Ed Hutya EdHutya@aol.com
I have used Seahawk paint on my 37 in Florida, works great, the tick is to use 5 or 6 coats, the paint is ablative so no problem. Now I use Ultima SR on my 42 and it works beautifully. I repainted the 42 last spring it was in the water for four seasons and the base coat only was visble were the marina people got to aggressive with the power washer. Hope that helps.
From: John Goslin JHGoslin@aol.com
I just spent seven years in the Carribean on my boat Solitaire. That far south, you had better get the best paint that you can and you need to put new paint on at least once a year. I had the best results with Sea Hawk paint that I purchased in Trinidad. This paint is not legal in the United States but I think you can get it in Freeport Bahamas. Also, the haul out fees there are less than in the states.
Good luck and have fun.
From: Bob Servis rservis@pmgpays.com
From: James Wharry jwharry1@cox.net
From: Ron and Debby Parker golfournut@yahoo.com
From: Jonathan Richards Endeav35@aol.com
