I know that this has been discussed before. However, after reading Practical Saillor it appears that Interlux ACT for about $100 a gallon is the best buy for the money. What does the jury here think is the most effective ablative paint for the money?
ablative paint
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It really all depends on where you are. For my last job we used ACT and after 18 months in coastal NJ water it took me all of 5 minutes to scrape the growth off. During that time, I had a diver check 4 times and each time he reported excellent conditions and he basically had to just clean up the prop.
I considered going with the Blue Water Copper Shield SCX45 after reading the PS reports but then decided why spend the extra money when the ACT worked just fine last time.
You'll get many different opinions here, but check with the people in your area to see what works best there.
I considered going with the Blue Water Copper Shield SCX45 after reading the PS reports but then decided why spend the extra money when the ACT worked just fine last time.
You'll get many different opinions here, but check with the people in your area to see what works best there.
I used it one season and while it did work it was and epic mess from even the most careful cleaning
IMHP the Micron Extra was a far better valve as i got TWO seasons from about the same volume of paint
IMHP the Micron Extra was a far better valve as i got TWO seasons from about the same volume of paint
The last PS article I read seemed be based on results from FL. Your results may be quite different. But I have had good results with Petit Hydrocoat. Cost is about the same and it is water clean up - a real plus.
Pettit Trinidad is normally a standard in the industry. It seems to work well in salt/fresh water warm and cold.
Remember these tests these tests are done in a clinical setting, not real life. Check with the locals and see how they are doing with their current products.
This is not to say that ACT is not a good product, but not just the "best".
Remember these tests these tests are done in a clinical setting, not real life. Check with the locals and see how they are doing with their current products.
This is not to say that ACT is not a good product, but not just the "best".
As Steve notes, Petit Trinidad is a really good (and really expensive) modified hard epoxy bottom paint. My only issue with it is that it is REALLY hard to remove the dead matrix when you need to. That reason alone moved me from modified hard epoxy to ablative bottom paints.
I have gotten three seasons worth of protection from both Micron CSC and the West Marine CPP in Long Island Sound. Power wash at the end of the season and minor touch ups at the rudder and a few trouble spots, but no hard growth to speak of. Slime is a different story.
I use the Petit Ultima 60. On my third season with t. Sloughs of at a lower speed than the Mictron Extra ( which I was happy with) and used before. Good with the slime also. I do have a diver go down twoce a season and the boat is in the water year round,
I have been very happy with it. I am in the Chessapeake a high growth brackish water area.
I have been very happy with it. I am in the Chessapeake a high growth brackish water area.
Listen, no offense but if you only need to have your hull cleaned twice a year, you are not in a high growth area.
In Western long island sound, WM PCA gold is your best ablative for the price. Hydro coat works well as well. Go to Eastern long island sound, and I have heard hydro coat doesn't do squat for hard growth. Listen to the people near you, and generally ignore anyone from another region that says what works best for them.
With that said, avoid west marine CPP as it makes a mess of anything that gets within an inch of the hull.
With that said, avoid west marine CPP as it makes a mess of anything that gets within an inch of the hull.
I use the PCA Gold with the Irigol (not spelled right). I got two good seasons out of it in a really high fouling area!
Warren, I am considering putting the Hydrocoat on our boat if we take it down to Florida. They said I can just sand the VC17 and apply directly. Seems to good to be true. How many seasons have you been using the Hydrocoat?
Amen to that........ everyone out here has the diver clean the bottom about once a month.
Actually it WAS Pettit. I contacted them and that is what THEY told me.I don't know who "they" are, but Pettit says you cannot apply Hydrocoat over VC17:
Well, it's your dime but the compatibility chart I posted comes from the Pettit web site.
http://www.pettitpaint.com/fileshare/tech_bulletins/bottompaintcompatibility.pdf
http://www.pettitpaint.com/fileshare/tech_bulletins/bottompaintcompatibility.pdf
The manufacturer will claim it was not installed correctly, and the salesman will shrug his shoulders and say "sorry".
West Marine PCA Gold is actually Pettit Ultima SR-40.... Same EXACT paint for a lot less money... It often goes on sale in the spring for $129.00 to $139.00 or so...
ACT is a very, very, very soft ablative and is comparable to Pettit SSA (Single Season Ablative or as I call it "Super Soft Ablative").. Works okay but if you sail a lot it can wear away pretty fast.
I used Ultima SR-60 last summer and it so far has been the best performing paint I have used. Used Hydrocoat the year before and it was a complete failure. It did not ablade AT ALL, would not ablade and needed cleaning about 5-6 times. The failure was so bad the rep for Pettit came to examine my boat and gave me two gallons of Ultima SR-60 at no charge. Apparently I got a defective batch of Hydrocoat.:cussing:
Why do I never hear of anybody using Coppercoat? Their ad says 10 year bottom paint, but that's very hard to swallow. If it worked for 10 years, there wouldn't be another bottom paint manufacturer left in business.
But if it held up for HALF of that, they're onto something..
But if it held up for HALF of that, they're onto something..
No offense taken..Thats two times in a 9 month season. The Ultima 60 is a good paint.
I think most people consider the Chesapeake a high growth area....moderate at least dont they???
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