Anti fouling on plastic boat?

[Merlin Clark]

I recently bought a Water Tender to use as a dinghy and was wondering if anyone here has applied bottom paint on these or other plastic boats like the Walker Bay dinghys? How it has held up? Any special prep?
Thanks,

 

[Rick D]

I have had a Watertender and its predecessor for 20 years. I have used a variety of paints on both. It lasts six months to a year. The last two years, I quit putting any on it and just have my monthly dive service clean it.

In any event, I did scuff the surface with a 3M pad to give the paint some tooth to adhere to, but otherwise nothing special.

 

[Merlin Clark]

Thanks Rick!
I'll try the no paint method first.

 

[Ross]

I have been under the impression that the antifouling paint protected primarily against hard marine growth such as barnacles and other stationary hard shell critters. I haven't seen that it does anything to prevent vegatative growth. I am correct about this?

 

[wetass]

I have been under the impression that the antifouling paint protected primarily against hard marine growth such as barnacles and other stationary hard shell critters. I haven't seen that it does anything to prevent vegatative growth. I am correct about this?

Some have slime control built in too. http://www.westmarine.com/buy/products/5431-pca-gold-antifouling-paint-irgarol.html