Anti-fouling paint effectiveness

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Jon Bastien

Some time ago, there was a discussion about bottom paints and their effective anti-fouling properties. Many folks in this forum were in the process of re-painting their hulls (myself included), and promised reports of paint performance later in the year. ...I think it's time to review the scores. ---- Here's how my boats fared. The H23 got a fairly standard treatment- Grind all the old paint off, grind the rust off the keel, fair the keel with 201/202 fairing compound, and apply 5 coats of interlux 2000e epoxy paint; then cover the entire hull with 3 coats Micron CSC Plus (The green actually looks good on a 23!). I did all the work myself. The new owner has kept it in the water since November, and so far he hasn't reported any major growth that can't be easily scrubbed off with a soft brush. The only rust that's returned in the last nine months is a spot where I scraped the keel against the trailer (don't ask...), and scratched the paint clean through to the metal. The H25 was done by my local yard. To prep the boat, they used a grinder to rough up the paint that was already on the boat (unknown brand...), and then applied 2 coats of ACP 60. The boat has been in the water since May, and has had hard-to-remove scum growing below the waterline since November (but no long, grassy moss that would necessitate taking the Weed-Wacker to the dock...). It's been scrubbed twice, and the boat gets used regularly. There are a few spots that were not properly prepped, and the paint flaked off in less than 3 months, but this is all at the waterline. How did the rest of you fare? Peter, How did the VC-17 work out for Raven this year? --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
 
Apr 19, 1999
1,670
Pearson Wanderer Titusville, Florida
VC-17 long-term performance

The VC-17 is worn through in a few places (the rudder blade and the transom below the waterline) but still seems to be working. I also had some growth in a thin band (less than 1/2 inch) all the way around right at the waterline. The growth came off with a soft brush but it took some of the paint with it. BTW, the boat has been in fresh water for the past year. I won't be doing new bottom paint until late spring. Even though the red VC looked great, went on fast and worked fairly well, I am going to Micron CSC on the next go round because the VC was just plain thin and easy to scratch. Peter S/V Raven
 
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Steve O.

VC-17

I have Micron on the hull now but eventually will change to VC. I had VC on my last boat and liked it better. I think it lasted longer. Micron is a pretty soft paint, especially when wet, and I found that it gets all over everything--anchor rode, dingy, anything that touches the hull. VC-17 seems to work well for me but I am in fresh water for only half the year.
 
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