I am in the middle of redoing the bottom paint on my boat. Kinda stupid to do it in July down here but I had little choice. I have heard many different things about the color of bottom paint. One is that things grow less quickly on black another that red has more copper in it, so why are most of them blue? All myths I would imagine. It would have been nice to find a college student who wanted to study this I would have let them paint stripes of different colors to see. It would look goofy but it would be worth it for the labor on the bottom job. I'll be looking for those researchers in a couple of years when I have to do it again. What colors are your bottoms and why?
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Bottom color & the rudder
Foss Foam, a maker of replacement rudders for many sailboats, recommends a "non-dark" color for the rudder, if the boat is to spend time out of the water. See the link for info on rudder maintenance and color. For the dark colored rudder out of the water, they would suggest covering the rudder with a white or light-colored cover. Something to think about.
Foss Foam, a maker of replacement rudders for many sailboats, recommends a "non-dark" color for the rudder, if the boat is to spend time out of the water. See the link for info on rudder maintenance and color. For the dark colored rudder out of the water, they would suggest covering the rudder with a white or light-colored cover. Something to think about.
Maybe some merit to colors.
Rick: Check out the paint that you are going to apply. Some of the brands actually have more CuOx in their red paint than their other colors (not all). The other reason that some owners use different colors is to let them know when the newer paint is wearing through.
Rick: Check out the paint that you are going to apply. Some of the brands actually have more CuOx in their red paint than their other colors (not all). The other reason that some owners use different colors is to let them know when the newer paint is wearing through.
different colors
The recommendation of a light color painted rudder is to keep it from heating up in the sun when on the hard. Darker colors absorb solar radiation much better than light colors. I would suggest you paint the bottom with a high quality ablative pain sold by Boat US or West Marine. They are good buys and are made by the top name manufactures. Many people paint alternate layers different colors. If your bottom is red paint it with a blue color paint. When the blue wears you will know where to reapply.
The recommendation of a light color painted rudder is to keep it from heating up in the sun when on the hard. Darker colors absorb solar radiation much better than light colors. I would suggest you paint the bottom with a high quality ablative pain sold by Boat US or West Marine. They are good buys and are made by the top name manufactures. Many people paint alternate layers different colors. If your bottom is red paint it with a blue color paint. When the blue wears you will know where to reapply.
No difference in color
There is generally no "better" color over another; whether red, green, blue or black. It's a matter of preference of the owner. In my case, I use Interlux Ultra, two coats, in blue and it works fine. You do, in fact, want a high copper content paint to retard marine grow and Ultra also contains a biocide to prevent slime and grass build up which it appears to be doing quite well 15 months now since the bottom was done. Ultra is generally considered to be a 24-month paint. I have heard -- and it makes sense -- that some folks put Cayenne pepper in their paint to give those pesky little barnacles a case of hot foot. I've never done it, but it appears it would work since Cayenne pepper doesn't dissolve and it's heat lasts forever.
There is generally no "better" color over another; whether red, green, blue or black. It's a matter of preference of the owner. In my case, I use Interlux Ultra, two coats, in blue and it works fine. You do, in fact, want a high copper content paint to retard marine grow and Ultra also contains a biocide to prevent slime and grass build up which it appears to be doing quite well 15 months now since the bottom was done. Ultra is generally considered to be a 24-month paint. I have heard -- and it makes sense -- that some folks put Cayenne pepper in their paint to give those pesky little barnacles a case of hot foot. I've never done it, but it appears it would work since Cayenne pepper doesn't dissolve and it's heat lasts forever.
Add The Pepper to the Study
I'd donate my hull botton to the study as well. It'd sure be nice to have the bottom painted by college girls in bikinis! Might be harder on me to watch them doing it than to do it myself though.
I'd donate my hull botton to the study as well. It'd sure be nice to have the bottom painted by college girls in bikinis! Might be harder on me to watch them doing it than to do it myself though.
Public Safety Threat
While I like the idea in principle of bikini-ed comely collegiate co-eds doing bottom jobs on sailboats, I distinctly remember somewhere that such practice in a boatyard constitutes a clear and present danger to the public safety; tripping over boat stands, falling off scaffolding, running a paint-filled roller across someone else's face, runaway belt sanders...I think you get the ugliness of this picture.
While I like the idea in principle of bikini-ed comely collegiate co-eds doing bottom jobs on sailboats, I distinctly remember somewhere that such practice in a boatyard constitutes a clear and present danger to the public safety; tripping over boat stands, falling off scaffolding, running a paint-filled roller across someone else's face, runaway belt sanders...I think you get the ugliness of this picture.
But Remember Sam and Bob,
It would all be in the name of science so we must all take our chances.
It would all be in the name of science so we must all take our chances.
In the Name of Science, Rick, of course!!
Rick! You're right! Boldly going where no boater has ever gone before...I simply let logic get in the way of progress! By the way, I'm originally from Gulfport, so I know a thing or two about Long Beach! If you ever get by Mid-South Sailing Center down there on the traffic circle at the small craft harbor in Gulfport, be sure to tell my good friend Govert I said hello!!!
Rick! You're right! Boldly going where no boater has ever gone before...I simply let logic get in the way of progress! By the way, I'm originally from Gulfport, so I know a thing or two about Long Beach! If you ever get by Mid-South Sailing Center down there on the traffic circle at the small craft harbor in Gulfport, be sure to tell my good friend Govert I said hello!!!
If I Can Catch Him Bob
I bought my boat from him. He is a difficult one to catch. It will have to be in the next two weeks as I will be moving to Ft Walton Beach. I have stoped there a couple of times but no Govert I will try again before I head east.
I bought my boat from him. He is a difficult one to catch. It will have to be in the next two weeks as I will be moving to Ft Walton Beach. I have stoped there a couple of times but no Govert I will try again before I head east.
Hey, Rick...
Don't I know how hard it is to catch Govert! He never stops. When I bought the 78h30 3 years ago, he died laughing because he and I had, up to that point, numerous debates about the seaworthiness of Hunters. I learned to sail at Gulfport Yacht Club and did all the major races out of there. Isn't it a small world when one runs across someone who knows the same people in the same area -- and I haven't lived in Gulfport for 28 years! Until recently, I had family still there and, being a pilot, I would fly down to see them and go visit Govert. Good luck in Ft. Walton Beach; it's a fun area...as you probably well know. Regards.
Don't I know how hard it is to catch Govert! He never stops. When I bought the 78h30 3 years ago, he died laughing because he and I had, up to that point, numerous debates about the seaworthiness of Hunters. I learned to sail at Gulfport Yacht Club and did all the major races out of there. Isn't it a small world when one runs across someone who knows the same people in the same area -- and I haven't lived in Gulfport for 28 years! Until recently, I had family still there and, being a pilot, I would fly down to see them and go visit Govert. Good luck in Ft. Walton Beach; it's a fun area...as you probably well know. Regards.
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