I was wondering if anyone has had any experience with bottom paints made specifically for inflatable boats. I have heard everything from they are great, it cracks, and to the manufacturers void the warranty if you use it. I would appreciate any comments Thanks Charlie Gruetzner S/V Angels' Grace Beneteau 361
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Pete
Desitin
You know - the diaper rash ointment. I saw it recommended in one of the sailing magazines. I applied a tube to the bottom and left my inflatable in the salt water for about 3 weeks - it really worked. As an added benefit, when I washed it off at the end of the season, it also took off all of the old seagull stuff.
You know - the diaper rash ointment. I saw it recommended in one of the sailing magazines. I applied a tube to the bottom and left my inflatable in the salt water for about 3 weeks - it really worked. As an added benefit, when I washed it off at the end of the season, it also took off all of the old seagull stuff.
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Tom
Easy-On Bottom Coating
Bottom paint is not recommended for inflatables. The paint is not as flexible as the material it's painted on, so as the pressure within the inflatable can vary throughout the day (heating from the sun) or week (changing weather), the stress on the paint could cause it to crack or loose its adhesion. In addition, the paint must be completely stipped off in areas where you may need to make a repair to the inflatable. I used Easy-On Bottom Coating (available from West Marine) on the bottom of my inflatable last year, and it was in salt water (Puget Sound) for about 8 months straight next to my boat in the slip. Though it doesn't prevent growth from adhering to the bottom, it was very easy to clean anything off of the bottom at the end of the year, including barnacles. Not much scrubbing required. Easy-On Bottom Coating is recommended also by Inflatable BoatWorks in Seattle as the preferred inflatable bottom coat over paint (due to the ease of making any required or emergency bottom repairs).
Bottom paint is not recommended for inflatables. The paint is not as flexible as the material it's painted on, so as the pressure within the inflatable can vary throughout the day (heating from the sun) or week (changing weather), the stress on the paint could cause it to crack or loose its adhesion. In addition, the paint must be completely stipped off in areas where you may need to make a repair to the inflatable. I used Easy-On Bottom Coating (available from West Marine) on the bottom of my inflatable last year, and it was in salt water (Puget Sound) for about 8 months straight next to my boat in the slip. Though it doesn't prevent growth from adhering to the bottom, it was very easy to clean anything off of the bottom at the end of the year, including barnacles. Not much scrubbing required. Easy-On Bottom Coating is recommended also by Inflatable BoatWorks in Seattle as the preferred inflatable bottom coat over paint (due to the ease of making any required or emergency bottom repairs).
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Mark Johnson
I've been using
regular bottom paint on mine for the last couple of years and it's held up just fine. I do have a RIB so most of what is painted is fiberglass, but the tubes aren't, and I paint the lower portion of them too, and have not had any problem with it peeling off or cracking. My dinghy is in salt water from June 1st through the end of September. With out bottom paint it would be a mess! With the bottom paint it makes cleanup almost painless!
regular bottom paint on mine for the last couple of years and it's held up just fine. I do have a RIB so most of what is painted is fiberglass, but the tubes aren't, and I paint the lower portion of them too, and have not had any problem with it peeling off or cracking. My dinghy is in salt water from June 1st through the end of September. With out bottom paint it would be a mess! With the bottom paint it makes cleanup almost painless!
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david lewis
Inflatable bottom paint
I have an 11 year old Achilles Inflatable, 10'2" long and it has been bottom painted for 10 years. The first coat was a solvent based material with copper, required a scotchbright scrub with mineral spirits to prep the surface. Then the EPA banned this typw so I switched to West Marine inflatable bottom paint that is water based. I have many coats on it and it cracks and flakes but i never get a single barnacle on it and leave it in the water the whole season April until Novemeber every year. I am very happy and recommend it to everyone. Without the paint you will have barnacle heaven in two weeks along with slime city. dave
I have an 11 year old Achilles Inflatable, 10'2" long and it has been bottom painted for 10 years. The first coat was a solvent based material with copper, required a scotchbright scrub with mineral spirits to prep the surface. Then the EPA banned this typw so I switched to West Marine inflatable bottom paint that is water based. I have many coats on it and it cracks and flakes but i never get a single barnacle on it and leave it in the water the whole season April until Novemeber every year. I am very happy and recommend it to everyone. Without the paint you will have barnacle heaven in two weeks along with slime city. dave
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Bryce
inflatable bottom paint
I've used a couple of different bottom paint the last several years. IMHO Pettit A2Z is by far the best. Last year was my first time with this and i had virtually no growth of any type and left the inflatable in salt water from mid April to mid November. Available at Defender. Bryce S/V Spellbinder
I've used a couple of different bottom paint the last several years. IMHO Pettit A2Z is by far the best. Last year was my first time with this and i had virtually no growth of any type and left the inflatable in salt water from mid April to mid November. Available at Defender. Bryce S/V Spellbinder
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Bob Zolczer
Bottom Paint for Dinghy
I used the MDR bottom paint especially made for dinghies and was not happy with the results. The paint held, but at the end of a season, I had a lot of hard growth. The copper content in the MDR) is much lower than normal bottom paints. For the last 3 or 4 years, I've been using Micron CSC and have had excellent results (no bottom growth). I checked with the inflatable dealer in Norwalk, CT and people on another board checked with dinghy manufacturers regarding warranty issues; as long as the dinghy's fabric was hypalon, there were no problems. My dinghy is a RIB, but I paint the botttom of the tubes as well. I haven't had problems with the paint staying on.
I used the MDR bottom paint especially made for dinghies and was not happy with the results. The paint held, but at the end of a season, I had a lot of hard growth. The copper content in the MDR) is much lower than normal bottom paints. For the last 3 or 4 years, I've been using Micron CSC and have had excellent results (no bottom growth). I checked with the inflatable dealer in Norwalk, CT and people on another board checked with dinghy manufacturers regarding warranty issues; as long as the dinghy's fabric was hypalon, there were no problems. My dinghy is a RIB, but I paint the botttom of the tubes as well. I haven't had problems with the paint staying on.
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