Bottom paint

[Michael]

I was wondering if anyone has tried the boatus coppercoat bottom paint in my area. Is this paint suffcient for use in my area ? Anyone have any suggestions on which paint to use ?

 

[Justin - O'day Owners' Web]

Paint

Michael, I haven't used the boatus stuff, but it ought to be ok. Here in New England, the water stays comparatively cold, so growth is slow. This means we can get away with using paint that is not as aggressive as the paint we'd have to use in warmer climes. If you want to compare paints, remember that all other things being equal (ablative/non-ablative etc) is that the paint with the higher copper content will be better at repelling growth - it will cost more, too.If I were you I would switch to an ablative paint. If you are unfamiliar, these very slowly wear away revealing fresh paint. This allows them to retain their efficacy for longer. It also means that you don't have to sand it off eventually because if you don't recoat until you need it you won't have build up - its washing off all th time. Justin - O'day Owners' Web

 

[Bob]

Hey Mike, This is pretty risky...asking one's opinion on bottom paint is like asking for an opinion on how to brew the best coffee. Anyway, I've used Pettit ACP-50 from Kittery, ME all the way to Greenwich Bay, RI and I've never regretted it.Cheers,Bob

 

[Thomas Ehmke]

Hi Michael,For what it's worth, here's what I did last year. For six years I used Pettit Trinidad,a modified epoxy paint, because it has received high marks from Practical Sailor for several years in their longevity tests. Results were ok to very good, meaning I got two years from a paint job with touch-up in the in-between years. I was happy, but still looking for something better for the waters of Lake Erie.Last Winter I read an article in "Good Old Boat" about paints recommended for different conditions and decided to change my bottom paint to an ablative. This type of paint sloughs off rather than leaching like a modified epoxy. One way to explain the difference is that the copper disappears from a modified epoxy as it is used up, but the paint vehicle and color remain. What still LOOKS like a good bottom coat is actually paint with little or no copper left in it, so we gamble on whether to repaint or let it go until next season. This is not as reliable a measure of effectiveness as I would like so I decided to change.This meant that I had to scrape the entire bottom of the boat clean and start over, removing 5-6 coats of old bottom paint. I decided to go the distance and clean and sand the bottom in order to apply a barrier coat (actually 5 coats) before applying the ablative bottom paint. Then I did some research at the WM and BoatUS stores based on an article I had read somewhere about Pettit making the paint for one of the two house brands. If memory serves me correctly, Pettit makes the paint for BOTH WM and BoatUS. One of the house brands is similar to the current Pettit formula and the other is similar to the formula used by Pettit before it was bought by another company. This was related to me by a sales associate at WM, and I may not have the facts exactly right. At any rate, based upon that information and also the difference in price, I selected WM CCP(black) for the first two coats on the bottom, and then, using another tip I read somewhere, I painted the final two coats with CCP(blue). The thought here is that the blue ablative will slough off, and when the black shows, it's time to repaint or at least touch up the areas where the blue is gone. After one season, the blue is very much intact, even after the power wash at haul-out. I will probably touch up the bow area and the front of the keel and launch for another season. Doing it this way meant a lot of concentrated work in the Spring of last season, but my intention is that having done it once, bottom maintenance will be a MUCH easier task for the next ten years or so. I am approaching the "screaming sixties" and do not look forward to big-time bottom maintenance in the years ahead. My goal is to touch up the bottom as needed, spend lots of time (and money,Ha!) up-grading in the Spring, and get into the water early every year. This is what I did. My suggestion to you is to talk to other sailors in your area to find out what paint works well in the waters you will sail (and dock) in, read some articles on how the different paints work,and talk to the sales people at the chandleries or stores where you shop. No matter what paint you choose, bottom painting aint fun!!Tom

 

[Russ Marcks]

CopperCoat

I've used the Coppercoat on Lake Erie. Didn't like it. Far to much growth. But Lake Erie does get a bit warm. It does only have 43% copper. Went back to a 70%+ copper content and am much happier.I've always been of the opinion most of the name brands are essentially identical. I basically shop price as long as it has a high copper content.Russ