Hello, I am moving my Hunter 25.5 to Charleston Harbor, SC and need to select a bottom paint. The boat will be kept in the water and I am told that the barnacle problem there is quite bad. Can anyone make a suggestion as to which paint I should select? Do I need to get the hull scraped every month by a diver? Yhanks very much, Jim
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Bottom paint blues
I had my O'Day in Charleston for 1 year and the bottom paint used was West Marine's version of Petit's Trinidad red, on sale. The area just below the boot stripe washed off within 6 months. The barnacles didn't seem to mind the paint at all. This is probably why the paint was on sale. Some other boat owners did have luck with Petit paint. I think that I would spend the extra for a better than average paint. But the weather does play havoc with the teak. I used Bristol Finish that advertised a 2 years guarantee. Didn't make it. Use Simco stain. Varnish just peels off. The deck was painted with a teflon deck paint and did wonderfully. The weather is harsh and the boat will take a beating.
I had my O'Day in Charleston for 1 year and the bottom paint used was West Marine's version of Petit's Trinidad red, on sale. The area just below the boot stripe washed off within 6 months. The barnacles didn't seem to mind the paint at all. This is probably why the paint was on sale. Some other boat owners did have luck with Petit paint. I think that I would spend the extra for a better than average paint. But the weather does play havoc with the teak. I used Bristol Finish that advertised a 2 years guarantee. Didn't make it. Use Simco stain. Varnish just peels off. The deck was painted with a teflon deck paint and did wonderfully. The weather is harsh and the boat will take a beating.
Got to wonder if the paint was applied correctly
Phillip, If you had a variable expereince on your boat, different performance just below the waterline to what you experienced deeper down, I wonder if you kept the paint stirred while you were applying it. The solids settle out pretty well and it could be you were taking paint off the top of the can that had pigment, but no copper. Just a thought.
Phillip, If you had a variable expereince on your boat, different performance just below the waterline to what you experienced deeper down, I wonder if you kept the paint stirred while you were applying it. The solids settle out pretty well and it could be you were taking paint off the top of the can that had pigment, but no copper. Just a thought.
Micron 66 ...
is relatively new, and it has been the best bottom paint I've ever used in the FL Keys, where the water's even warmer than in SC. Nothing else has ever come close to its power to repel those little buggers. After having the bottom redone with this, I swore that the boat sailed faster (but I thought that wasn't possible). Later, I went to the Interlux website, and they described the smooth surface of this paint as helping boat speed. Check out their website for more info. I have no $ interest in Interlux. Just a happy customer.
is relatively new, and it has been the best bottom paint I've ever used in the FL Keys, where the water's even warmer than in SC. Nothing else has ever come close to its power to repel those little buggers. After having the bottom redone with this, I swore that the boat sailed faster (but I thought that wasn't possible). Later, I went to the Interlux website, and they described the smooth surface of this paint as helping boat speed. Check out their website for more info. I have no $ interest in Interlux. Just a happy customer.
Bottom cleaned
I say yes to having the bottom cleaned once a month in the summer when barnacles like to grow fast. I also agree with going with a good bottom paint. I had West Marine paint on my boat and it didn't do that great, it also was on clearance. Put at least 3 coats at waterline. Which brand or type of paint I am not sure what to tell you. Trinadad has very high copper 70% which is good and the old way of doing things but some of the new paints claim to do well with less copper like Micron 66.
I say yes to having the bottom cleaned once a month in the summer when barnacles like to grow fast. I also agree with going with a good bottom paint. I had West Marine paint on my boat and it didn't do that great, it also was on clearance. Put at least 3 coats at waterline. Which brand or type of paint I am not sure what to tell you. Trinadad has very high copper 70% which is good and the old way of doing things but some of the new paints claim to do well with less copper like Micron 66.
Glad to hear about Micron 66
bp I am glad to hear that you like Micron 66. I had my boat painted a few months ago and I am waiting to see how it does in the summer. It is a good web site they have about it. They claim it gets smoother over time, which makes it faster. Jim if you go with Micron 66 and have the bottom cleaned make sure the person knows what paint you have on your boat so they do not rub it to hard and shorten its life. I was told it is some what self cleaning when you use your boat and to only use a rag or spong to wipr it off is you have to. I think the only one how can apply it is a boat yard. Not sure if you like to do your own work or not.
bp I am glad to hear that you like Micron 66. I had my boat painted a few months ago and I am waiting to see how it does in the summer. It is a good web site they have about it. They claim it gets smoother over time, which makes it faster. Jim if you go with Micron 66 and have the bottom cleaned make sure the person knows what paint you have on your boat so they do not rub it to hard and shorten its life. I was told it is some what self cleaning when you use your boat and to only use a rag or spong to wipr it off is you have to. I think the only one how can apply it is a boat yard. Not sure if you like to do your own work or not.
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