Modern technology has come a long way since hulls were shielded with sheets of copper. Most marine stores have a blizzard of bottom paint choices. How to choose? Some are all purpose, others fit a specialty like racing. Some are single season; others multi-season. Some are compatible with whatever is on your boat now while others may require completely removing the old paint before the new one goes on. If your boat is on a trailer or dry-sailed, perhaps you don't even have to bother with bottom paint. What is your favorite bottom paint? What are its pros and cons? How important is price? How often do you need to paint the bottom of your boat? Are you satisfied with the results? Share your thoughts here on what you like or dislike about the bottom paint you use and then take the Quick Quiz on the home page. (Discussion topic and quiz by Warren Milberg)
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VC-17
When I bought my boat, part of the reason I got such a good "deal" on it was because the bottom has a severe case of osmosis (blistering.) I spent $2,000 to have the bottom ground down to the gel-coat and the blisters opened up & dried out. Then a coat of Vinylester was applied. Over this I spray VC-17 every other season. Works great! Bill on STARGAZER
When I bought my boat, part of the reason I got such a good "deal" on it was because the bottom has a severe case of osmosis (blistering.) I spent $2,000 to have the bottom ground down to the gel-coat and the blisters opened up & dried out. Then a coat of Vinylester was applied. Over this I spray VC-17 every other season. Works great! Bill on STARGAZER
VC-17
When I bought my boat, part of the reason I got such a good "deal" on it was because the bottom has a severe case of osmosis (blistering.) I spent $2,000 to have the bottom ground down to the gel-coat and the blisters opened up & dried out. Then a coat of Vinylester was applied. Over this I spray VC-17 every other season. Works great! Bill on STARGAZER
When I bought my boat, part of the reason I got such a good "deal" on it was because the bottom has a severe case of osmosis (blistering.) I spent $2,000 to have the bottom ground down to the gel-coat and the blisters opened up & dried out. Then a coat of Vinylester was applied. Over this I spray VC-17 every other season. Works great! Bill on STARGAZER
Getting Smart
I got smart a few years ago: switched from hard modified epoxy (Petit Trinidad -- great paint, but requires annual sanding), to soft annual ablative (Interlux ACT). Then, I even got smarter: instead of putting on the 2-3 coats recommended by the maker (who wants you to use a lot of his paint), I put on only one coat using a 1/4 inch roller instead of a 3/8 inch roller. The result: absolutely no hard growth at the end of the season here on the Chesapeake and no need for sanding in the spring. Makes a nasty chore a lot easier....
I got smart a few years ago: switched from hard modified epoxy (Petit Trinidad -- great paint, but requires annual sanding), to soft annual ablative (Interlux ACT). Then, I even got smarter: instead of putting on the 2-3 coats recommended by the maker (who wants you to use a lot of his paint), I put on only one coat using a 1/4 inch roller instead of a 3/8 inch roller. The result: absolutely no hard growth at the end of the season here on the Chesapeake and no need for sanding in the spring. Makes a nasty chore a lot easier....
Getting Smart
I got smart a few years ago: switched from hard modified epoxy (Petit Trinidad -- great paint, but requires annual sanding), to soft annual ablative (Interlux ACT). Then, I even got smarter: instead of putting on the 2-3 coats recommended by the maker (who wants you to use a lot of his paint), I put on only one coat using a 1/4 inch roller instead of a 3/8 inch roller. The result: absolutely no hard growth at the end of the season here on the Chesapeake and no need for sanding in the spring. Makes a nasty chore a lot easier....
I got smart a few years ago: switched from hard modified epoxy (Petit Trinidad -- great paint, but requires annual sanding), to soft annual ablative (Interlux ACT). Then, I even got smarter: instead of putting on the 2-3 coats recommended by the maker (who wants you to use a lot of his paint), I put on only one coat using a 1/4 inch roller instead of a 3/8 inch roller. The result: absolutely no hard growth at the end of the season here on the Chesapeake and no need for sanding in the spring. Makes a nasty chore a lot easier....
There is a guy...
at my marina who never buys bottom paint. When everyone is bottom painting their boats in April, he heads over to the dumpsters and picks out the cans of bottom paint thrown in there. He claims that most of them have a 1/4 gal or more. When he has a gal collected, he paints his boat with whatever is on hand. He doesn't care about color either. Rudder is blue, keel is black, bottom is green. No one sees it once his boat is in the drink. Works for him!
at my marina who never buys bottom paint. When everyone is bottom painting their boats in April, he heads over to the dumpsters and picks out the cans of bottom paint thrown in there. He claims that most of them have a 1/4 gal or more. When he has a gal collected, he paints his boat with whatever is on hand. He doesn't care about color either. Rudder is blue, keel is black, bottom is green. No one sees it once his boat is in the drink. Works for him!
There is a guy...
at my marina who never buys bottom paint. When everyone is bottom painting their boats in April, he heads over to the dumpsters and picks out the cans of bottom paint thrown in there. He claims that most of them have a 1/4 gal or more. When he has a gal collected, he paints his boat with whatever is on hand. He doesn't care about color either. Rudder is blue, keel is black, bottom is green. No one sees it once his boat is in the drink. Works for him!
at my marina who never buys bottom paint. When everyone is bottom painting their boats in April, he heads over to the dumpsters and picks out the cans of bottom paint thrown in there. He claims that most of them have a 1/4 gal or more. When he has a gal collected, he paints his boat with whatever is on hand. He doesn't care about color either. Rudder is blue, keel is black, bottom is green. No one sees it once his boat is in the drink. Works for him!
Ablative Paint
I am in a fresh water lake (Lake Lanier), so one never knows really what is best. A few years ago, when BoatUS was dumping its paint very cheaply to get the brand off the shelves before going West Marine they were selling $120 ablastive paint for $20 a gallon!! I should have bought the lort and opended a road side stand!!! After two years, the stuff has done well to keep most of the slime at bay. Bob Catalina 30
I am in a fresh water lake (Lake Lanier), so one never knows really what is best. A few years ago, when BoatUS was dumping its paint very cheaply to get the brand off the shelves before going West Marine they were selling $120 ablastive paint for $20 a gallon!! I should have bought the lort and opended a road side stand!!! After two years, the stuff has done well to keep most of the slime at bay. Bob Catalina 30
Ablative Paint
I am in a fresh water lake (Lake Lanier), so one never knows really what is best. A few years ago, when BoatUS was dumping its paint very cheaply to get the brand off the shelves before going West Marine they were selling $120 ablastive paint for $20 a gallon!! I should have bought the lort and opended a road side stand!!! After two years, the stuff has done well to keep most of the slime at bay. Bob Catalina 30
I am in a fresh water lake (Lake Lanier), so one never knows really what is best. A few years ago, when BoatUS was dumping its paint very cheaply to get the brand off the shelves before going West Marine they were selling $120 ablastive paint for $20 a gallon!! I should have bought the lort and opended a road side stand!!! After two years, the stuff has done well to keep most of the slime at bay. Bob Catalina 30
VC-17
Very smooth bottom and easily reapplied. In the spring simply clean the bottom and your ready to paint again. A little expensive and a bit of a pain to mix the powder with the paint, but other than that, we love it.
Very smooth bottom and easily reapplied. In the spring simply clean the bottom and your ready to paint again. A little expensive and a bit of a pain to mix the powder with the paint, but other than that, we love it.
VC-17
Very smooth bottom and easily reapplied. In the spring simply clean the bottom and your ready to paint again. A little expensive and a bit of a pain to mix the powder with the paint, but other than that, we love it.
Very smooth bottom and easily reapplied. In the spring simply clean the bottom and your ready to paint again. A little expensive and a bit of a pain to mix the powder with the paint, but other than that, we love it.
Micron 44 Tin.
Started using it before it was illegal. Outside of this country, at least south of the border, it's readily available and legal. I've got 4 coats still working. With tin you don't even have to paint if you see color. If you see it, it's working. I have to haul this spring though. Need to do some stuff to a through-hull. Bet the paints OK. It's been three years. Too bad it was outlawed. The official reason was that a fish near a marina had a growth on it's liver. Oh well. Anyone know of the situation in Kalifornia? You know, about the plan to outlaw that nasty copper bottom paint. The stuff that has the same ingredient as our water pipes. Bureaucrats. Hope this wasn't too political. I know it's the wrong forum but HOW brought up the subject.
Started using it before it was illegal. Outside of this country, at least south of the border, it's readily available and legal. I've got 4 coats still working. With tin you don't even have to paint if you see color. If you see it, it's working. I have to haul this spring though. Need to do some stuff to a through-hull. Bet the paints OK. It's been three years. Too bad it was outlawed. The official reason was that a fish near a marina had a growth on it's liver. Oh well. Anyone know of the situation in Kalifornia? You know, about the plan to outlaw that nasty copper bottom paint. The stuff that has the same ingredient as our water pipes. Bureaucrats. Hope this wasn't too political. I know it's the wrong forum but HOW brought up the subject.
Micron 44 Tin.
Started using it before it was illegal. Outside of this country, at least south of the border, it's readily available and legal. I've got 4 coats still working. With tin you don't even have to paint if you see color. If you see it, it's working. I have to haul this spring though. Need to do some stuff to a through-hull. Bet the paints OK. It's been three years. Too bad it was outlawed. The official reason was that a fish near a marina had a growth on it's liver. Oh well. Anyone know of the situation in Kalifornia? You know, about the plan to outlaw that nasty copper bottom paint. The stuff that has the same ingredient as our water pipes. Bureaucrats. Hope this wasn't too political. I know it's the wrong forum but HOW brought up the subject.
Started using it before it was illegal. Outside of this country, at least south of the border, it's readily available and legal. I've got 4 coats still working. With tin you don't even have to paint if you see color. If you see it, it's working. I have to haul this spring though. Need to do some stuff to a through-hull. Bet the paints OK. It's been three years. Too bad it was outlawed. The official reason was that a fish near a marina had a growth on it's liver. Oh well. Anyone know of the situation in Kalifornia? You know, about the plan to outlaw that nasty copper bottom paint. The stuff that has the same ingredient as our water pipes. Bureaucrats. Hope this wasn't too political. I know it's the wrong forum but HOW brought up the subject.
White Rudder Only
The dealer put the first bottom of paint on my boat. They painted the bottom black and the rudder white. When I inquired why they did this they said it was on instructions from Hunter. The white rudder is to stop it from picking up heat from the sun. The thermal cycle of the rudder heating in the day and cooling at night would suck water into the rudder. I know there are a lot of boats of different makes that have a wet rudder. (internal) My last one had it & I had to pay to fix it to pass survey. Fun I have never noticed other new boats except form my dealer with a white rudder.
The dealer put the first bottom of paint on my boat. They painted the bottom black and the rudder white. When I inquired why they did this they said it was on instructions from Hunter. The white rudder is to stop it from picking up heat from the sun. The thermal cycle of the rudder heating in the day and cooling at night would suck water into the rudder. I know there are a lot of boats of different makes that have a wet rudder. (internal) My last one had it & I had to pay to fix it to pass survey. Fun I have never noticed other new boats except form my dealer with a white rudder.
White Rudder Only
The dealer put the first bottom of paint on my boat. They painted the bottom black and the rudder white. When I inquired why they did this they said it was on instructions from Hunter. The white rudder is to stop it from picking up heat from the sun. The thermal cycle of the rudder heating in the day and cooling at night would suck water into the rudder. I know there are a lot of boats of different makes that have a wet rudder. (internal) My last one had it & I had to pay to fix it to pass survey. Fun I have never noticed other new boats except form my dealer with a white rudder.
The dealer put the first bottom of paint on my boat. They painted the bottom black and the rudder white. When I inquired why they did this they said it was on instructions from Hunter. The white rudder is to stop it from picking up heat from the sun. The thermal cycle of the rudder heating in the day and cooling at night would suck water into the rudder. I know there are a lot of boats of different makes that have a wet rudder. (internal) My last one had it & I had to pay to fix it to pass survey. Fun I have never noticed other new boats except form my dealer with a white rudder.
Foss Foam...
...who used to (but may still) make Hunter's rudders instructs their new owners to paint the rudder white for just that reason. When my boat was new in 1988, that was one of Foss Foam's recommendations.
...who used to (but may still) make Hunter's rudders instructs their new owners to paint the rudder white for just that reason. When my boat was new in 1988, that was one of Foss Foam's recommendations.
Foss Foam...
...who used to (but may still) make Hunter's rudders instructs their new owners to paint the rudder white for just that reason. When my boat was new in 1988, that was one of Foss Foam's recommendations.
...who used to (but may still) make Hunter's rudders instructs their new owners to paint the rudder white for just that reason. When my boat was new in 1988, that was one of Foss Foam's recommendations.
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