Chesapeake Bay Bottom Paint

[Bob Skalkowski]

I can almost smell spring in the air (wishful thinking) and I imagine that means only one thing to us “sailors”. Time to bottom paint! I’m going to be sailing for the first time, in my own boat, in the Chesapeake Bay and was wondering what bottom paint all of you “old salts” recommend for the bay. Is there a paint that will last two seasons or more? There are so many on the market out there it’s hard to choose so I’m taking the advice of someone who sails off the New Jersey coast. He said, “Find out what everyone else has been using in the bay.” I’m sure I’ll get lots of different opinions. I’d like product names please. I have a Hunter 285, if that makes any difference. The bottom has been sanded and scraped. (UGH, what a job!) My paint rollers are calling me!Bob

 

[David Green]

I have use Interlux Micron Extra with Biolux. It is effective for anti-fouling and anti-slime. Just watch out during a haul out because to strong of a power wash will also wash away the paint. It's not cheap, but it works and no more scrapping.

 

[Frank / MD / H260]

Bottom Paint

My boat was new to the Bay last year. She was wearing Mircon CSC. When I took her out, I power washed her bottom, she was clean and I was happy. This spring I'm giving her another coat just to be sure. I think it's cheap assurance.Good Luck!

 

[Bob Greenfield]

Bottom Paint

I also used the Micron Extra with CSC (2 coats) and left it in the water for 2 seasons. Took it out this past fall and the bottom looked good. Will put another 2 coats on this year and won't haul it out till 2004.

 

[Brian Leney]

Pettit paints

Last year, we used Pettit paints for the first time and they held up great. I spoke at length with the Pettit paints rep who covers our area (annapolis) and went with what he recommended. At the time, we had just stripped all the paint off to a bare gelcoat, after applying a new coat of ablative paint each season for 7 seasons since new. We wanted to start again and avoid the bad experience with our last brands.We used Pettit Trinidad (red color) as a hard base coat. And then a coat of Pettit Ultima SR (blue) over the entire bottom, with a second coat of that at the waterline and leading edges. At the end of the season after 8 months, there was no sign of the red base coat showing anywhere. We will recoat with the Ultima this season but I think we will skip it next year.(by the way, I assume by scraping you meant down to the gelcoat/fiberglass. If there is still paint on the bottom, you need to be sure to use a paint that is compatible with the old.)

 

[Bill O'Donovan]

Either or

Interlux CSC or Micron Extra. Both are ablative paints that "wash" off over the course of the season, avoiding pesky build-up over the years. I recommend two coats, albeit pricey. There's also a clever idea for protecting the prop by cleaning it to a fine shine, applying Interlux primer for metal, and one coat of Interlux Ultra-Kote. You have to do the last within six hours of the primer, but not during the first hour.