Does anyone have any experience with water-based ablative bottom paints? i understand that some west-coat sailors have tried them. i'm in the brackish waters of the chesapeake and wonder whether they'll hold up for an 18-month plunge. thanks, matt
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UGH!
At one time, it was the only thing available in CA. That was quickly changed. I tried some on my hard dinghy. Lasted 3-4 months. Awful stuff. I'm sure formulas have advanced in the intervening years, and it may be just fine now, but I won't use it until everyone else has experience. Rick D.
At one time, it was the only thing available in CA. That was quickly changed. I tried some on my hard dinghy. Lasted 3-4 months. Awful stuff. I'm sure formulas have advanced in the intervening years, and it may be just fine now, but I won't use it until everyone else has experience. Rick D.
Geez, the stuff I used on my inflatable has worked
fine over the past year. The waters here in Long Island sound are known for some heavy fouling, but I left my dink in the water all year and its been as clean as a whistle. The stuff if from MDR I think.
fine over the past year. The waters here in Long Island sound are known for some heavy fouling, but I left my dink in the water all year and its been as clean as a whistle. The stuff if from MDR I think.
Ablatives
I have had an ablative (ACT) on my boat for the last 6 years. It came with it. I have been happy with the way it does the job. No barnacles at all. But the slime does build up, some years more than others. It doesn't slough off as much as I would like, but that may be because I only use the boat on the weekends. I am now beginnig to have some flaking, probably due to buildup (I have been putting a fresh coat on every year; that may be too much for the amount of usage it gets.
I have had an ablative (ACT) on my boat for the last 6 years. It came with it. I have been happy with the way it does the job. No barnacles at all. But the slime does build up, some years more than others. It doesn't slough off as much as I would like, but that may be because I only use the boat on the weekends. I am now beginnig to have some flaking, probably due to buildup (I have been putting a fresh coat on every year; that may be too much for the amount of usage it gets.
I've used Petit Aqua Clean
Several years ago when I could get it, I used Petit Aqua Clean (a water Base ablative) for several seasons on my C-22 that I leave in Long Island Sound during the season. As far as keeping barnacles etc. off, it was fine as it has a high copper content. It does not have an anti-slime additive so natch there was slime. The advantage is you need only water for clean up which could be important for people who have trouble using paint thinner. As I now use oil base ablative, I think the water base Aqua Clean was a bit softer and hence slower than the oil base. Further, I annually sand and paint my bottom. The water based paint really kicked up a lot of dust when sanded, but it is a little easier to remove. As for an inflatable, I do not know if all water-based ablatives can be used on them. I suppose you could try using the water base paint to see if the clean up part is an advatage to you.
Several years ago when I could get it, I used Petit Aqua Clean (a water Base ablative) for several seasons on my C-22 that I leave in Long Island Sound during the season. As far as keeping barnacles etc. off, it was fine as it has a high copper content. It does not have an anti-slime additive so natch there was slime. The advantage is you need only water for clean up which could be important for people who have trouble using paint thinner. As I now use oil base ablative, I think the water base Aqua Clean was a bit softer and hence slower than the oil base. Further, I annually sand and paint my bottom. The water based paint really kicked up a lot of dust when sanded, but it is a little easier to remove. As for an inflatable, I do not know if all water-based ablatives can be used on them. I suppose you could try using the water base paint to see if the clean up part is an advatage to you.
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