Since the 80’s I’ve been searching for the best bottom paint. The most effective antifouling I found was Micron 66 but that had some major drawbacks (adhesion, not compatible with brackish or fresh water, and it was too soft). Since then, mostly I settled on Pettit Hydrocoat year after year, but it needed to be cleaned at least once a month by a diver. I used to dive on it myself, but hired divers in recent year$. That cost adds up.
This year I tried Micron Extra SPC and the results were excellent! The boat was kept on a mooring in western LIS for about 3 weeks in May/June, then we cruised a bit and moved it to Stonington CT where it was also kept on a mooring. It was not used at all for a 6 week period in July/August so it did not have a lot of water flow on the hulls. We used it in Southern New England for about 6 weeks after that.
In September I had a diver clean the saildrives/props and rudder and he reported light slime and zero hard growth. I told him not to wipe the rest of the boat because I was testing the bottom paint.
The boat was hauled in early October and there was still only a light slime coat, with no hard growth at all - it was never wiped. I’m impressed. It’s better than anything else I have used since they banned tin additives, and the picture below shows the condition at haul out. I’ll use Micron Extra SPC again. It’s expensive but can save time and money for diving.
This year I tried Micron Extra SPC and the results were excellent! The boat was kept on a mooring in western LIS for about 3 weeks in May/June, then we cruised a bit and moved it to Stonington CT where it was also kept on a mooring. It was not used at all for a 6 week period in July/August so it did not have a lot of water flow on the hulls. We used it in Southern New England for about 6 weeks after that.
In September I had a diver clean the saildrives/props and rudder and he reported light slime and zero hard growth. I told him not to wipe the rest of the boat because I was testing the bottom paint.
The boat was hauled in early October and there was still only a light slime coat, with no hard growth at all - it was never wiped. I’m impressed. It’s better than anything else I have used since they banned tin additives, and the picture below shows the condition at haul out. I’ll use Micron Extra SPC again. It’s expensive but can save time and money for diving.
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