Painting Boat Bottom.....Copper Free Ablative Paint??

Sep 8, 2025
25
Bayfield 36 Lewisporte
Hi,
Any recommendations on which ablative type paint to use? I was looking at the "Total Boat Krypton" which is copper free. But there is also the "Total Boat Spartan" which contains copper. Is there a difference in performance? Would you recommend a different paint?

Is bottom painting a once per year requirement?


Thanks
 
Mar 20, 2015
3,254
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
Is bottom painting a once per year requirement?
Hows it going buddy ?

AntiFouling paint choice depends on where your boat is, how long it's in the water.

How often it needs to be refreshed depends on the paint, how thick it is, boat use.

You have a Bayfield in Newfoundland aka cold saltwater ? Are you keeping it in the water year around ?

What are the local fishermen there using ? They are pros and would know the local growth conditions.
 
Sep 8, 2025
25
Bayfield 36 Lewisporte
AntiFouling paint choice depends on where your boat is, how long it's in the water.

How often it needs to be refreshed depends on the paint, how thick it is, boat use.

You have a Bayfield in Newfoundland aka cold saltwater ? Are you keeping it in the water year around ?

What are the local fishermen there using ? They are pros and would know the local growth conditions.
Hi :)
I guess the plan will be to sail it in warmer waters (Caribbean/Pacific) and most likely in water all year round.
 
May 17, 2004
5,764
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
Keep in mind the copper free types still contain a biocide, so if you’re looking at copper free from an ecological perspective it’s still not perfect. I think the biggest reason for copper free is compatibility with hull or drive housing materials like aluminum that would react with copper. I’ve always assumed the non-copper alternatives trade off antifouling performance for that compatibility, but I don’t know that for sure. As others have said it’s probably very dependent on water type and temperature.
 
Sep 8, 2025
25
Bayfield 36 Lewisporte
Keep in mind the copper free types still contain a biocide, so if you’re looking at copper free from an ecological perspective it’s still not perfect. I think the biggest reason for copper free is compatibility with hull or drive housing materials like aluminum that would react with copper. I’ve always assumed the non-copper alternatives trade off antifouling performance for that compatibility, but I don’t know that for sure. As others have said it’s probably very dependent on water type and temperature.
Ah, thanks

So, having a fiberglass hull then I should go with a copper based one?
 

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,529
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
Bottom paint performance is associated with the waters you sail and the frequency you sail or clean the bottom.

In cold ocean waters multi-year performance is possible. I’ve used Trinidad by Pettit paints. I get 3-5 years between paint jobs. Going out at least every 6 weeks and bottom cleaning by a diver 3 times a year has made me happy about my boat bottom.
 
Sep 24, 2018
3,625
Catalina 30 MKIII Chicago
@GeneraiT001 Call local yards and chandleries for their recommendations. Bottompaintstore.com has some informative articles as well
Bottom paint performance is associated with the waters you sail and the frequency you sail or clean the bottom.

In cold ocean waters multi-year performance is possible. I’ve used Trinidad by Pettit paints. I get 3-5 years between paint jobs. Going out at least every 6 weeks and bottom cleaning by a diver 3 times a year has made me happy about my boat bottom.
How many layers did you apply?
 
  • Like
Likes: GeneraiT001
May 17, 2004
5,764
Beneteau Oceanis 37 Havre de Grace
Since both of the products you’re looking at are Total Boat you could also call them. They might be able to provide advice on which one generally works better in some types of water. In my experience their customer support is very good.
 
  • Like
Likes: GeneraiT001

jssailem

SBO Weather and Forecasting Forum Jim & John
Oct 22, 2014
23,529
CAL 35 Cruiser #21 moored EVERETT WA
I applied two coats across the hull and a third coat on the leading edges of the Rudder, Bow, Keel, and bottom of the keel. When I hauled the boat, the paint still covered the hull, but the leading edges showed wear.

Launch March 2018
1757950828842.jpeg

At haul-out Feb 2023.
1757950314521.jpeg


After Pressure Washing. Current Hull paint is Blue. The previous layer was Red

1757950405935.jpeg 1757950497928.jpeg

New Paint Job. Black like the whales.
1757950618641.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes: JamesG161
Sep 8, 2025
25
Bayfield 36 Lewisporte
I applied two coats across the hull and a third coat on the leading edges of the Rudder, Bow, Keel, and bottom of the keel. When I hauled the boat, the paint still covered the hull, but the leading edges showed wear.

Launch March 2018
View attachment 234370
At haul-out Feb 2023.
View attachment 234366

After Pressure Washing. Current Hull paint is Blue. The previous layer was Red

View attachment 234367 View attachment 234368

New Paint Job. Black like the whales.
View attachment 234369
That looks great....I long to be at the point of a completed painted hull!! :)
 
  • Like
Likes: jssailem

JBP-PA

.
Apr 29, 2022
652
Jeanneau Tonic 23 Erie, PA
I used to use copper based paint and switched to Krypton. I haven't noticed any difference in effectiveness. Krypton does smell much worse than the water based paints. On Lake Erie.
 
  • Like
Likes: GeneraiT001
Mar 20, 2015
3,254
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
I guess the plan will be to sail it in warmer waters (Caribbean/Pacific) and most likely in water all year round.
I would use coppercoat or similar.


But...I would ask the local fishermen. Commercial paint is often better and may be cheaper, than "yacht" paint

For example copper coat commercial makes a 30 year claim.

If you are in saltwater... Then get info about saltwater. Freshwater boats have it easy.
 
Sep 8, 2025
25
Bayfield 36 Lewisporte
  • Like
Likes: jssailem
Mar 26, 2011
3,773
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
Hi,
Any recommendations on which ablative type paint to use? I was looking at the "Total Boat Krypton" which is copper free. But there is also the "Total Boat Spartan" which contains copper. Is there a difference in performance? Would you recommend a different paint?

Is bottom painting a once per year requirement?


Thanks
At least in this test, Krypton was better. (I tested 30 paints for Practical Sailor, 2 years plus, panels and on boat.)


I'm now using Krypton on my personal boat. Based on the last two years, I'll probably be using it again.
 
Mar 20, 2015
3,254
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
I tested 30 paints for Practical Sailor, 2 years plus, panels and on boat.
I notice that commercial paints are not usually part of these tests. For example, Sherwin Williams has a product line I recently became aware of via commercial fishermen I was chatting with.

Any idea if there is a legal restriction in North America on using them for non commercial applications ?
 
Mar 26, 2011
3,773
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
I notice that commercial paints are not usually part of these tests. For example, Sherwin Williams has a product line I recently became aware of via commercial fishermen I was chatting with.

Any idea if there is a legal restriction in North America on using them for non commercial applications ?
No, it just was not the focus. Distribution is different.

I did use a Sherwin Williams paint on my boat many years ago. It wasn't really any different from equivalent yacht paints. There is no special sauce.
 
Mar 20, 2015
3,254
C&C 30 Mk1 Winnipeg
There is no special sauce.
The fishermen told me that the commercial stuff is cheaper than paint marketed for the yacht market. Not sure if that's just the stuff they use, or what. Personally I wouldn't be surprised.

Fwiw The life expectancy of "Commercial Coppercoat" apoears to be higher based on the mfg website. Not sure if that is due to mil thickness or what.

<Dunno/Shrug emotion here>

Be interesting to compare.
 
Mar 26, 2011
3,773
Corsair F-24 MK I Deale, MD
The fishermen told me that the commercial stuff is cheaper than paint marketed for the yacht market....
a. Wholesale.
b. It is sold in 5-gallon buckets. The product I had was in a 5-gallon bucket.
c. Everything for yachtsmen is more :cool:.