If you leave your boat in the water year round, like we do here in socal, it makes more sense to use a hard shell, modified epoxy type bottom paint. It works by emitting biocides over time. It will not lose it's effectiveness with regular gentle wipe downs(it's hard for that reason)....as opposed to hard scrubbing a fewer numper of times. When hard shell paint is exposed to air, the time release biocides will quickly leech out of the paint. So the strategy in my area is to apply the hard shell paint every few years and use a diver to wipe the bottom of algae once a month or so. My dive charges $45 per monthly cleaning. I usually haul out and paint every 4 to 5 years. Do the math.... $540 / year and the cost of a haul out and bottom job every 5 years.
The are some new paints that could be considered "hybrid" .... I have no comment. This is just "old school" ablative vs hard shell paint argument. So... to continue.. if you trailer your boat, or dry store it, you'll want to use the ablative style which works by "sloughing " off microscopic layers as the haul moves through the water. Ablative paint, traditionally, is not affected by exposure to air....simple as that (not really, but for this discussion it is)!
Out here, we wait a couple of months bottom paint application before first cleaning, then go to regular maintenance schedule. The diver will use a piece of carpet to simply remove the algae for the first couple of years, then may need to scrape the water line for the worms.
Ablative paint, by it's nature requires less diver maintenance, unless you're racing or course... but by and large it's a seasonal maintenance ritual. This regular repainting makes the job and easy DIY with minimal prep... So.... pick your poison.
The are some new paints that could be considered "hybrid" .... I have no comment. This is just "old school" ablative vs hard shell paint argument. So... to continue.. if you trailer your boat, or dry store it, you'll want to use the ablative style which works by "sloughing " off microscopic layers as the haul moves through the water. Ablative paint, traditionally, is not affected by exposure to air....simple as that (not really, but for this discussion it is)!
Out here, we wait a couple of months bottom paint application before first cleaning, then go to regular maintenance schedule. The diver will use a piece of carpet to simply remove the algae for the first couple of years, then may need to scrape the water line for the worms.
Ablative paint, by it's nature requires less diver maintenance, unless you're racing or course... but by and large it's a seasonal maintenance ritual. This regular repainting makes the job and easy DIY with minimal prep... So.... pick your poison.
