Speaking of Bottom Paint

[Rick D]

I have noticed that ablative paints are the standard in the NE. In SoCal, hard bottom paints are the standard. For example, I use Pettit Trinidad and get three to four years (with a monthly dive service). I guess the lack of build-up with an ablative makes a lot of sense with seasonal hauls. However, I notice the SE guys mention using ablative there as well. I was wondering if that is a correct impression and the reason. I'm having the boat hauled and bottom done, thus it's fresh on my mind, even though I don't plan on changing paints. Rick D.

 

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Appears to be the consensus in the NE

Spent last season enjoying the employee discount at WM Rick and payed pretty close attention to what folks were buying for bottom paint here in southern NE. It seemed to me that the hard epoxy and the ablative contest was a tie until I asked what kind of boat. Almost invariably, the powerboaters use epoxy and the sailors, with one big exception, use ablative and every sailor I spoke with who did their own bottom used ablative. With the annual hauling ritual we go through, I think people here believe it easier to take care of the ablative painted hull.the big exception is the racers who all use VC17 even here in salt water.

 

[Landsend]

trinidad is very popular in Florida.

Here we need something strong.

 

[Benny]

Cold waters of the Pacific?

Here in Florida warmer waters we get a lot of growth and have to clean the bottoms quite often. Ablatives make the job easier. We do not haul out every year and a good bottom paint job lasts 3-4 years.

 

[Joe]

hard shell in so cal

If you store your boat out of the water for any length of time, ablative is the best solution since mod epoxy's biocides leech away in air and sunlight. Since most sailors in so cal leave their boats in the water year round and usa a diver to keep the bottom clean, it makes sense to use the hard shell. I pay 27 bucks a month ($1/foot) for the diver to wipe off the hull and check condition. Money well spent and haul outs are 3-4 years apart instead of yearly.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I used to use...

Petit Trinidad modified hard epoxy on some previous boats. I found it to be an excellent bottom paint -- until I tried to remove it. I have never found a bottom paint harder to get off when the time comes to get the old worn out matrix off. Now I use one coat of an annual ablative and hardly ever have to pick up my sander....

 

[Alan]

There's a difference in ablatives.

For years I had been using Micron CSC. It's not a bad antifoulant, but is damn expensive and VERY soft. Just brushing up against it in the water turns the water white(I used to use Shark White).Then I discovered a much harder ablative (Aquagard) that protects every bit as well as CSC but at half the price and its water based. There are no toxic fumes when applying and the sea doesn't change colors every time I clean the bottom.I prefer to use white paint because you can see every little bit of growth as opposed to missing much of it with the darker colors.

 

[RobG]

Alan, do you buy it from Aquagard?

I Googled it and didn't find it for sale anywhere else.I too have been using CSC and would like something harder. The Aquagard looks good. Thanks for the review.