Hi folks, I bought my Catalina 310 brand new 3 years ago. It came with Pettit Trinidad Pro hard bottom paint on it. The paint lasted quite well for 3 years in Sarasota, FL bay waters. I had a diver clean the bottom each month. Two months ago, I had it re-painted at the same boatyard that did the original job, with the same Trinidad Pro paint. Swimming around the boat, I used a sponge to wipe some slime off the waterline and the sponge turned solid blue from the paint rubbing off. This never happened with the old paint...not a single bit. My diver, who does this for a living full-time, noticed the same thing and said that it sure didn't act like a hard paint to him...more like an ablative. The boatyard and Pettit rep said it might be a "soft" batch of paint, or else the formula for Trinidad Pro may have changed, making it less "hard". They've agreed to re-paint it, but said there's no guarantee the new paint will be any different. Has anyone else encountered a similar situation? Does it make any sense that a paint advertised as a hard paint should wipe off with a sponge? Am I being fed a line? Thanks, Cliff
Trinidad Pro Bottom Paint
- Thread starter Cliff1010
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MIGHT
I would think that if Pettit had a batch of paint that was soft for whatever reason, they would certainly know about it. I have used Trinidad for a long time, and plan on using it again, and never a problem as you describe. Did you talk to the Pettit rep, or did the yard talk to him and repeat what he supposedly said. I think when they re did the bottom, I would be standing there and check the paint cans.
I would think that if Pettit had a batch of paint that was soft for whatever reason, they would certainly know about it. I have used Trinidad for a long time, and plan on using it again, and never a problem as you describe. Did you talk to the Pettit rep, or did the yard talk to him and repeat what he supposedly said. I think when they re did the bottom, I would be standing there and check the paint cans.
Trinidad user
I have always used Trinidad. I think that it is really good bottom paint and have always gotten 3 years from 2 coats. On my last haulout (Sept '07) I used Trinidad Pro. It is just as hard as the original Trinidad has always been and does not rub off. Sounds to me like either the factory mis-labeled the cans or the yard just used the wrong paint. I think that the "soft batch" excuse sounds like BS. I would go for the free repaint and see what happens. Good luck.
I have always used Trinidad. I think that it is really good bottom paint and have always gotten 3 years from 2 coats. On my last haulout (Sept '07) I used Trinidad Pro. It is just as hard as the original Trinidad has always been and does not rub off. Sounds to me like either the factory mis-labeled the cans or the yard just used the wrong paint. I think that the "soft batch" excuse sounds like BS. I would go for the free repaint and see what happens. Good luck.
Something doesn't compute
The soft paint comment doesn't sound right. I've used Trinidad for 20 years and always had a nice hard finish. My guess is it isn't Trinidad and the yard used a different paint, or, what it sounds like, they used a sloughing paint. If they used a sloughing paint then it'll probably have to be removed otherwise the hard paint won't stick. How do you do that? Good question. The yard isn't going to want to sand it down to the old paint because that'll cost too much labor. Or, if they do, the problem is it might be a minimalist job - just enought to look good and have the repaint more or less stick enought to keep you off their back. The rep is in a tough spot - he needs to keep you happy with the product but he doesn't want to have the yard hold a grudge against him and his product so it'll be an interesting dance. Start talking to people in the know about this until you get really smart on it. The marine store that sells paint - talk to the paint specialist, West Marine tech in Watsonville, heck, even Petit competitors (just ask what it takes to put a hard paint over a sloughing paint). Also ask them if they ever heard about "bad batches", like hard paint that acts like a sloughing paint). Probably want to ask a different person otherwise they'll really wonder what's happening. The whole thing sounds really fishy to me. No matter how it turns out, unless the paint is at fault, the yard is going to loose some money on this one.
The soft paint comment doesn't sound right. I've used Trinidad for 20 years and always had a nice hard finish. My guess is it isn't Trinidad and the yard used a different paint, or, what it sounds like, they used a sloughing paint. If they used a sloughing paint then it'll probably have to be removed otherwise the hard paint won't stick. How do you do that? Good question. The yard isn't going to want to sand it down to the old paint because that'll cost too much labor. Or, if they do, the problem is it might be a minimalist job - just enought to look good and have the repaint more or less stick enought to keep you off their back. The rep is in a tough spot - he needs to keep you happy with the product but he doesn't want to have the yard hold a grudge against him and his product so it'll be an interesting dance. Start talking to people in the know about this until you get really smart on it. The marine store that sells paint - talk to the paint specialist, West Marine tech in Watsonville, heck, even Petit competitors (just ask what it takes to put a hard paint over a sloughing paint). Also ask them if they ever heard about "bad batches", like hard paint that acts like a sloughing paint). Probably want to ask a different person otherwise they'll really wonder what's happening. The whole thing sounds really fishy to me. No matter how it turns out, unless the paint is at fault, the yard is going to loose some money on this one.
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