Which anti-foul paint is most practicle?

[Joan K]

I've been using the less expensive paint referred to as "soft" by the retailer. It has been suggested that I use West Marine CCP paint after I lightly sand and apply a bond Primer. I'm concerned about how of the old paint I can leave on before applying the primer and if I ever have to take the "hard" paint off will it be very difficult. I've purchased the more expensive paint already but I could return it. Some 'Old Salts' working on their boats told me if I'm not racing use the "soft" paint. The dilemma came up about slime build-up last year when I could not get out much to sail.

 

[J.K.]

Practical is the correct spelling.

title

 

[R.W.Landau]

Your choice

Joan,If your boat is on the hard during the winter, you had better rule out epoxies. They are made for boats in the water year round. Ablatives seem the best function and value. Ask around your area for what seems to work the best. Avoid vinyls.The slim should come off with a light rub. This not only gets the slim off but opens the copper to act from a fresh surface. Don't rub to hard or too often, you will wear off the bottom paint. An inactive boat is going to build slim. A couple of uses will help also.. Paints like Micron with the algeicide( to tired to spell)will help keep that waterline crud easy to remove. (That is my first choice for my area)good luckr.w.landau

 

[Bruce Harkness]

Slime resisitant

I would highly recommend the new generation of slime resistant paints. They all use a new Ciba additive called Irgarol XXXXX. I painted mine in Nov last year, had the boat hauled to move to FL in April. Still clean as the day it was painted. The slime buildup will insulate the bottom paint, thus allowing things to grow. This additive stops that.

 

[Ed Schenck]

Like modified-epoxy.

My boat spends 7 months out of the water so I know modified-epoxy is not the preferred solution. But when "they" say loses effectiveness out of the water I have not seen that. I'll know soon, I did not touch the bottom this Spring. Last year I put on three coats of Trinidad SR and the bottom looked like new, when it came out last Fall and when it just went in. Other upside is it is hard, smooth, and fast. One downside is the slow drying and how to get the cradle spots.