Which Anti-Fouling Paint for West Florida

[carboman]

So I have done a ton of reading and talked to the SeHawk rep in the Tampa area. He has a good story, but I wanted to get some opinions from the forum before I go plunk down some serious cheddar for bottom paint.

I have sanded down to gelcoat with 80grit and will apply a few coats of epoxy based barrier coating before the anti fouling.

What have you had good results with? The boat is in the water most of the year.

Thanks,

Dave

 

[inarathree]

Dave I put on Interlux Ultra, my boat has sat in the water for almost two years, and only this December did i notice a bit of green stuff growing at the water line. I scrubbed it off, and it hasn't come back. She is due to be pulled out this summer, which will be over two years. If you want to see her, she is in the marina by Ozona Blue.

 

[soling42]

I've had great success with Interlux too. The Micron extra w/Biolux works great on our SW Fl crustys and tolerates being on the trailer for a few months each year, and being an ablative it'll last a couple years with no trouble. My 260 used about 1 1/4 gals with 3coats at the water line and 2 on the bottom. Here's a pic.
Have fun. Mike

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Dave;

When applying Barrier coats to the hull, there are two suggestions. First I woudl consider 4 coats. However, mositure is retained in the fiberglass and urge caution that you allow 6 weeks minimum drying time before applying any barrier coats or it will evenatually fall off.

what ever paint that you get, make sure you do get the kind with bioguards. In North Carolina, many yards just like me in the past used Petite Trinidad SR which is the most effective. Interlux previously mentioned is good as well. I am not sure about Sea Hawk as I do not know that paint. Often, I go to a reputable yard in the area and simply ask what works for them as some paints are better in one area and others in other areas.

crazy dave

 

[JKCMBOAT]

I'm in the process of painting my below waterline areas of the boat as well. Feel free to talk with the Interlux tech support and pick their brains. They'll give process steps for their material. I plan to use interprotect 2000e, 4-5 coats then micron extra with biolux. 2-3 coats. After sanding and before application of primer I was told to wipe bottom down with 216 thinner...then start the process. Good luck.

 

[Tallgrass Sailor]

Practical Sailor covered a lot of bottom paints in their March issue. They tested hard and soft paints from 4 months, 12 months and 30 months. It is a pretty comprehesive article and worth gettin a hold of.

Brad

 

[carboman]

Thanks for everyone's help!!!

I am good to go. Boat should have been hauled out a long time ago, but it will be great to get all this done and get back out!!!!

 

[carboman]

Maybe we could meet up sometime this weekend? Are you going out?

 

[seadaddler]

SR40

I applied SR40 2 coats back in 2008 and just took my H-36 out July 2011 for a new bottom job with some minor groth and my boat stays in the water the whole time and don't scrub her at all just dive myself to keep the Flex O fold prop clean,i do get a slight green slime but when I go sailing a few times per week it cleans off,using the boat often keeps me from scrubbing the hull which I think removes the bottom paint.
I decided to use SR 60 this time do to the fact of a good price on the internet and the fact that it is suppose to be even better than the SR40.
I will compare and will most likely pull her after 3 years and not wait for 4 years,I dive my own boat so will keep an eye on it.
Nick

 

[inarathree]

I might be out Sat afternoon as I will be all by myself for the afternoon. I most likely will get out Sunday, as we are w/o kids on Sunday. It will depend on the admiral, forecast is for 15knts on Sunday, which she doesn't like. Send me a PM and I will forward over my #.

These are my tracks from last Sunday and Monday.

Sunday
Monday