Anti foul, bottom paint, soft, medium or hard?

[gunnado]

Hi all I have to do my first bottom paint and have found lots of information but no product has jumped out as the right fit, can any one recommend an anti foul? Even the boat yard asked me what I wanted to use and I said the best! But they have not recommend a product.

The boat is located in french Polynesia and is going to be sailed to oz and then down the east coast south in the next season.

Every one must make this decision so what did you do and why?

[daddle]

Many years ago I asked the yard and the cleaning bloke what bottom paint to use. They both said hard antifoul - like Trinidad. So I put on a good sailboat ablative couldn't be happier. All the sailors that I've met and respect do the same. Present favorite is Micron Extra. Pettit Ultra ? Was pretty good but a little too soft for me.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by daddle

Pettit Ultra ? Was pretty good but a little too soft for me.

Except that Ultra isn't made by Pettit and is not an ablative paint.

[fstbttms]

A few things to consider when choosing anti fouling paint:

1.- A hard paint will be more durable and stand up to in-water cleaning (if that's something you do) better than an ablative

2.- In some regions, in water hull cleaning of ablatives is restricted, as these paints are viewed as high polluters

3.- Since hard paint does not ablate, you will eventually have to remove it as successive layers build up over repeated paint jobs

4.- Ablative paints do not build up over time

5.- Ablative paints can typically withstand prolonged exposure to air, hard paints cannot

6.- In general, more copper means more anti fouling performance

My personal recommendations are Pettit Trinidad SR (hard) and Interlux Micron 66 (Ablative.)

[gunnado]

I do clean the bottom in the water and with the old anti foul I had to do it every3-4 weeks, or before a passage.

Micron ultra is made by two companies interlux and international is it the same product?

So is micron extra hard?

Thanks guys for your help I have emailed the yard to see if they stock this product

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by gunnado

I do clean the bottom in the water and with the old anti foul I had to do it every3-4 weeks, or before a passage.

Do not discard the idea of using an ablative simply because you clean the hull. Properly maintained, ablatives can give good performance regardless. But in a high-fouling region, it is not reasonable to expect the same lifespan as with a hard paint.

Originally Posted by gunnado

Micron ultra is made by two companies interlux and international is it the same product?

Yes. Same company, same product.

Originally Posted by gunnado

So is micron extra hard?

No. It is an ablative paint.

[Roy M]

fstbttms, do you have a recommendation for multihulls, with 15+ knot capacity?

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Roy M

fstbttms, do you have a recommendation for multihulls, with 15+ knot capacity?

The only two paints I ever recommend are Pettit Trinidad SR and Interlux Micron 66, regardless of what kind of boat they are going on. Not that there aren't other paints out there that offer good performance, but from my perspective, there is no reason to look elsewhere. They are the top-of-the-line for their respective types, IMHO.

That being said; in San Diego you cannot buy or apply Micron 66 due to California VOC restrictions. So that leaves Trinidad.

[daddle]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

Except that Ultra isn't made by Pettit and is not an ablative paint.

Oops. Maybe it was "Optima" ... Some superlative word like that ... Sorry

[tamicatana]

Trinidad SR and Trinidad PRO are the same thing, btw. Anyone with a Port Supply account can get the PRO line afaik (PRO's a bit cheaper.)

[lancelot9898]

Fstbttms,

I agree with your listing for bottom paint criteria with the exception of Item 4, ablatives do not built up over time. My boat is sailed several times a week during the season from mid March through the end of November and I do get a build up of ablative. When I haul out every 2 or 3 years, I get a pressure wash plus I scrub the boat prior to putting another coat of ablative. Some ablatives are formulated to ablate at different hull speeds and I'm not sure what my numbers are, but apparently not enough speed is being obtained to lessen the build up even though protection from barnicles and slime is being achieved. I suppose that when hauled out, I should not have applied another coat of paint to avoid that build up. How would you rate Micron 66 vs the Micron Extra? Thanks for the info.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by lancelot9898

How would you rate Micron 66 vs the Micron Extra? Thanks for the info.

Micron Extra can't hold a candle to Micron 66, IMHO. I have never come across another ablative paint (although to be fair, Micron 66 is a "hybrid" ablative) that has the anti fouling properties of Micron 66.

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

A few things to consider when choosing anti fouling paint:

1.- A hard paint will be more durable and stand up to in-water cleaning (if that's something you do) better than an ablative

2.- In some regions, in water hull cleaning of ablatives is restricted, as these paints are viewed as high polluters

3.- Since hard paint does not ablate, you will eventually have to remove it as successive layers build up over repeated paint jobs

4.- Ablative paints do not build up over time

5.- Ablative paints can typically withstand prolonged exposure to air, hard paints cannot

6.- In general, more copper means more anti fouling performance

My personal recommendations are Pettit Trinidad SR (hard) and Interlux Micron 66 (Ablative.)

Mr. Bottoms....

Any suggestions for a freshwater trailer sailor that might see salt once in a great while???? Never had a trailerable before!

THANKS!

[HappyMdRSailor]

Originally Posted by tamicatana

Trinidad SR and Trinidad PRO are the same thing, btw. Anyone with a Port Supply account can get the PRO line afaik (PRO's a bit cheaper.)

HEYA!
Got back Friday with the WB AND.... New to me 22.... I refer to it as an accidental purchase....

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by HappyMdRSailor

Mr. Bottoms....

Any suggestions for a freshwater trailer sailor that might see salt once in a great while???? Never had a trailerable before!

THANKS!

Well, you need an ablative, that's the first thing. But I do not deal with trailerable boats in my business, so maybe others here can give a specific product that will work well for you. I am unqualified to do so.