Hey Fstbttms!!

[pumpcity]

I'm up in your area looking at a trawler. The current owner uses Pettit Zspar "The Protector" B91 hard bottom paint.

Your thoughts versus Pettit Trinidad?

The boat would end up in San Diego
pumpcity

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by pumpcity

I'm up in your area looking at a trawler. The current owner uses Pettit Zspar "The Protector" B91 hard bottom paint.

Your thoughts versus Pettit Trinidad?

Not even a question. ZSpar sucks compared to Trinidad, IMHO. 'Course, you'll be having the bottom cleaned 15 times a year down there, so who knows? Maybe it'll do the job. But I would never recommend it, based on my experience with it.

[pumpcity]

Excellent. Thank you kindly, sir.
You're correct regarding the cleaning cycle, especially during the summer months.
pumpcity

[Bill_E]

OK, This is almost as bad as an anchor or gun question. I hope there aren't too many wild replies.

What is the best bottom paint for a cruising sailboat in the Caribbean? Especially if we consider buying the paint in St. Martin, which is a duty free island. The boat is sailed fairly often but will spend significant time sitting in a marina as well. So, a hard paint is probably not the answer.

I'm thinking of stripping all the way down and applying a primer/sealer before painting so that enters in the consideration.

Bill

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Bill_E

The boat is sailed fairly often but will spend significant time sitting in a marina as well. So, a hard paint is probably not the answer.

Wh do you say that?

[Bill_E]

Maybe I'm wrong but I kind of understood that hard paints work best when the boat is moved at a few knots every so often. There are times when we will leave the boat for as much as three months berthed at the marina so it will just be sitting. I can arrange for occasional bottom cleaning but I'm mostly concerned about lifetime of the paint.

Bill

[fstbttms]

I'm not going to try to tell you how it works in the Caribbean, but here are some constants about bottom paint that I have found to be true in California:

Hard paint and ablatives all get foul, regardless of use patterns

Most sailboats do not move fast enough to adequately "self polish" an ablative paint

Relatively frequent, gentle cleaning will dramatically lengthen the lifespan of any anti fouling paint, as opposed to less frequent, more abrasive cleaning

[CAELESTIS]

Pumpcity, I spent three and a half years in San Diego. Trinidad lasted three years with three bottom cleanings per month. It was absolutely due for new paint at that time. If you need it painted by a yard in SD, go to Shelter Island Boat Yard and ask for Wayne.

[pumpcity]

Thank you Caelestis for the suggestion
pumpcity

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by CAELESTIS

Pumpcity, I spent three and a half years in San Diego. Trinidad lasted three years with three bottom cleanings per month. It was absolutely due for new paint at that time. If you need it painted by a yard in SD, go to Shelter Island Boat Yard and ask for Wayne.

Hmmm... with three cleanings per month, any bottom paint, or no paint at all should do pretty well.

Jim

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

Hmmm... with three cleanings per month... no paint at all should do pretty well.

You only say that because you have never tried it.

[CAELESTIS]

Sorry, that was a typo. I had the bottom cleaned every three weeks.

[Jim Cate]

Originally Posted by CAELESTIS

Sorry, that was a typo. I had the bottom cleaned every three weeks.

Understood!

Jim