Soft vs. hard bottom paints

[Bijimini]

Since I've just purchased a boat and will need to apply new bottom paint in the spring, I would like your opinions of the advantages and drawbacks of hard and soft (i.e. ablative) bottom paints, specifically for sailing on the east coast of the U.S, in The Bahamas, and in the Caribbean.

[djmarchand]

Ablative paints present a new surface with new antifoulant as time wears on. But ablatives aren't good for high speed power boats as the speed wears it off prematurely.

Hard paints require that the active copper and biocides permeate through the paint film. But having said that, they seem to work well. Hard paints require sanding periodically to prevent an excessive layer building up over an extended period.

David

[roverhi]

I like the ablative paints. Since they wear off as it is used up, you have an indication of when it's time to repaint and no problems with paint buildup.. If you paint two coats with each a different color, it's easy to get full coverage with no holidays and an indication of wear on the paint in use. Have been using Interlux Micron Extra and getting 3 years plus between haul outs.

[GaryMayo]

Originally Posted by roverhi

I like the ablative paints. Since they wear off as it is used up, you have an indication of when it's time to repaint and no problems with paint buildup.. If you paint two coats with each a different color, it's easy to get full coverage with no holidays and an indication of wear on the paint in use. Have been using Interlux Micron Extra and getting 3 years plus between haul outs.

Are you English?

Second your choice of paint. However, by calling that company, and talking to their technical advisors, they can recommend which one of many paints they sell based on how and where the boat is used. Google the phone number for Interlux.

[roverhi]

No, my grandparents emigrated from Scotland. Calling them English was fighting words. I've lived in Hawaii for most of my life so guess you could call me Hawaiian though the bruddahs may not agree.

[GaryMayo]

Originally Posted by roverhi

No, my grandparents emigrated from Scotland. Calling them English was fighting words. I've lived in Hawaii for most of my life so guess you could call me Hawaiian though the bruddahs may not agree.

I asked because of your use of holiday to represent something missing. Thought that was English. It is also used by some tattoo artists to describe missing ink in a healed tattoo. The ink is on Holliday.

[roverhi]

Holiday is a painting term I first heard while we were building our w32 in Costa Mesa. Great term especially considering my skills with a brush.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by djmarchand

Ablative paints present a new surface with new antifoulant as time wears on.

Hard paints require that the active copper and biocides permeate through the paint film.

There is some confusion (as evidenced by djmarchand's post) about exactly how ablative paints work. They do shed their outer layers as water moves over the painted surface, much as a bar of soap wears away. This (in theory) constantly exposes fresh biocide to the surface. But ablatives also release their biocide (typically cuprous oxide) into the water 24/7/365, as do hard paints. The mechanism by which this occurs is not exactly identical between the two paint types, but they both do it.

[GaryMayo]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

There is some confusion (as evidenced by djmarchand's post) about exactly how ablative paints work. They do shed their outer layers as water moves over the painted surface, much as a bar of soap wears away. This (in theory) constantly exposes fresh biocide to the surface. But ablatives also release their biocide (typically cuprous oxide) into the water 24/7/365, as do hard paints. The mechanism by which this occurs is not exactly identical between the two paint types, but they both do it.

Hard paints leach paint a fraction as much as paint made to fall away. When I pressure washed my sailboat, a tide of blue water raced down the driveway from my Interlux Micron Extra paintjob. At first, I thought, my, that slime is sure blue, then I realized it was a layer of my $200 a can paint, eventually headed for the lake. Every fall, 100 sailboats pressure wash in that driveway.

Hey, Interlux is buddies with companies like Greywater, Realcon, Hailburbon (typos to confuse google) and the like. Pretty sure it is safe. Lol (should be cry out loud)

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by GaryMayo

Hard paints leach paint a fraction as much as paint made to fall away.

Neither type "leach paint". They leach the copper biocide. Yes, ablative paints are softer and are designed to wear away slowly. That is part of the way they work. Not sure what you expected would happen when you hit yours with a pressure washer.