Sub Tropical Bottom Paint - Tin v Copper

[nknowland]

We have been cruising in the Bahamas and need to get our bottom repainted. Several boaters have recommended getting tin-based paint while we are here but I am concerned that if we come back to the US we will be in violation of environmental laws. Any recommnedations? We have not painted the bottom since we bought her in 2009 and currently have a soft ablative (unknown brand but likely soft copper-based ablative) on the bottom.

[osirissail]

Currently in the USA it is illegal to sell or apply Tin based paints for small recreational boats but there is nobody who is going to check and see what you have on your boat bottom job that you got outside the USA.
- - So whether you use the Tin based or Copper based or whatever based, it is really just your personal "eco-correctness" that determines which you want applied while you are outside the USA.