Bottom paint

[warrenthames]

I am hauling out to bottom paint for the first time. Please share your experience as to how long the paint should last under “normal” ( I know this is a relative term but just need some general advice). I am using a medium grade ($300.00/gallon) ablative bottom paint and will clean periodically with carpet and plastic scraper. Thank you for your experience.

[wrwakefield]

Warren,

There are way too many variables [location being among the most important in my experience...] for a simple response...

See if the Jamestown Distributers bottom paint survey data helps answer your questions... It contains data from boat owners in many different geographic locations.

Cheers! Bill

[warrenthames]

Ok Bill. Will do. Thanks

[warrenthames]

I am in southwest Florida and in the water full time.

[Bill O]

I'm certain this thread may become somewhat like what is the best anchor thread, but I'll put in my 2 cents.

Possibly look at a hard paint if you want to scrub the hull from time to time.

We've used Trinidad with good success and even though they have been consistently reducing the copper content over the years, its still a good product. Typically we get several years on our bottom jobs with 2 full coats and a third at the water line. Also we use a dri-diver which uses an abrasive pad to remove growth/scum. The dri-diver makes it easy and fairly quick to scrub the whole boat in a few minutes w/o going in the water.


Bill O.

[warrenthames]

Thanks Bill.

[Allied39]

LOL!!!
Want three opinions?.......just ask two sailors!
Whats the best bottom paint is like asking how best to anchor.
Sorry, just stating the truth.
Good luck and have a great day.

[grantmc]

And whether vessel is a yacht or a motor launch makes a big difference as to at least decide between hard and ablative based on average speed. Type of hull too is a factor; plastic, steel, aluminium, concrete etc.

[Allied39]

Sorry, perhaps my post although accurate was unhelpful.
Opinions you want?.....ok:
All bottom paint these days is trash. The good stuff was legislated out of production many years ago. Much better now to do 5 bottom jobs in ten years than one.....much less bottom paint in the envoironment now......NOT!!!
Much more money parted with though, that I can say without a tiny itsy bitsy grain of doubt!
That being said, I was ready to start painting sides of my boat in different paints just to try to find what kind of sort of works better. 5 years down the track I may have a little more knowledge.....might I say.
But, a couple of weeks back I was in Sailors exchange in St Aug and they had dented cans of micron CSC for $125 gallon, $100 if you buy more than one.
So I bought three.
I have not been unhappy with micron CSC in the past so I figured I cant do any worse than anything else,,,,, I think?
If you are lucky enough to have a boat for many years I dare say you will look back upon my opinion and agree totally. Or not.
I hope this was helpful.
Once again,
Good luck and have a great day.

[Chotu]

I get a couple years out of an abalative bottom job before the diviing starts becoming necessary