Antifouling in Florida

[RTB]

Originally Posted by Vasco

Have used most of the ablatives, Interlux CSC, Pettit, now using Supershipbottom. so far I like it the best.

We just put 3 coats of Supershipbottom on in April. Heading back to Florida in a month. That will be the test. A couple of friends are using the same, and recommended it. We'll see.




Ralph

[Cheechako]

It makes a big difference where you are. 2 coats of most anything decent up in Puget Sound will last you 2 years, and then when you haul it's not a big necessity.
6 weeks in the water in the Caribe with Trinidad and I had probably over a 5 gal bucket worth of barnacles, some nearly 1/2" diameter.

[brantleychuck]

SW. FLORIDA. Super Shipbottom, no equal. Everything else is seems to attract growth.


Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[RTB]

Makes sense, they are based in Ft. Meyers. I just noticed in their ad, "not approved for Washington or California". Too much copper - Super ShipbottomÂ* Hard Ablative Antifouling Paint

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by RTB

Makes sense, they are based in Ft. Meyers. I just noticed in their ad, "not approved for Washington or California". Too much copper - Super ShipbottomÂ* Hard Ablative Antifouling Paint

That's bullsh*t. There are no limits on anti fouling paint copper content in California, and I'm guessing not in Washington either. For example, before Pettit reformulated the Trinidad products, several paints in that line had a higher copper content than Super Shipbottom and were always available in California.

There may be other reasons that Super Shipbottom could not be registered for use in California (like VOC standards), but copper content isn't one of them.

[RTB]

So, it's false advertising, and they just make this stuff up and put it on the internet for anyone to see? Hmmm. That wasn't in their ad in the past. Maybe something has changed recently?

Ralph

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by RTB

Maybe something has changed recently?

Nothing has changed.

[RTB]

Ok. You should know.

Since you are here, what do you use to clean a new bottom. No barnacles, but some grass after 4 months back in the water. Water temp is about 88*.

Thanks,
Ralph

[RainDog]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

6 weeks in the water in the Caribe with Trinidad and I had probably over a 5 gal bucket worth of barnacles, some nearly 1/2" diameter.

I can't understand what you (and others) could be doing different from me that leads to such drastically different results from the same paint. Makes me wonder if it is not just the paint, but how it is applied, the color, how the boat is used after it is painted, or ?

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by RTB

Since you are here, what do you use to clean a new bottom. No barnacles, but some grass after 4 months back in the water. Water temp is about 88*.

3M Doodlebug pads are the industry standard. White is the least abrasive. The grass might require shaving with a scraper.

[RTB]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

3M Doodlebug pads are the industry standard. White is the least abrasive. The grass might require shaving with a scraper.

Thanks.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I can't understand what you (and others) could be doing different from me that leads to such drastically different results from the same paint. Makes me wonder if it is not just the paint, but how it is applied, the color, how the boat is used after it is painted, or ?

Pettit Trinidad is an excellent anti fouling paint, this cannot be argued. Color makes no difference in performance, in a given product line, but certainly improper application of a particular product can. One wonders what kind of expertise and quality control can be expected in third world boatyards.

[four winds]

Originally Posted by RainDog

I can't understand what you (and others) could be doing different from me that leads to such drastically different results from the same paint. Makes me wonder if it is not just the paint, but how it is applied, the color, how the boat is used after it is painted, or ?

We all wish for your results. Tell us more about your application details if you will.

How long after painting until you splashed?

I've used Trinidad and Seahawk (currently six months old). The barnacles are tiny but pervasive after 3-4 weeks near st. Pete. They scrape off with minimal effort, so not the end of the world. Would be nice to ignore it for a few months though.

[zboss]

We are in St. Augustine that has really bad growth in the summer and much less so in the winter.

If your boat is going to be sitting around a lot rather than moving, then a hard paint is the way you want to go because you are going to be cleaning it a lot (either you or a diver). If you are moving a lot then an ablative and a piece of carpet used on the bottom every week works very well.

We use Pettit Trinidad SR as the base; before we went cruising this past winter/spring we put a couple coats of Trinidad Hydrocoat SR on top of that... we are very happy with that setup, the hydrocoat is lasting a lot longer than expected.

However, now that we are back and the boat is not moving for hurricane season we need to have a diver come every month.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by four winds

Would be nice to ignore it for a few months though.

In high-fouling waters, that is an unrealistic expectation, regardless of which anti fouling paint you use.