Ablative bottom paint shelf life

[jwaring1]

I have three gallons of unopened ablative bottom paint (Interlux ?) and I was told by another sailor that it cannot be used beyond it's shelf life. I am curious if anyone knows what happens if it is used past the shelf life? The paint cans were stored inside in the original boxes and appear to be new.

[seaclusion]

If the cans are unopened and not corroded through and you can remix the settled solids into the paint, I don't know any reason why the paint could not be used. On the other hand, I was not aware of any 'shelf life' for ablative paints. Perhaps someone in the paint and coating manufacturing industry could enlighten us.

Richard

[roverhi]

What's it shelf life???

[Alan Wheeler]

Not true. It can be stored for years. Then issue is keeping the high solids stirred up. It is good practice to give the cans a shake up evertime you walk into that corner of the shed and trip over them. Otherwise the heavy copper settles out and it is a pain or in fact next to impossible to get it stirred in again.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by Alan Wheeler

Not true. It can be stored for years. Then issue is keeping the high solids stirred up. It is good practice to give the cans a shake up evertime you walk into that corner of the shed and trip over them. Otherwise the heavy copper settles out and it is a pain or in fact next to impossible to get it stirred in again.

Or simply turn them over occasionally.

[Unicorn Dreams]

If they've been sitting for a while, just take them to a local paint store and have them put on the shaker for a few minutes each..

[Pblais]

If they've been sitting for a while, just take them to a local paint store and have them put on the shaker for a few minutes each.

Not a bad idea no matter how long they have been sitting there. The yard where we go has a shacker. You need to stir it as you apply it as well. It settles quickly.