Visit our Popular Forums

davecalvert · 14-08-2014, 10:48

I posted a year and a half ago asking about best bottom paints for the Bahamas. I received lots of good comments.
I had used the Petit Trinidad paint for 40 years on all my boats when cruising in the Florida keys and Bahamas. Now that I live in the Bahamas, the Trinidad paint was not working. I assumed we had the best case situation, crystal clear water and a mooring over shallow sand bottom. A rep from International paints said, No, this is one of the worst situations. The sun shines on the sides of the bottom and white sand reflects the light to the inside parts. (We have a 43 ft. catamaran) this promotes broth of slime and weeds.
I had used the Trinidad SR (slime reduction) paint but, still would get a forest of long weeds after less than 6 months. I had to use a wide dry wall putty knife to remove this. It was a long exhausting job and after it started, I had to do this about once a month!
The last haul out was now 13 months ago. I switched to International Paints's Micron 66 this time.
This paint has been great! More than a year and I just dove the bottom to find a light layer on slime only. No weeds. This wiped off easily with a light 3M scrubber. Did the entire bottom in half an hour!
Just a FYI.
Dave

Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

**roverhi** · 14-08-2014, 13:04

Have used Interlux Micron Extra for years with good results in Hawaii and further south. Easy to scrub any fouling off with a soft brush if I feel like it.

**Ex-Calif** · 15-08-2014, 01:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by roverhi

Have used Interlux Micron Extra for years with good results in Hawaii and further south. Easy to scrub any fouling off with a soft brush if I feel like it.

Yup...

Micron 66 if you can afford it, I can not. I've used Micron Extra for 7 years and get 18 months between recoats in a pretty fertile environment.

El Pinguino · 15-08-2014, 02:00

Being as it was all that was available locally 18 months ago in Pto Montt Chile I used SherwinWilliams Seaguard Ablative, 3 coats after taking her back to the gelcoat.....
Took the boat up to northern chile where she spent some time just sitting about...sea temp in the low 20*C range...
Sailed to Tahiti... dived on her and removed a few goose barnacles from the flat run down aft...sea temp for most of the time on the voyage around 30*C....hauled her two weeks ago in NZ... clean as a whistle...

El Pinguino · 15-08-2014, 02:14

and also ... had to buy largish quantity ( 20 liters?) which I shared with another boat.

capt-couillon · 15-08-2014, 04:21

Trinidad has reduced their copper content over the years... Used to be Trinidad red had around 60% copper with the other colors having less. Now all have around 40% Cu. I was always happy with the high copper hard paint (Panama Mexico Florida) so I am (gritting my teeth at the cost) going to paint with Sea Hawk TropiKote 75.8% Cu in all colors.

sharpey · 15-08-2014, 04:49

Depends a lot on how often you think it reasonable to clean your Hull. Out in Changi (Singapore) we need to clean every 2 weeks, no matter what paint you've got on.

Am a convert to coppercoat now. It has as many evangelists as it has detractors, so do your research and take your chances. Correct application conditions are critical. In Changi waters it performs really well.

For reference, our water is really fertile as we have poor tidal flushing and lots of fish farms along the coast.

ShaktiGurl · 15-08-2014, 05:48

We have had very good results in S FL waters using Petit Ultima SR 60. Going strong two years on our mono and putting it on the cat now. We probably clean the bottom every two weeks in the summer here. Just light wiping works and barnacles pop off easily.

Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

kmason · 15-08-2014, 06:25

Ok, so let's say I go with Micron 66 next bottom coat. What's the proper application? I mean, do I have to take all the old bottom paint off or can I just rough sand and coat over what was there? Will the Micron 66 interact with the existing bottom paint? Which method is best for a long lasting paint job that keeps repelling the bugs that grow underwater?

davecalvert · 15-08-2014, 06:32

I was told, by the Interlux rep, I could just sand the Trinidad paint and coat over it with the Micron 66. So far so good.

Sent from my iPad using Cruisers Sailing Forum

fstbttms · 15-08-2014, 07:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmason

Will the Micron 66 interact with the existing bottom paint?

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmason

Which method is best for a long lasting paint job that keeps repelling the bugs that grow underwater?

Follow the manufacturer's recommendations regarding number of coats and subsequent maintenance. If you choose to roll the paint on, use the "roll & tip" method.