Bottom Paint This Year

[sailorboy1]

Almost time to prep for spring launch. Since I'm in the Northeast I've been using single season ablative paint. But since I'm not planning to haul next fall as I'm going to be sailing south for cruising I need to decide. My choices based on what I can put over what's on the boat now are Interlux CSC or ACT (not enough weather time to strip up here). Some my choices are:

3 gal CSC multi-season paint for $720
3 gal ACT single season paint for $310

My bottom really needs to be stripped soon to get rid of the old hard paint the last owner used. So I'm considering many using 4 gal of the ACT and hoping it will last a couple of years instead of the CSC.

What would the rest of you use in this choice?

[JPA Cate]

In our usage, our Altec #5 is only really good for 1 yr., and our mileage sailed is about 3,000 to 5,000 nautical mi/year.

In your case, you'll also want to factor in what kinds of paint will work better down south. Maybe some chat with the paint manufacturers about recommendations?

It might wind up being a better deal for you to have the longer haulout, strip the bottom of the old dead paint, and apply something you have some faith might go for the longer time.

It's a tough one. If you wind up doing the stripping yourself, plan on 4 days for it. A 41 ft. boat is very large compared to the 2" scraper. It took Jim 3 days on a 36 footer.
Get a good carbide tipped scraper, or consider having it blasted.

Good luck with it.

[sailorboy1]

Both paints are about equal down south apparently. I did some checking and the cost of haul out down south added to the cost of the "cheaper" paint is still a little less than the more expensive paint. So looking at it that way it probably is better to use the less expensive and plan on hauling in a year.

I'm just thinking out loud I type in case I'm not thinking of something 9I've talked into and out of both choices the past week)

[fstbttms]

My experience is that when it comes to anti fouling paint, cheaping-out doesn't pay off, especially when taking the boat to high fouling waters. Hardly anybody ever says, "I wish I'd used a less effective paint."

My $.02.

[Jason Flare]

I bought my boat in the south and had Petit Ultima 60 put on it. After two years I hauled it up north and it looked great. Then I went with Interlux. Big mistake. Less copper.

I want at least two years between haulouts. I'm hauling this year and using Ultima 60.

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by fstbttms

My experience is that when it comes to anti fouling paint, cheaping-out doesn't pay off, especially when taking the boat to high fouling waters. Hardly anybody ever says, "I wish I'd used a less effective paint."

My $.02.

But I'm not talking about about cheaping out. I'm talking about using more of a less expensive paint that has performed good the past 5 years, or a more expensive paint that I haven't used.

[a64pilot]

Where is "Down South"?
Any chance you can call and find out which paint is thought highly of down there?
I say that as it seems the effectiveness of the paint seems to be location dependent, I don't understand why though.

[Sailmonkey]

Fwiw, petit ultima 60 ssr is the winner in my book.

We got 4 years out of it, 1.5 of that in the western Carib. The remainder in Texas.


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum

[roland stockham]

With ablative paint I find each coat lasts about 6 months - so 4 coats does 2 seasons, maybe with a little scrubbing. Have you though about copper epoxy, before a long trip to warm waters and when the bottom need a full strip would seem like the time to think about it. The way i would go but you cant put it on wood!

[seasick]

Slightly off topic but if you are considering multiple coats of an ablative paint, I recommend using different colors for each coat. This can make your boat look a bit un-yacht like after year three but you can always tell at a glance how your paint is wearing.

[nomisfarms]

Stripe the bottom and go with Copper Coat and you won't have to worry about the bottom for about 15 years or so. Good luck and fair winds.

Wayne

[sailorboy1]

Originally Posted by roland stockham

Have you though about copper epoxy, before a long trip to warm waters and when the bottom need a full strip would seem like the time to think about it.

I've thought about it, but that has nothing really to do with the current question.

[stapeshlds]

I have seen a stripper use a modified electric hand planner with a vacuum attached to strip the bottom in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Quite fast and clean, and perfectly smooth bottom for painting.

[Sailmonkey]

Originally Posted by stapeshlds

I have seen a stripper use a modified electric hand planner with a vacuum attached to strip the bottom in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Quite fast and clean, and perfectly smooth bottom for painting.

Funny, around here you usually only see strippers with poles and stilettos.

[finefurn]

Originally Posted by Sailmonkey

Funny, around here you usually only see strippers with poles and stilettos.

My favorite kind