Micron 66 and the Panama Canal ❓

[GrahamO]

We selected Micron 66 without reading the small print about not using it in fresh water. Even then it was not really a concern until I talked to Interlux tech support:
Q - "Does it completely stop working in fresh water?"
A - "It doesn't just stop working. It falls off"
Q - "Will it be OK for two days transiting the Panama Canal?"
A - "Maybe..."
Not exactly encouraging.... So - has anyone transited the canal with this bottom paint? Was it a problem?

Thanks Graham

[ggray]

Well, I haven't been on the Panama Canal, but I have had the Micron 66 in freshwater. Way up the Pocomoke River where I was surprised to learn the river was fed by a huge aquifer.

What I was finally told, and was my experience here, is that it doesn't fall off until the boat is hauled out. Then it "cornflakes" and has a tendency to pop off. It continued to provide protection until then.

Anyway, that was my experience.

[GrahamO]

Thanks gray. That is a useful data point.

Graham

Originally Posted by ggray

Well, I haven't been on the Panama Canal, but I have had the Micron 66 in freshwater. Way up the Pocomoke River where I was surprised to learn the river was fed by a huge aquifer.

What I was finally told, and was my experience here, is that it doesn't fall off until the boat is hauled out. Then it "cornflakes" and has a tendency to pop off. It continued to provide protection until then.

Anyway, that was my experience.

[GrahamO]

We overnighted in Gatun Lake during the canal transit. Several months and several thousand miles the Micron66 is absolutely fine.

Thanks again for all your input.

[ggray]

Let us know what happens when you haul out!

[GrahamO]

Not forgotten but still no hauled out. There is barely any anti-foul left to worry about. We will switch to Micron CF when we get to Fiji in a couple of months.

[ggray]

Well, you are in the same place I am.

Once M66 is on the bottom, and even if a lot pops off as I expect it will, if you want to switch to a paint more tolerant of fresh water, to be certain of that you will need to sand off all the M66, and I'm thinking Interlux told me to put a coat of something else before you switch. Check with them.

But M66 performed SO much better than the other Interlux ablatives (looked better after 3 years one time than after less than 2 years with the others) that I'm sticking w/M66 even w/this potential issue.

[rslifkin]

It's too bad it's supposedly pro application only (although I have seen 1 or 2 places online where it can be purchased), but Interlux does make Micron 99, which from the documentation seems to be a very expensive fresh water compatible version of Micron 66. By very expensive, I'm talking like $400 / gallon.

[ggray]

I understand Micron 99 has a pesticide in it, thus the pro application only

[rslifkin]

From what I can tell by the safety datasheets, Micron 99 uses a different copper oxide and more zinc oxide than Micron 66. It also replaces Zinc pyrithione with copper pyrithione. And it has rosin and hydrogenated rosin ester, although rosin isn't the reason for the pro application requirement, as it's in Micron CSC as well.

I did some digging through the EPA pesticide labels and I'm thinking it's the copper pyrithione that's causing the concern leading to Micron 99 being listed for pro application only. It sounds like it's at least significantly driven by PPE requirements to apply it safely, as it's corrosive and can cause skin burns. And it can apparently cause permanent eye damage if you get it in your eyes, while the other Interlux paints seem to mention temporary but reversible eye damage (and no mention of skin burns).

Interestingly, the EPA docs mention that Micron 99 is only for use on boats 82 feet and longer. So sadly, I guess there's no magic freshwater safe Micron 66 equivalent for the rest of us...

[BillKny]

Two comments:

First, we know several people who have transited the canal with Micron66 and had no issues.

Second, We spend a lot of time in water than can vary from brackish to quite fresh. We originally requested Micron66, because I had great success with in the past, but our applicator talked us into using SeaHawk BioCop, and we have been very happy with it, despite spending several months in water so fresh that evil, nasty, horrible, zebra mussels were the primary fouling organism. (If you think barnacles are bad, you haven't had to deal with these critters!)

[ggray]

Originally Posted by BillKny

Two comments:

First, we know several people who have transited the canal with Micron66 and had no issues.

What happened when they next hauled out?

[GrahamO]

Our micron66 seems to have disappeared faster than I expected after the canal but that is a VERY subjective evaluation.

[Jammer]

I keep my boat in the Mississippi River where there are zebra mussels. They were unusually bad last year. I haul out every winter.


I use Micron Extra, which is essentially the same as Micron CSC with the addition of a slime-control biocide.


When I redo bottom paint I apply two coats, and it lasts two years. No sanding required. I am told that three coats will last three years. I believe this is the most practical system for boats that see freshwater, that are hauled on any sort of a regular basis, and that are not in waters where they have to be scrubbed by a diver frequently.

[fstbttms]

Originally Posted by ggray

I understand Micron 99 has a pesticide in it, thus the pro application only

All metal-laden anti fouling paints are considered pesticides in this country.