Bottom pain issues

I

ieyp35d

New Member
Jan 24, 2007
25
I know that I have been asking questions on this board regarding this, and I am probably making a bigger deal out of this than I really need to - but I need advise.

I bought my 1994 330DA/Sundancer last year with the bottom painted prior to sea trial. The bottom paint is an ablative green paint - which apparently only held up for six months. I have been looking at the trilux and vivid paints, trying to find a multiseason ablative paint which can hold up multiseason which comes in green. I don't want to have various colors fading through as the paint wears away (Yuck!). Additionally, I would like to keep the boat for a full year immersed (for a change - rather than the six months I yhave it dry docked) with the following winter being within a bubble system at Trump Marina/Farley state marina. THe boat is slipped on Long Beach Island, which is a barrier island off of New Jersey where there is a lot of run off and Tannins in the water.

My confusion and loss as to what to purchase is further compounded by discovering that many of the West Marine stores don't carry much in the way of color choices for the various bottom paints short of the black/blue/red.

Can someone help me with my OCD - and point me to a brand/type of paint which is a) ablative b) can withstand year round emersion c)multiseason d) comes in green.

Thanks
Jordan
 
Sea Ray recomends Pettit Hydrocoat which comes in Green, it's a multi-season ablative.
I've never tried it, but I like the idea of a water based paint. I was planning of asking folks on the site if they had tried it. I've used Pettit Horizon successfully for the last 10 years. Which comes in Green and is ablative. The running gear is another story. I plan to try Pettit Trinadad for the underwater metal this year.

If you keep it in the water all year, you are going to need to hire a diver or dive yourself, as the zinc's will need to be changed.

When you say the paint that was on the boat only lasted 6 months, are you saying after 6 months you experienced barnacle growth on the hull?
 
THe reference to six months means that while there has been no barnacle growth, the paint seemed to have worn down to the older layer that was placed when I bought the boat (different shade) within 6 months. As for Zinc changes - fortunately, I am a diver!
 
Looking at the 2008 West Marine Catalgo, I really don't understand the difference of the Pettit Trinidad SR and the Pettit Hydrocoat. THe trinidad is described as "high fouling areas, year round immersion" However, the Hydrocat is listed as "dry stored and trailered boats" with the description, however, including "Multi-season antifouling paint" - So which is the better paint I should be using?
 
I have Interlux Micron Extra bottom paint on my boat. It's the best paint Interlux makes. It is an ablative paint which lasts at least 2 seasons. I have gone 3 seasons and it still looks great! I've just done touch up where needed, and repaint along the water line down to the chines on both side where it shows (about a foot down around the boat). When I bought the boat 3 years ago, I stripped the old flaked bottom paint off the boat with Interlux Interstrip, wet sanded, cleaned the hull with Interlux 202 cleaner to get the dust and any grease/oil off, 4 coats of Interlux Interprotect (barrier coat), and 3 coats of Interlux Micron Extra. My first coat of Micron Extra is green, followed by 2 coats of black. As the paint melts away, when I start to see green, I know it's time to put another 2 coats of black! I have no flaking of the bottom paint because I followed the application instructions on painting times and made sure the weather conditions were right. Who wants to paint their boat annually using cheap paint!

Interlux Trilux is only for out drives and aluminum hulls, not for fiberglass hulls. I paint Trilux on my outdrive (2 coats). Do not get bottom paint on your outdrive! It will cause electrolysis to the drive and eat the metal away!
 
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Before their unfortunate demise, Powerboat Reports did several tests and comparisons on bottom paints. Based on their findings and my wish for a crisp color, I chose Vivid and I've been very happy with the results. My boat spends a portion of each year in fresh and salt water and I've gone 2 years with good results. As for the other color bleeding through..... that's actually a good 'trick of the trade'. When the other color starts coming through, you know it's time for bottom paint.
 
One other point, tin has been outlawed as an antifouling additive. tin was popular because it allowed the paint makers to do more with colors. Now, copper is the primary additive for antifouling and the better colors, that hold up longer are darker. Don't over look Matt's point on changing colors. If you paint with black and 2 years later you see green, you know you are about out of time. In our area, 12 months year boating in warm water, it is pretty standard when you stip a hull to bare fiberglass, the first coat is a hard paint of a bright color and type that is compatable with your regular ablative paint choice. When you see that bright color, you know its time to repaint.

And, follow Jeremy's recommendation....call or go to the Interlux site. There is everything you need to know about bottom paint there.
 
Sorry did you say "bottom pain issues"?

I think you need to go to webmd.com instead.

It's bad I know but it cracked me up.
 
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