Environmentally Friendly Bottom Paint

[otaga05]

deleted

[SuzySailor]

Hey O-- I just found your post-- I'm wondering about hard vs. ablative as well. Maybe someone who knows something will take an interest! Until then, I guess we both need to keep looking.

[southerncross31]

The Navy designed a paint that dries rock hard, can stand up to freezing and is non toxic. Any growth will slide off but only if you sail once a week at 6knt or more. It is now sold as Phasecoat. I have yet to use it but several friends have. The only complaints were having to scrub it with a brush every once in a while if you didn't make it out. The company states that it will also increase milage and speed by reducing drag by 15%. I am putting it on in the spring. It isn't cheap though at 360 a gallon!

[k1vsk]

You might want to stop by or call your local Coast Guard boat station. They are now using the e-paint on their hulls and you'll get some first-hand experience on how it performs in your local waters which will be far more informative to you than opinions from distant areas.

As far as toxicity of the current type poular copper based paints, the copper is released in such a way and at such a slow rate that it is virtually inocuous to marine critters. There are a number of studies on fathead minnows (one of the more sensitive species) which shows the LC-50 is magnitudes higher than anything a marina full of boats can produce.

Having said that, every little bit helps so kudos for caring enough to ask.

[SuzySailor]

......LC-50 is?

[k1vsk]

sorry... Lethal Concentration for 50% mortality.

[poopdeckpappy]

I have no experience with this product, but Practical Boat rates it as excellent


http://www.epaint.net/products/overview.shtm

[SuzySailor]

I just did some research on Phasecoat. It IS expensive, but looks like it might pay back in fuel efficiency. Can't find anything that says how long it lasts, though. ??

[pigslo]

It really varies from area to area on what works best. Iam in the Houston area and tried the Micron 66 that Interlux had just came out with when I put it on two and a half years ago. You see it requires salt water to work and boats in the Houston area are mostly on Clear Lake that emptys (and has tides) into Galveston Bay that emptys into the Gulf of Mexico. It works great as of the last dive in October, not a bit of slim and that was at the 2 year mark. Temperature, salt, and what groys in yur area will create the variable to make it worthwhile to ask around on you dock.
In regard to cost, if you get an extra season out of the paint but pay double for the paint, you have a bargain after you do the math on haulout and labor.
pigslo

[Wayne25]

Poopdeckpappy:

I just read my Feb 2007 issue of Practical Sailer and Epaint was rated fair to poor in 6 month and 18 month tests (Both Fla & Conn locations). Which means it had growth. These tests can make your head spin.

Wayne