Bottom Paint ??

[mikeandmarysail]

We are new sailboat owners of a Morgan 22. The bottom is currently painted with Interlux Bottomkote ACT and the previoius owner told us to sand and paint the bottom at the end of the 2007. We found the following paint on Ebay:

LINK REMOVED

Would this be alright to apply to our new boat?

Thanks in advance.

[Goodnewsboy]

1. What is wrong with what you have? Why change?
2. A bad paint system on the bottom of a boat can make a great deal of corrective work for you. Stay with what works.
3. I have not heard of acrylic lacquer bottom paint.

[sailingdog]

The paint in question looks very questionable, as there are no details on make or manufacturer, or even how the paint keeps the growth off the bottom of the boat. Most anti-fouling paints use a copper-based biocide. Some use a tin-based biocide, and those are generally illegal to use under federal law nowadays. Some of the newer paints use no biocides, but leave the bottom with an extremely slick, smooth surface that marine life has a difficult time growing on.

I would stick with what is currently on your boat, if your boat was used in the waters where you are going to be sailing it. Otherwise, I would ask around the local marinas to find out what is commonly used, as different bottom paints work better in different areas.

[rhessenius]

Mike/Mary- If the color white is your goal, buy Pettit Vivid. I have never heard of acrylac bottom paint. If this reacts to the ACT every pennie, plus lots more that you are trying to save, will be down the crapper. Rob

[Sailormon6]

I like to save money as much as anyone, but when it comes to antifouling paint, I buy a good quality (expensive) ablative paint. Cheaper paints require much more sanding each time you repaint the bottom, if you want to keep it in good condition from year to year. Also, many layers of old paint accumulate through the years, and you'll eventually have to strip it all off and start over. I've had to do it twice now, and it's an awful job. Pay a little more for good paint, and you'll save yourself a lot of hard, unpleasant work over the long run.

One other thing...I looked at your link before it was deleted, and, if I remember correctly, it referred to the paint as "bottom paint," not as "anti-fouling paint." There's a big difference. Bottom paint is just a waterproof paint that puts color and a shiny finish on an underwater surface, but it has absolutely no anti-fouling properties. What you want is anti-fouling paint.

[camaraderie]

The paint you have on there now is an ablative type. If you want to use another type, you will need to sand the entire bottom down to glass and prep it according to mfr. instructions before applying different paint. Painting over an ablative with another type paint can result in whole areas just sloughing off and a ruined job.

[Fstbttms]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

The paint you have on there now is an ablative type. If you want to use another type, you will need to sand the entire bottom down to glass and prep it according to mfr. instructions before applying different paint.

Not so. Most common anti foulings (modified epoxies included) can applied over an ablative without completely removing the underlying paint. Generally this means sanding the old paint well enough to give it some "tooth". Certainly a dirty job, but not as bad as taking the hull down to gel coat or God forbid, bare fiberglass. If keeping things simple is important, simply repaint with the Bottomcote ACT. My personal opinion is that modified epoxies are a better choice in most cases, but there may be more prep work involved, if you do decide to switch types.

Mikeandmarysail, take it from someone who sees the good and bad of bottom paints every day, don't skimp when it comes to buying an anti fouling. Whether you go with an ablative, epoxy or something else, stick with the well-known brands. Take a look at the West Marine web site. There is good information there and the top manufacturers will be represented.

[camaraderie]

Fast...sorry but if you look at Interlux's chart you will see that EVERY other one of their paints CANNOT be applied over bottomkote without removal of all the bottomkote. Here's the chart:
http://www.yachtpaint.com/USA/hotlinks/compat.pdf

[Fstbttms]

Originally Posted by camaraderie

Fast...sorry but if you look at Interlux's chart you will see that EVERY other one of their paints CANNOT be applied over bottomkote without removal of all the bottomkote.

I think you're misreading the chart. The Bottomkote product you're referring to is not the ACT product that mikeandmarysail are using. Look in the 3rd column across the top.

[sailingdog]

Cam- I think you've mis-read the chart on this one...