Bottom Paint Advice.

[Triquetra]

I am about to have the bottom of my trimaran cleaned and repainted, and would like to get advice from you seasoned sailors and boaters regarding what to look for in a bottom paint, such as biocides and how long they tend to last. I currently have Interlux Micron Extra with copper and a biocide, but I am considering the less expensive Petite Trinidad that just contains copper, because I was told that they both last about the same in these FL waters. What do you think? Thank you in advance for your comments.

[pigslo]

I like the Interlux saltwater activated self polishing co-polimers myself. (if you are in brackish to saltwater)

[fcsob]

check out Super Shipbottom & Sea hawk paint.

[Idiens]

If you are into copper, take a spring balance and a weigh the cans, the heaviest one (of the same size) is the best. There is a big variation in copper content of the various paints.

[sailingdog]

Triquetra-

What kind of trimaran do you have???

[Triquetra]

Originally Posted by sailingdog

Triquetra-

What kind of trimaran do you have???

I have a Corsair 36.

[JimsCAL]

Trinidad is a hard epoxy paint. I have used both the standard plus the SR version with good results in New England waters. Not sure how they work in the warmer Florida waters. Like any hard epoxy paint, they tend to build up more than the ablative paints, but can be scrubbed clean during the season.

[camaraderie]

Trinidad SR is preferred in FL due to the slime killer additive. I like the Petit for warm waters...save a bit of $$ too.

[sailingdog]

I'd think that you'd have better luck with a paint with an anti-slime additive, rather than one without it. Slime formation is what gives the nastier, harder growth, like barnacles, to get a foothold.

[AtlanticBryan]

Last spring I painted with Micron CSC (the Canadian version). I sailed the summer in Nova Scotia, then went south for the winter in the Bahamas. A couple of weeks ago, in Florida, I hauled and power washed. There was certainly slime on the bottom, but surprisingly little considering the waters I'd been in over the past few months.

I can't compare to any other paint - I've always used CSC.