Micron 66

[spirit54]

Anyone have any experience with this bottom paint? Seems to have great reviews and although pricey seems very good.

[Fitz87]

I have used it twice and think its good.

I went 2 years with 2 coats. The last 6 months I had to scrape it every month or so and finally hauled it out for repainting. I don't have much basis for comparison as this is my first boat and the only bottom paint I have used. Until someone tells me there is something better I will probably keep using it.

Fitz

[Fstbttms]

Micron 66 is a pretty specialized product and is probably not the best choice for the average daysailer in saltwater. While its anti fouling properties are quite good, it is not a durable paint by any means. If your boat lives in an area where regular hull cleaning is necessary, you may get a year out of a Micron 66 bottom. It's fast and that's why racers like it, but for most people, a high quality modified epoxy like Petit Trinidad or other, less expensive copolymer ablative Micron product is probably a better choice.

Micron 66 is an excellent paint for boats that can achieve a high hull speed and are used frequently. And by that I mean powerboats.

[DrB]

I used Micron 66 for 3 years on my boat and it was the cats meow as far as zero growth. When I haul the boat. Bottom had a small amount of slime, but don't forget it probably got there by having it sit around for a few days while waiting for the haul. It easily rinsed off and probably would have if I got the boat up to 4+ kts for a few minutes. Never had any barnacles or other crusties on the bottom.

That being said, I think it is overkill and expensive for boats that go through a short season and get hauled for the winter. If your boat stays in the water 9-12+ months, it is probably one of the best bottom paints out there. My boat is a May 1 to Mid Nov boat, before it is hauled, so a 6 month use is all I need.

This year I am doing an experiment and put on some West Marine Ablative, with anti-slime additives, paint to see if that works. It is half the coat of the Micron 66. If it works, I'll probably switch over to it, if not I'll be back to the Micron 66.

DrB

[sailingdog]

I would recommend going with a Pettit paint over Micron. Micron does not start to ablate until you reach about 6-7 knots of boat speed, and as such, may not be as suitable, especially on smaller, slower boats. The Pettit paints start to ablate at 2-3 knots.

[DrB]

Where did you hear that Micron 66 doesn't start to ablate until 6 - 7 knots? While my boat routinely gets above 6 kts on a good sail, we have done 4 to 6 kts a good fraction of our sails. I'd say our overall average is around 5 kts over the season. Yesterday we went out for an hour or so and got to just 6 kts, but mostly in the 4 to 5 kt range. (very light winds and only one sail up)

If 6 to 7 kts is the activation speed, I'd expect a ton of growth on my boat over a week or two of sitting and it doesn't.

DrB

[Fitz87]

The current through the marina where I keep my boat can get up to 2knts on big tides. I wonder if that's why the micron 66 was recomended to me???

[tommays]

In my area there is nothing that does not require cleaning as the water warms

I have found the softer paints that ablate at lower speeds wore away to fast for my taste even when cleaned with a very soft touch

I guess the good part was no paint buildup

[spirit54]

I live in manhattan and would be using the boat in the new York/ new jersey/long island areas. Does that make a difference?

[DrB]

water. North Shore (Salem/Marblehead). Water is probably on average 4 to 5 degree colder than Manhatten at the peak. I am estimating that mean water temp from May to Nov around here is around 55 deg.

DrB