first haulout on my new boat

Anti-fouling Paint

Will,

I am on the other side of the continent from you. Generally, your cooler water is a bit less demanding on bottom paints. Here are two paints that I can recommend from personal experience.

Interlux Micron Ultra (a hard paint): the only paint that I have ever had that achieved a legitimate 2-year life span. It is hideously expensive and a 2-part (requiring mixing in proper proportion).

West Marine PCA: an ablative paint that I have used with good results for the last three years. I am told Petit makes PCA for the West Marine label. You can spend a lot more for results that are indistinguishable from this paint at the end of the season.

For the record - I winter haul my boat. Once you commit to that annual expense, repainting the bottom each spring is an additional cost that is almost "lost in the noise" (assuming of course you are providing your own free labor).

Remember to not put a "hard" paint over the top of an ablative, and don't forget to prepare the surface properly, in either case.

The Magazine Practical Sailor has been doing anti-fouling paint tests for the last few years and is well worth your attention if you want follow up.

Best Regards,
Wayne