[RichH]

The primary supplier of the 'soft growth' / anti-algae compounds used in bottom paints - BASF, has apparently ceased production of "Igarol™" (aka: Irgarol). I dont know if this has been reported before on this forum; but, such will surely make a LOT of boat owners who need anti-slime, etc. properties in their bottom paint to help resist the attachment of 'barnacles' VERY unhappy.

Antifouling Companies Struggle with the Loss of Herbicide Irgarol | TotalBoat Show ... for a list of brands that are affected.

Some 'bio-studies' and its adverse effects for this compound can be found: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/generic/seacoat/documents/pdf-library/akzooemeorganotinreview.pdf

 

[MarkofSeaLife]

A few popular paints!

BASF seems to have caught the bottom paint industry off guard with their announcement late last year, and while manufacturers of the Irgarol dependent paint hope that in just 6-9 months it could be in production again, there is no guarantee, and certainly these companies had to act quickly to be ready for bottom paint season with an alternative. There are a number of popular antifouling paints that are being affected by BASF's discontinuation of Irgarol.

Interlux:
Micron Extra, Ultra, ACT, VC17m Extra
Pettit:
Trinidad SR, Trinidad Pro, Ultima SR 40, Ultima SR 60, Hydrocoat SR
*SR-21 will not be available until Irgarol is re-released (available at JD.com)
Seahawk:
Cukote Biocide Plus, Tropikote Biocide Plus
West Marine:
BottomPro Gold, PCA Gold
Blue Water:
Copper Pro SCX, Copper Pro SCX Hard, Copper Shield SCX

 

[night0wl]

CRAP! PCA Gold is what I use and is the only paint that has worked well for me...I keep my boat in a brackish/fresh water area and sail in saltwater. Slime is what I have to fight, not hard growth.

Does anyone else manufacture "Igarol/Irgarol"?

 

[Don L]

I just ordered ACT paint on that list and it was in stock and I just checked the Interlux site and it still says it has Slime Fighter in it.

 

[blt2ski]

I mentioned something a few weeks ago in a different thread, was poopoo'd, told these companies were using a different manufacture of the chemical. Did not check personally yet.....

There is some of the new pca gold at local wm. Supposed to have a bit more copper, not sure about slime or equal. Upped cu does not help those of us with areas banning copper paint in next 3-5 years.

Hopefully basf will re enter market by getting product....who knows tho.

Marty

 

[Don L]

A thought, how does anyone know this "anti slime" stuff makes any difference?

 

[night0wl]

A thought, how does anyone know this "anti slime" stuff makes any difference?

I used to use a hard epoxy and would get waterline growth

I switched to PCA gold from WM and i no longer get that slime/growth at the waterline. It works for me.

 

[TakeFive]

I mentioned something a few weeks ago in a different thread, was poopoo'd, told these companies were using a different manufacture of the chemical. Did not check personally yet.....

There is some of the new pca gold at local wm. Supposed to have a bit more copper, not sure about slime or equal.

I'll poopoo you again. I did check personally. I bought the can of PCA Gold, and read the label - something that I highly recommend before making statements about the contents.

Although PCA Gold no longer says "Irgarol" on the label, the active ingredients include 2% N-cyclopropyl-N-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-6-(methylthio)-1,3,5-triazine-2,4-diamine, CAS #28159-98-0. It's the exact same chemical as Irgarol, they're just not allowed to call it that because of trademark. I am virtually certain that they found another source for the additive.

And the copper content for PCA Gold is, and always has been, 40%. That stuff about it having higher copper is fiction, so far as I can tell.

I have spent my entire career working in the formulation of paints and inks, and this is not the first time BASF has caught formulators off-guard by discontinuing a material with virtually no advance notice. They seem to have an arrogant attitude toward their customers, and I hope it comes back to haunt them someday. They discontinued a key raw material of our new product a few years back (with no warning), and we ended up spending a year finding a substitute. It is infuriating.

Here's that other thread.

 

[blt2ski]

New pca gold description on WM site

Product Description

PCA Gold is a premium ablative antifouling coating that provides multi-season protection for all boats in all waters. The copper-based formula provides excellent protection against shell, weed and slime fouling. Ablative properties reduce paint buildup.

Type: Copolymer ablative
Recommended Usage: All fouling waters
Biocide: 47.5% Cuprous oxide
Number of Coats Recommended: 2-3
Coverage: 400sq.ft./gal.
Drying Time: To overcoat: 6hrs.; To launch: overnight
Thinner: Thinner/Dewaxer, Model 5437207

old stuff

Product Description

40% Cuprous Oxide, Irgarol added to prevent slime

PCA with Irgarol is a premium ablative antifouling coating that provides multi-season protection for all boats in all waters. The combination of cuprous oxide and Irgarol, an anti-slime additive, provides excellent protection against shell, weed and slime fouling. Ablative properties reduce paint buildup.

Type: Copolymer ablative
Recommended Usage: Low to high fouling areas. Trailerables, dry-stored, fiberglass, wood and steel hulls
Biocide: 40% Cuprous Oxide
Additive: Irgarol (anti-slime technology)
Number of Coats Recommended: Two/three
Coverage: 100sq. ft./qt.; 400sq. ft./gal.
Drying Time: To overcoat: 8 to 16hrs.; to launch: overnight
Thinner: Thinner/Dewaxer, Model 5437207

Link to old

Looks like no actual slime ingredient, and 7% more copper in new stuff.

Marty

 

[TakeFive]

The can I have is part number 7585326, which is different from either of the links that you gave. It is the part number shown on page 326 of their 2015 catalog. I think I'll have to go back to the store and get another gallon of what I already have, since I really need anti-slime in my local waters. Extra cuprous oxide is not going to do anything to reduce the slime.

 

[blt2ski]

That would be a blue gallon sku. The link I found would not allow that link with the old to pop up using that sku. But I could get to it as there are still quarts left in blue. There is very little of the old stuff left at WM overall. If your store has a wholesale hub, the chances of it being on the outside shelf is slim. At least in Seattle, the old is in the back with sold signs for multiple yards that go thru it at 10-20 gals a week.

For what it is worth, I work at said whole sale side, so I knew old and new were different! I usually choose to leave that info out of most discussions on line.

Marty

 

[blt2ski]

A thought, how does anyone know this "anti slime" stuff makes any difference?

I had micron on my boat, switched to pca 5 years ago. Since put another coat on, great stuff for here in NW. Cleans/ablates easier and better than the micron did. I put this on BEFORE I worked for WM mind you.

I'm not happy with the options personally right now. Hopefully BASF will reintro the product. THere are OTHER paints with a different biocide. I have to admit, I am not personally familiar with them to know how well they work. The Interlux rep did not have much nice to say about PCA at a local boat show in January, as he was from Cali, it and some others like it had issues down that way with hard and soft paints. Those of us local with the PCS?Petit SR40 equal, are happy in the colder waters here in the NW with keeping slime/grassy type material off the bottom of our boats. Hard shell barnicals, mussels etc do occur, but slime is the bigger issue IMHO.

marty

 

[PaulinVictoria]

Alas we've not had good anti-slime paint here for some time I think. My first boat had a US owner who used PCA, after 2 years she was hauled and didn't even need pressure washing. I painted with CPP, after a year the bottom was filthy. On current boat I used Petit Horizons, about the same as CPP in performance, i.e a lot of slime and plant growth. Wish we could get PCA/SR40 here.

 

[Fstbttms]

Bwahahaha! My evil plan has come to fruition!