Ablative or hard bottom paint

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DavidM

New member
Coming from a sailboat background I always used ablative bottom paint on my boats kept in the water. They seemed to handle slime and barnacles better than hard paints due to the continuous sloughing off of the top layer.

But C-Dorys cruise in the teens. Do ablative bottom paints hold up in that service or should I go with a hard type.

David
 
Hi David!
Much depends on your local fouling conditions, ask around local marinas.
Cruising in the teens is enough to use ablative paint...most trailerable boats do since some hard (but no ablatives) lose effectiveness when hauled for more than x days and have to be re-done prior to launch (expensive). Hard paint is smoother and faster for sailboat racing or if you're on the C-Dory Pro Racing Team.
We have 92 degree saltwater and without prolonged use we can get slime and hard growth in a few weeks; for $70 a diver takes care of it. Our beach destinations are only 1/2 to 3 miles from our marina, so we are outliers there.
If you choose an ablative, use a water-based one so you can 'touch up' on the trailer safely and legally and put everything in the regular trash...Pettit Hydrocoat or Micron.
What's on there now? You can paint soft over hard but not hard over soft or anything over vinyl. You'll want a 2-part epoxy barrier coat of contrasting color if not already there so your dock-mates can point out when it's time to re-paint. For most it's a pro job and soda blasting involved.
There is a pretty good article on West Marine Advisor on top 10 bottom paint issues.
Owners dicker about this, there is no universally accepted agreement like there is about twins are always better than singles because they look so cool. (just kidding!)
Happy Researching,
John
 
For fresh, brackish or salt water, I don't think you can beat

Interlux InterProtect 2000E epoxy barrier coat (2 coats)

followed by

Interlux VC 17 Offshore w/teflon (2 coats)

It's thin, hard and smooth (reduces drag).
It's also pricey (actually, here, you get what you pay for).
Used this for years for power and sailboats.
Never sorry. Get several seasons out of it and the only
blister I got was from a sandal trap going between my toes.

Aye.
 
I have only used ablative on the C Dory, both in the water and on trailer or lift. I get multiple years with no fouling.

In my opinion there is no place for hard bottom paint in the C Dory, except if you are going to keep in the water year around...and even then, it is a tossup.

John must live a far different part of Pensacola, if he is seeing 92 degree water. The gulf is usually in the 80's. We would spend several months in the keys with the Caracal Cat and Vivid bottom paint. No fouling. Would get at least 3 years use, with combined use.

Agree with barrier coats.
 
This is a never before painted 2015 model. I will dewax, put on a coat of Pettit's Skip Sand product and put two coats of Pettit's Hydrocoat.

Thataway, that is exactly the experience I was looking for.

Thanks, guys.

David
 
DavidM":1mv6lfg5 said:
Coming from a sailboat background I always used ablative bottom paint on my boats kept in the water. They seemed to handle slime and barnacles better than hard paints due to the continuous sloughing off of the top layer.

But C-Dorys cruise in the teens. Do ablative bottom paints hold up in that service or should I go with a hard type.

David
Click to expand...

In 2011, I sprayed 3 coats of epoxy primer (Pettit Protect) then 4 coats of Unepoxy Plus antifouling bottom paint. My boat has been in the water (salt only) of South Central Alaska 10 months a year, trailered from Homer(home port) to Seward and Whittier & after all this time the only place the antifouling paint has disappeared is where the boat slides on the trailer bunks. I plan to go the with the Unepoxy Plus again next spring.
I do pressure wash it when ever I pull it out. Very little growth ever between washings. YMMV
:wink: :mrgreen: :beer
 
Ablative paint will hold up just fine. We used it on our Parker center console that would at cruise 40 mph, and now use it on our C-dory. It holds up just fine but I'll touch it up on the trailer every year or two.

We use interlux micron 66, which is a very popular around our waters for those not lucky enough to have a boat lift and a clean bottom. Check in with your local boat yards and see what people in your area are having the best luck with.
 
I spend a good deal of my boating time cruising at 18 t0 25 mph. My Pettit Hydrocoat SR ablative paint looks pretty much the same as it did 3 years ago. I touched-up a couple of small trailer rub spots a year or so ago with a small paint roller in my driveway.

Bottom line- Based on my usage experience, I like Pettit ablative paint and see no reason to change
 
BTDT:

Trinidad Hydrocoat SR is exactly what I plan to use. Good to know it holds up at high speed for several years.

Thanks, David
 
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