Bottom paint question

Was on the boat last week and anchored out in a nice spot with some super clear water. Decided to use the snuba to check out the bottom paint.

There were some very small barnacles at the waterline and some larger (pencil diameter maybe) that I knocked off with my wooden spoon looking tool. Not much slime or green moss stuff growing. The paint looked pretty good but when I knocked off the bigger barnacles the black bottom paint came off with them.

Since larger barnacles are growing does that mean my paint is getting depleted, or just that I need more frequent bottom cleaning? It’s been on there 2.5 years and is Petit Trinidad SR.

Also, since the boat is in the Bahamas I’ve heard I can get higher copper content paint there? Was thinking of letting the local place here do a bottom job maybe but have not checked the cost yet. Has anyone here used Abaco Yacht Services on Green Turtle Cay for bottom paint or other work?

Well, I am not sure that higher copper content will really improve things. Bottom paint with lower copper content to meet US standards is formulated with other biocides that probably does as good a job. And you do want to protect the environment by using minimal copper, don't you?


2-1/2 years is pretty good for any bottom paint. If it is getting intolerable, then a quick haul, sanding and painting at the waterline and two feet below can probably pick up another year of service.


David

Oh yes. Whoops. Forgot about the environmental concerns.

Is that normal for some paint to pop off with a barnacle? I have not a been a frequent diver on the bottom because the water is usually too gross/murky for me when not in the Bahamas, so I don’t know what a diver normally encounters.

Yes, bottom paint doesn't stick well to the underlying gel coat or barrier coat so it will often pull the paint off when you scrape barnacles off. Obviously it is better to get them off when they are small and maybe not stuck so well. I would usually scrape from the water line down a foot or so every other month to get all of the little critters off.

A windshield ice scraper works great for this. Doubt that you can find one in the Bahamas though .

David

At 2-1/2 yrs, I don't think that bottom paint owes you anything. I've left paint on that long in the past, what you're describing is consistent with the length of time the paint's been on, IMO.

cardude01 said:

Oh yes. Whoops. Forgot about the environmental concerns.

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What "environmental concerns"? The copper-based anti fouling paint availiable in the U.S. is no different than the copper-based anti fouling paints you buy anywhere else in the world.

cardude01 said:

Is that normal for some paint to pop off with a barnacle?

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Having removed many, MANY barnacles from boat bottoms over the last 25 years as a professional hull cleaner, I can tell you that when you scrape a barnacle off of a painted surface, what is left is a very thin calcareous disc that is almost impossible to remove. Were you to actually be able to scrape that disc off or if the paint were already disbonded then yes, paint might come off with it. But typically no paint is removed when scraping barnacles.

2.5 years U got your $$$ worth.


Time to paint

fstbttms said:

Having removed many, MANY barnacles from boat bottoms over the last 25 years as a professional hull cleaner, I can tell you that when you scrape a barnacle off of a painted surface, what is left is a very thin calcareous disc that is almost impossible to remove. Were you to actually be able to scrape that disc off or if the paint were already disbonded then yes, paint might come off with it. But typically no paint is removed when scraping barnacles.

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Very interesting. After scraping the barnacles off I did not feel the paint to see if in fact paint came off. I just assumed the white spot under the barnacle was missing paint. Thanks.

I’ve used Trinidad for years, IMO it’s the best in south Florida if I get 1.5 to 2.0 years I’m very happy, sometimes I repaint every year.

As said by others you got excellent life. We have gotten 3 years but we got it by frequent bottom cleaning and never any scraping.

When we bought our current boat it had been painted in 2014 with a 2 year bottom paint per the boatyard where it was stored. Every year I assume it will need painting but so far it still looks good. I want to paint it because it is now blue and I want to go to black but I cannot justify painting it just to change the color. However we don’t have barnacles here.

Dave. Do you know the name of the paint? Five years is fantastic.

You know I hesitated before making that post because I knew that someone would ask that question. No I don’t know the brand. I will try to find the work order and see if it is listed. I have the work orders for the prior 15 years from the PO.

Bigsfish said:

Dave. Do you know the name of the paint? Five years is fantastic.

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Don't overlook Dave's location.

Location is very important , yes.

Ok, found the old work orders. They put on Blue Water Copper Pro SCX paint. I had never heard of this brand but so far it is working great.

I googled it and found it at The Bottom Paint Store for $165 per gallon with free shipping. That is an awesome price for a paint that has lasted for 5 years so far. No affiliation just a happy owner that inherited the paint job.

BandB said:

Don't overlook Dave's location.

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Yes, but it was in the Chesapeake for the first 2 years. I am not an expert on the Chesapeake so I don’t know how bad the fouling was there.

BandB said:

Don't overlook Dave's location.

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Exactly. Up here with 53 degree average water temps, paint seems to last forever with quarterly cleaning by a diver.

Dave,

Ahoy. Any advice for bottom paint?

I am headed to Seaview West tomorrow for a Monday haul out. I have no idea what is on the boat now, but it was applied in summer 2017.

Thanks!

Jeff

dhays said:

Exactly. Up here with 53 degree average water temps, paint seems to last forever with quarterly cleaning by a diver.

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What paint do you use?

Do you get slime between cleanings?

Thanks Dave, never heard of it before. In south Florida Trinidad has been the best for me.

fstbttms said:

Having removed many, MANY barnacles from boat bottoms over the last 25 years as a professional hull cleaner, I can tell you that when you scrape a barnacle off of a painted surface, what is left is a very thin calcareous disc that is almost impossible to remove. Were you to actually be able to scrape that disc off or if the paint were already disbonded then yes, paint might come off with it. But typically no paint is removed when scraping barnacles.

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That disc would then allow easy and fast growth again yes?
Is there anything you do as a pro to get rid of it to make a bottom job last longer?

Reason I am asking is we are 12 mths into a bottom job and there are barnacles down there, but at the moment its a bit too cool to go in.
In a month or so I'll take the plunge but I am hoping to go at least 18 mths trying for 2 years.

Last bottom job I obviously had that disc there because it seemed to come back pretty quick.

There is a chemical cleaner at marine stores called Barnacle Dissolver.

There are multiple brands available. Mostly the same.

Spray it on and the white discs will dissolve. Tough old spots may require multiple application and help with a plastic pick or scraper.

Simi 60 said:

That disc would then allow easy and fast growth again yes?

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That is correct.

Simi 60 said:

Is there anything you do as a pro to get rid of it to make a bottom job last longer?

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No. Around here, barnacles are an indication that the paint has lived its life and is in need of replacement.

Simi
I would suggest you clean your bottom (boats bottom) more often, stop them early before they get a foothold.

IRENE said:

Dave,



Ahoy. Any advice for bottom paint?



I am headed to Seaview West tomorrow for a Monday haul out. I have no idea what is on the boat now, but it was applied in summer 2017.



Thanks!



Jeff

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Hi Jeff,

We had excellent results with Pettit SR on Ebbtide and will be using it on Seafarer when we haul next month.

Bob

Since bottom paint is conditional on location I would get the review done by Practical Sailor on bottom paints based on location. What works for me may not work for you.

Thanks all. I was hoping to hear from dhays Dave as I am in his area...

Bigsfish said:

Simi
I would suggest you clean your bottom (boats bottom) more often, stop them early before they get a foothold.

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I suggest the same. If your bottom requires "scraping" you're not getting it cleaned often enough. Now, for some, that's fine as they'd rather just pay for painting than bottom cleaning. We're interested in performance so we're sticklers for cleaning. We go every three weeks in summer and every four weeks in winter.

Now when out cruising and in other locations not as much required. When we did the loop, we went from March to June and then from June to October and from October to March. March to June was moving every other day and in cold water, mostly fresh water. June to October was moving also and in fresh water. October to March was mostly sitting but moved about once a month and in cold fresh water.