Anti-fouling

[BuoyOBuoy]

I am looking for opinions on the best anti-fouling for use in fresh water only. It will be applied in the spring but I want to buy now before the price threatens to rise again. It is to be applied over 3 new coats of Interlux Inter-protect 2000 which I am applying this fall after having the bottom blasted.
All opinions are valuable and appreciated.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Mr. B. I'd check with the local boaters and service marinas as to what is the most effective in YOUR area.

 

[O C Diver]

I know some of this won't apply unless you change paints later.

First, not all paints are compatible with what's been put on previously.

Second, if using a different paint over an ablative, it may need to be sanded off.

Third, if hauling more than a couple of days, some hard paints may need to have the surface scuffed before splashing. Some of these paints oxidize and require a scuff with a scotch brite pad on a sander.

Fourth, check with Interlux to see it the barrier coat needs prep before applying bottom paint 6 months later.

I started with the ablative I used on my charter boat. The paint didn't work well as I was going to slow. To switch paints required sanding the ablative off. I switched to Petit Trinidad SR which is a hard paint with Slime Reduction. It works flawlessly in freshwater and very well in salt to brackish. I spent about 6 months in freshwater and the balance in brackish water. In south Florida the water is warm enough that the boat needs to be scrubbed monthly. The advantage to hard paint is it's ability to be scrubbed without coating loss.

Ted

 

[omoore]

I am looking for opinions on the best anti-fouling for use in fresh water only. It will be applied in the spring but I want to buy now before the price threatens to rise again. It is to be applied over 3 new coats of Interlux Inter-protect 2000 which I am applying this fall after having the bottom blasted.
All opinions are valuable and appreciated.

I wholeheartedly agree with the recommendation to check with locals. I have owned boats in the Great Lakes, Long Island Sound, Fl and current the Neuse River (brackish) in New Bern ,NC. All of these locations had different preferred bottom paints.

 

[Mac2]

Fourth, check with Interlux to see it the barrier coat needs prep before applying bottom paint 6 months later.

This for sure. Inter-protect is extremely slippery when dry. I was advised to coat it with the bottom paint when it was still tacky (you can see your fingerprint after touching). This allows a chemical bond between the two paints. You might need a second painter to go over the Inter-protect before it dries to much.