Choice of bottom paint for upper Chesapeake

[Seaginger]

I'm going to paint my boat's bottom for the first time and trying to choose between Pettit Odyssey HD and Sea Hawk Cukote, after application of 2-3 coats of primer. Boat will be used in upper-mid Chesapeake and docked on Sassafras river during the season, then kept on the trailer.
Does anyone have experience with these two paints? Thank you for your feedback!

 

[watson1987]

I use Sea Hawk Cukote on my boat (2 coats). I just hauled out the boat after 2.5 years and could have easily gone another 6 months, if not a full year, with what was left. I would have left it in the water if it wasn't for me wanting to do drop-fins. I get the bottom cleaned every 6 months from a diver. The cold water of the PNW helps though.

I don't have experience with the other brand, but I believe the application is more important than the product. These both seem to be high-quality/priced items, you will probably have success with both if applied per manufacturer spec.

 

[503west]

I keep my boat on the bohemian river and was pleased with the results Pettit Odyssey HD.

 

[Jcat2010]

OddesseyHD. Also, check your barrier coat when hauled. The NY dealer who did the original bottom .did a bad prep and I had patches of gelcoat showing through all over the bottom. Chose to redo the barrier before bottom painting.

 

[Seaginger]

Thank you all who replied above. I'm going to try Odyssey HD this time, and see how that works.

 

[BB marine]

I have had good luck with Pettit Vivid. It is a good bottom paint for trailerable boats. Hard finish but still ablative. Vivid is recommended for all waters Fresh, Brackish, Salt. It maintains a smooth finish and does not wear off as easily as softer ablative paints when loading on a trailer. I applied it to my C26 in 2016, 3 coats of Pettit protect epoxy as the base coat/barrier coat and two coats applied thin to the bottom and 3 coats from the chine to water line. I did a touch up in 2020 before heading to Florida from Grand Rivers KY. by water. I could have easily got another year out of it. We left the boat in the water during the Summer (fresh water) then trailered it during the winter months. The boat was launched and retrieved using the trailer dozens of times in 5 years before touch up and there was very little wear from the bunks. I realized no speed loss from the bottom application. It is a hard finish. 3 months in the warm Florida waters I had no growth or barnacles on the bottom. I have used this product on three of my trailerable boats. 2 Sea Rays and the Cutwater and I know several Ranger and Cutwater owners that used it with good success. Good luck with your project. Take your time and follow the directions to the T. You will have a long lasting finish when done.

 

[CruisingElvinRay]

+1 for Pettit Vivid.


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[Craigmconrad]

I boat from between Cambridge and Rock Hall and keep her in the water in the Chester River. I use Pettit Odyssey Triton with good success....

 

[Rocky Lou]

I've been using Trinidad HD since I first painted in 2019. After two years, my divers have complained that it's in bad shape. I'm thinking I need two coats rather than the one that I've been applying. My boat lives in the ocean and visits San Francisco Bay for a few months each year. It's never on a trailer and gets painted via a haul out.