Salt water bottom paint

[jpmockler]

My 2009 R29 has been on a lift since it was new but now I am putting it in salt water full time here in southwest Florida and I want to paint the bottom. I am getting confusing advice and wonder if anyone who has experience in this area can make a recommendation of which paint to use.

 

[mspaugy]

Call Wefings Marine (Ranger Tug Dealer)in Appalachicola, they will give you good advice!

 

[knotflying]

Jim,
I have used Petit Vivid. My research showed that this was the best for boats being trailered and in the water. I have been through two seasons so far with no barnacle build up. Jim Favors has also used it and I believe he has had good results.

 

[Dale777]

Jim,

I have used Petit Vivid with success for 1-3/4 years with my R27 used in both salt water and fresh water lakes and with lots of trailering. However, it is really thin now in many places, so I'm planning to have it repainted in the next 1-2 months.

In November, I got quotes from both Olsen Marine Services and Gulf Marine Ways & Supply on Main Street in Ft. Myers Beach; these two are side-by-side businesses. They both recommended Interlux Micron Extra for the salt water in southwest Florida and for trailering to/from fresh water. I know another Ranger Tugs boater, who was at the SW Florida Rendezvous, had his boat painted with Micron Extra at Gulf Marine in November. Also, Captain Dan of "Star of Orion", who takes passengers for cruises on his sailboat out of Salty Sam's Marina, had his sailboat done at Gulf Marine with Micron Extra in November. Both seem to be pleased with it.

I'm planning to use Micron Extra for my next bottom paint.

 

[LADYBUG TOO]

Ladybug, Too is a 2009 R-29 and lives in salt water. We are in the Florida panhandle and have a bit cooler water in winter than you might experience. We have always used Sea Hawk "Cukote." You will find that it contains more copper than just about any of the name brands. Probably cannot be used in California. Cukote is designed for boats that may be on a trailer from time to time. If you are for sure going to leave her in the water then Sea Hawk recommends their F35 formula. Cukote is a self polishing, semi-ablative paint. Translation: It wears off and only light sanding is required prior to recoating. At a little over $200 per gallon it may seem expensive but we have cosistently gotten multi season performance. The more you use your boat the better it will perform. On our last haul out we used about 2 1/2 gallons. We put three heavy coats on the prop tunnel and keel. Also three on the water line. We coat the rudder and all stern fittings too and we do a light bottom scrub once a month in the summer time.

Pat, Ladybug, Too

 

[Levitation]

When I did my homework in 2010 I settled on Vivid based on recommendations from a boatyard. Now on third season of going from trailer to freshwater to saltwater and still working - no visible growth.
I suspect that paint from any one of the big four names in bottom paint will work for you.

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

As Mike Rizzo mentioned we also used Petit Vivid and have been real happy with it. One of the key elements is preparation of the hull properly, whatever bottom paint is used. If you are planning to do the work or hire it done make sure you (if the bottom has never been painted) dewax the bottom with a dewaxing product or acetone......this takes any wax off of the hull from when the hull came out of the mold. I then very lightly sanded the bottom and cleaned again with acetone. In using Petit Vivid I also used their "Bottom Prep" 6998 primer. The color of this is silver and my research found that with this on the hull that the bottom paint is designed to "adhere tenaciously" to it with the advantage being that when your bottom paint does get thin in some areas you'll see the silver start to show thru.....assuming you don't use a silver bottom paint.

Good luck with the project,


Jim F

 

[Pete]

I keep a boat in the water 12 months of the year in SW Florida and have had excellent results with Interlux Micron 66. I can get 3 years out of it, though it's good to have the bottom cleaned from time to time.
Pete

 

[Pete]

I should add to my last post that both Interlux and Pettit give good technical advice if you email them and their on line guides are also useful.

I think Pettit Vivid is an excellent paint for a boat that will be trailered or kept on a lift. However I think there are better choices for 12 month immersion in the warm waters of SW Florida.
Peter