Antifouling Paint 101

I noticed a lot of people have had questions reguarding bottom paints both this year and last year. I will be updating this daily.

If you have any questions post up or email me and I will add them to the post. Chances are if you have a question then someone else does too.
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ANTIFOULING PAINTS 101
By Dan Tholen – Lacey Marine


Different Types of Antifouling Paints

• HARD ANTIFOULINGS – The technical term for these types of antifouling paints is ‘contact leaching’. The paint dries to a porous film that is packed with biocides, which leach out on contact with water to prevent fouling growth. This leaching is chemically designed to release biocide throughout the season, but the amount will steadily decrease until there is not enough biocide coming out of the paint film to maintain fouling protection. Once the biocide is exhausted, the hard paint film remains on the boat. Hard antifoulings do not retain their antifouling ability out of the water and cannot be hauled and relaunched without repainting. One of the main benefits of this type of antifouling is its resistance to abrasion and rubbing. This makes it ideal for fast powerboats, racing sailboats or boats where the owners have the bottoms scrubbed regularly. Most hard antifouling paints can be wet sanded and burnished prior to launch to reduce drag and improve hull speed. Types of paints: Interlux Bottomkote, Interlux Nautical Epoxycop, Pettit Unepoxy.

• ABLATIVE ANTIFOULINGS – Ablative antifoulings wear away with use like the controlled depletion polymers but at a much less controlled rate. Ablative antifoulings are affected more by water temperature, salinity and alkalinity than are the controlled depletion polymers and generally wear away faster. They are less expensive than controlled depletion polymers and they provide excellent antifouling protection but they don’t last as long as the Controlled Depletion Polymers Or Controlled Solubility Copolymers. Types of paints: Interlux ACT, Aquagard Bottompaint.

• CONTROLLED SOLUBILITY COPOLYMERS – These types of antifoulings are partially soluble which means that as water passes across the surface of the coating, it wears down much like a bar of soap would wear away. The physical action of the water over the surface steadily reduces the thickness of the paint at a controlled rate, which results in always having fresh biocide at the surface of the paint throughout the season. For this reason these types of antifoulings have the capability to perform in the areas of highest fouling challenge. Boats painted with Controlled Solubility Copolymers can be hauled and relaunched without repainting since the biocides are chemically bound to the paint film and are only active when in the water. The longevity of these coatings is related to the thickness of the paint. Types of paints: Interlux Micron CSC, Interlux Micron Extra with Biolux.

• SELF-POLISHING COPOLYMERS – SPC technology antifoulings work because the film contains a patented resin called an ‘SPC Copolymer’. This copolymer reacts with saltwater in a controlled way. As a result, the chemical reaction controls and sustains the release of biocides throughout the lifetime of the antifouling without decline. This chemical reaction will take place at the same rate whether you boat is underway or sitting at the dock. This type of technology has previously only been available in tin-based copolymer coatings, which are restricted in their use to boats over 82 feet in length. This new, patented Interlux® technology is available for professional application to boats of all sizes. It is not recommended for use in fresh water. Types of Paints: Interlux Micron 66.


Some Common Questions

• How do I know the product I want to apply is compatible with my old paint already on the boat? Most antifouling paints made today can be applied over top of any type of antifouling paint. As a precautionary measure you can use Interlux Primcon as a tie coat which will bond the two types together. If the paint is old and in poor condition consider removing the old paint.

• What is Biolux? Biolux is a unique additive added to some paints that has organic boosting biocides which stop slime build up on the bottom of your boat. It acts almost like a sunscreen for the bottom of your boat.

• What is Osmosis? Osmosis is a process of degeneration within a fiberglass laminate. It is caused by a chemical reaction between water and unreacted substances remaining in the manufactured hull. The water enters the hull through the gelcoat and once inside, reacts with the chemical components creating acidic substances. These substances create pressure behind the gelcoat, which causes blisters and eventually cracking. Once the gelcoat is breached in this manner, the underlying laminate is capable of absorbing water like a sponge. Osmosis is not only caused by water on the outside of the hull – bilge water from the inside can also cause a problem. It is therefore worth making efforts to keep your bilges dry.

• What steps are taken when painting a new boat? First you must scrub the surface with soap and water while using a stiff brush. Rinse it off with fresh water and allow drying. Next apply Interlux Solvent Wash 202 with a clean cheesecloth or rag and wipe dry before the liquid evaporates. Only do small sections at a time. This gets off any oils, mold release, or dirt. Next apply one coat of Fiberglass No Sand Primer. Use a solvent resistant 1/8 foam roller to apply the primer and paint in a direction without overcoating. Let the primer sit and dry for at least 30 minutes. To check to see if the primer is ready to overcoat use the Thumb Print test. If the primer feels tacky and you can leave a thumb print in the primer without any coming off then you are ready to the bottom paint. If the primer does stick to you thumb after the 30 minutes, wait 15 minutes and test again. Continue to do this until the primer reaches the “Ready to Overcoat” stage.

• How much paint do I need? For a rough estimate multiply the length of you hull(LOA) by the beam and then multiply by 0.85. LOA x B x 0.85 = Area. Then look on the can of paint and check the coverage. Here is a ratio for most power boats – (LOA/Quarts) 20/3, 25/4, 30/6, 35/8, 40/10.

• How long can I leave the boat out of the water before I launch? Most antifouling paints will be fine for up to 60 days out of the water before launching. After 60 days the paints starts to rapidly lose it’s properties and may not work properly. Waterbased paints can be block for up to a year before being launched.

• Does the amount of copper in an antifouling paint effect the performance? The level of copper is not the only determining factor of how an antifouling paint will perform. The resin-binder system, the material that holds the paint together, is equally important. Not only does the resin-binder system hold the paint together, it is the mechanism that determines how fast the copper and other biocide will be released. The resin-binder system must be carefully tailored for the amount and type of copper and other biocides used to obtain maximum efficiency The amount of copper or other biocide may effect the life of an antifouling paint but the sophistication of the resin-binder system to hold and release copper or other biocide at the proper rate is far more important to the effectiveness of the anti-fouling. A copolymer or ablative anti-fouling will release biocide at nearly constant rate throughout its life. For this reason, highly efficient antifouling paints like Micron are less dependent on large amounts of copper and other Biocides and deliver the best possible performance. The use of boosting biocides in combination with Biolux Technology keeps the bottom clear of slime and makes the copper more effective.

• What is Irgarol? A product similar to Biolux that stops slime, algae, and weed build up on the bottom of your boat. A brand new product this year that is found in Interlux ACT paints.

• Can I thin antifouling paints? Antifouling paint performance in general terms is dependent upon the film thickness applied at application time. Interlux antifoulings are formulated to the optimum viscosity, or thickness, for their designed application thickness. Thinning can significantly affect the application properties of an antifouling.

• What type of antifouling paint can I use on aluminum? Trilux 33 with Biolux is specifically developed for use all surfaces including aluminum boats, outdrives, and outboards. Trilux 33 with Biolux, unlike other antifouling paints, does not use cuprous oxide. Trilux 33 uses Cuprous Thiocyanate. Cuprous Thiocyanate is safer to use then Cuprous Oxide. The biocides work together to fight shell fouling such as barnacles and zebra mussels while the Biolux blocks slime and algae. This blend of resins and biocides, when properly applied over primer, offer excellent antifouling protection. While Trilux 33 has been specifically developed for use on primed aluminum, it can also be applied to fiberglass, wood and other underwater metals on boats. You could also use Pettit Alumacoat or Aquagard antifouling sprays.

• How do I remove old bottom paint? There are a few different ways to remove bottom paint off the hull of your boat. Sand blasting, strippers, or hydro/dry ice blasting are all effective ways to remove bottom paint. Sand blasting is a fast but it is messy and can do damage to the gelcoat. Hydro/Dry Ice blasting is expensive and must be done by a professional. Stripping the boat with Interlux 299E is the easiest way for the do-it-yourselfer. First lay an old tarp down under the boat and apply the 299E with a hard stiff brush to about 5 times thicker then coats of paint. Let it sit for an hour or so and come back with a small paint scraper. If it does not go down to the gelcoat leave it and check it every 15 minutes until it does so. Do not let it the 299E sit on the paint for more then 8 hours or damage to the gelcoat may occur. Tip: Put on a pair of gloves and reuse the old stripper that fell onto the tarp. This can be done may times until the stripper has no effect anymore.

• What is Interprotect and how does it work? Interprotect is a unique two part epoxy designed to reduce the potential of water absorption by fiberglass hulls. Interprotect is
unique among epoxies because it has microplates, which are a protective barrier within its film to slow down water permeation. Technically, Interprotect microplates provide millions of overlapping microscopic plates that create a barrier similar to shingles on a roof. These overlapping microplates eliminate any direct path for water migration and also improve the sag resistance of the epoxy making application easier. Four to five coats of Interprotect are recommended to ensure complete protection. Do not exceed any of the dry times in between coats(14 days) or you must sand with 80 grit sandpaper and re-apply an extra coat. Also on a 70 degree day, you MUST apply a coat of antifouling paint within 7 hours or you will have to apply an extra coat of Interprotect. It is now available in both gray and white and it also acts as a primer. This is a great addition to any new boat or a boat with a freshly clean/stripped hull.


Try this website to find out what's the best bottom paint for you. Click Here

PS:Larry maybe we can sticky this so everyone can see it.

I have thinned with Penetrol for over 10 years; as much as 50/50. Learned it from an old salt. In from March 1 thru October. Never a concern or a problem. Thinning interlux bottomkote. Always listen to the old salts!!!! They have much to offer.

If you never had a problem with it then I would stick with it. Paint way back when and the paint that is out today are a lot different. They take a long time to develop and research. They are not meant to be thinned out unless they have to be due to weather conditions. I am not really sure why you would mix it 50/50 because you would be cutting all of the properties in half and they would not perform like they are supposed to. Also with Penetrol you are only supposed to use 1 quart to every gallon of paint. Flood tells you not to put any more into it. Like I said if it works, don't fix a thing that's not broken.

I know some one who uses kerosene for thinning bottomkote. He never seems to have any problems with it, always last the season. He also throws in tetracycline capsules that boots the anti fouling properties of the paint. pharmacology at it's best.

Those are the kinds of tricks that start somewhere. I agree with what works. The first season I used Penetrol was a real nail biter, but during the season inspections everything looked fine. I've been doing it ever since with bottomkote type paints. Don't think I would try it Micron paint though. Painted bottom 2 weeks ago when it was 60 degrees. Now some zincs and new impellors and I should be ready to go.

Lacey Queston, when using Ablative paint can I just touch up the bare spots prior to launching this spring? My bottom paint is in good shape except for a couple of bare spots from the pressure washer. I have heard that the paint only works by wearing away, therefore does not loose it's effectiveness.

Lacey, if I were to use the 299E to strip how much would I need? She is 22' with an 8'6" beam, and a 22" draft. Oh and she is big for 22 footer, not sure if the manufacturer spec of 22' is LOA or waterline. And there is only the one coat of paint to be removed.

Joe - you may want to look into "Peel Away" paint remover. They have a marine product that is very effective and safe for the gelcoat. I have used the product it it works very well. You can get it in 5 gallon pails. Here is some information on it. BTW only use their marine product on your boat other wise you wont have gelcoat left.

PEEL AWAY MARINE SAFETY STRIP
PEEL AWAY MARINE SAFETY STRIP is an environmentally safe paint remover used for the removal of bottom paint from fiberglass, wood and metal boats without any damage to the surface. It will remove up to 10 layers of bottom paint in ONE application. The product also works well at removing varnishes, polyurethane, shellac etc from fine wood surfaces i.e. teak, mahogany etc. Coverage is 40 sq. feet per gallon. Marine Application

http://www.dumondchemicals.com/paint_remover.htm

It depends on the paint you used. If you used a anual abalative paint such as Interlux ACT it needs to be repainted because the properties fo the paint only last about a year. Also because the baot has been out of the water it loses a lot of its properties too. If it was a multi season paint like the Micron series then you just need to touch up or put a thin coat on the entire boat again.

Maybe 3 quarts or a gallon. It really depands on the amount of paint and how thick the coat(s) are. For your size with that amount of paint that's what I would guess around it would take.

We also carry the Peel Away stuff too if you are interested.

I am having an adhesion problem. It looks like when the factory did the first application of bottom paint they either did not rough up the barrier coat enough or didn't remove the wax from the mold. I am now seeing sections of paint just falling off. Can I use the Peel Away Marine Strip II, give a light sanding on the barrier and then apply new bottom paint? The II version is supposed to leave the barrier coat intact.

If your barrier coat is intact and the bottom paint is peeling off of the barrier coat there is a compatibility problem between the products. If the barrier coat is also peeling off and you have bare gelcoat I would think you would want to remove the complete system, strip the mold release products and start the process over. You may want to go back to the people that did the barrier coat and bottom paint. If it is only one season old I would do some complaining.

It was either one of two things. The people who preped the boat did not use Interlux 202 or eqivelant on the hull to remove mold release, oil, dirt, etc and it caused the barrier coat not to adhere right. The other thing would be they did not put the coat of bottom paint on in time. It MUST be applied within 7 hours after the final coat of barrier coat.

If the paint is falling off and the barrier coat is still there then they waited to long. If everything falls off then the whole thing was not done right.

Now for the worst part. Either way, no matter what they did wrong the entire boat must be stripped and totally redone. The barrier coat acts like a primer and even if you scuff it up the barrier coat will reject the paint and continue to keep falling off.

Personally I would go back to the place who did it and raise :xxx:. There are two places that I know of that did this last year. One of them did it once and the other one did it at least 10 times to customers of mine.

Unfortunately the bottom was done 6 years ago so it would be hard to prove they did it wrong. How much 299e would I need for a 29 foot by 10 foot beam cruiser? I read a post that said you can use the stripper above 32 degrees but how warm will it need to be to do the barrier coat?

As far as the amount of 299E goes it really depends on the number of coats and how thick the paint is. I would say roughly about 1 gallon maybe a little more for that size boat with a few coats on. Like I said it really depends on the thickness so you might need more.

As for the application of any paint really, it is 60 degrees. And it's not 60 degree air temp it's 60 degrees surface temp. The hull of the boat could be 10 degrees lower then the air if it's in the shade it could be even more. I think that is a big problem people end up doing.

So if it is 60 degrees surface temp what are you supposed to do if you are in the water from late February till late December?

I am not really sure what you are asking. 60 degrees is the surface temp of the hull itself and these temp are only for the application period so it can cure properly.

I meant if you are only out of the water when the temps are generally in the teens and 20's how do you paint the bottom? But I think what I have decided since I am to go in the water in two weeks is just go back in the water and then in May or April if and when it warms up to high forties to low fifties at night, haul out then and paint since it is too cold to do it now. I am assuming growth should not be too bad with the water cold anyway.

The boat would need to be moved indoors somehow where it could be heated at a certain temp for a few days.

You are right as far as growth and cold goes. The colder the water the less growth so waiting until April might be your best bet.

Lacey- I'm in your shop from time to time and I will say you guys are very helpful. I am going to have my boat bottom painted locally for the first time and was hoping you can tell me who NOT to go to based on the above. I understand if you can't post it but would appreciate it in an email since I won't be down that way for a few weeks.

Thanks, Rich

Here is a link to a guy that advertises on Craigs list. He is in turnersville NJ and comes to you to do the boat. I have no connection to his business nor do I know the quality of his work.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/134194121.html

By the way we bottom paint and come to you.

Thanks Lacey!!

ttt

Fishin Mission - I use Petit ACP 50, an older Petit ablative paint, and I just touch up the bottom every year. Powerboat Reports found that it worked fine for at least 3 years without repainting (unless it wears down to the different color base coat) - which has been true enough for the Barnegat area.

Bump:)

speaking of bottom paint, where can I find those boat stands so I can elevate the boat off of the trailer? May be interested in renting them if possible. I see them in every boat yard, but never see any for sale.

I've seen them at Lacey Marine. They're not expensive either.

We sell them in season during the fall. We don't stock them right now but I can get them next day.

BTW they jumped up a lot in price last fall due to the increase in metal prices. I am not sure if anyone rents them out.

Time to bump this post up for the new season. Any questions, post them up I will answer them. Also March 10th is our Spring Prep Day and our Open House is April 14th and Don the Interlux Rep will be here both days.

Quote:
I have a couple questions if you don't mind. First are the cheaper brands such as West Marine as good as the other brands? I used the west marine stuff last year and it seems like it did a good job. Second, if the hull is power washed do you still recomend doing the washing and priming before painting. Third, do any of the paints really last multiple seasons and if so, does it matter if the boat is out of the water for the winter? And finally, do you recomend using more than one coat of the albative. Any advice suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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I have never used their paints but I have not heard good things about them. Every paint company has problems here and there but it seems they have more then anyone. The company who makes their paint aproched us a few years ago to sell a Lacey Marine paint and we didn't do it because of the research we did and it was not good. I would rather make less on a better paint then sell an inferior product.

If the hull was powerwashed then just rinse it down with clean water before you repaint. Also check for loose paint chipping and chip it off and give it a light sanding to get proper adhesion.

Multiseason paints like the Mircon's are infact multiseason. Two good coats will last you 3 years. During winter the paint chemicals actually sense that the paint is not under water and shut down the releasing of copper. Once back in the water the paint then releases the copper again protecting the boat.

As for the multiple coats of ablative...If you are using a seasonal paint like ACT which you apply every year no matter how thick the paint is the paints properties will expire in that year. If you are using the multiseason paint you need two coats of paint to last the 3 years.

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Originally Posted by Ryan Hurd
What's best for guys who trailer and was down the boat after each trip?

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Your best bet would be to not paint it or I would use a hard antifouling paint. How often do you use the boat and how long is the boat off the trailer when you use it? I assume it's just the time of the trip and that little amount of time nothing will build up or grow on the hull. If you want to paint it use Interlux Epoxycop. Best value for your money in a hard paint. If you use ACT or Micron's they are ablative and they will come off a little on the rollers.

Just to remind everyone our Spring Prep Day is this Saturday the 10th. We will be having some really good sales on paint and 35% Off on zincs.

bump

to the top

It's that time!

Lacey, I have to paint the hull of my tinboat for the first time. This is an older boat but it has never been painted. I ordered trilux for the bottom but someone told me that it will not adhere correctly unless I use a primer. Can you give me some advice on which primer would work best in my situation. Thanks...John

John, The Trilux is correct and you would need a primer. Interlux Primocon is the primer you need. It self etches to the metal and chemically bonds the paint to the primer and hull. Make sure the boat does not leak before you paint it. If you have leaks you can coat the boat with Gluvit and it will totally water proof it.

Here is the Primocon
http://www.laceymarineonline.com/inprprqu.html

Boat doesn't leak but it is a 1972 hull. Can I use the gluvit as a sealer/ primer or would I have to Gluvit/primer/bottom paint? ...John

Because the boat doesn't leak you could just use prep the boat good and prime and paint it. You can still you the Gluvit as a prevenative measure down the road and you still need primer and paint with the Gluvit but it would totally waterproof the hull and give you a good base for all the paint.

Bring it back for 2008...

Just wanted to let everyone know that if you are using Interprotect 2000 you now have up to 6 months between coats instead of 2 weeks.

Aquaguard qustion, I've been getting my AQ paint from LM for past 2 years. I think I over heard Ron tell someone it is good for two years. Is this true? The last two years I've been putting 2 coats on before launch. Comes out clean no problems. Can I skip painting this year? It looks solid, no flaking etc. Just wondering. Thanks.
Joe

According to Aquagard if you put 2 coats on it will last 2 years. 3 coats will last 3 years and so on. We have never tested it but we used for a peroid of 5 years and just put it on every year. It was cheap enough and easy to put on.

Lacey,
I need to prime my trim tabs prior to painting them with anti-fouling paint. The tabs are stainless steel. What primer do you recommend?

You can use the Primocon or Interprotect 2000 as primers. The Interprotect is a much better primer and I would recommend it over the Primocon for this application. You would need 2-3 coats and then regular bottom paint.

Thanks!

No problem. For anyone interested, April 19th is out Annual Open House. Two Interlux Reps will be here to answer any questions as well as the best prices you will find anywhere. For example Micron Extra as low as $179.99 a gallon plus a lot of free Interlux products to go along with it.

I'll be there.

BUMP for the new season...

By the way our Spring Prep Day will be March 14th, 2009 and our Annual Open House will be April 18th, 2009.

***If you splash your boat prior to March 14th and need paint and zincs contact me and we can work something out.

Do we get the 10% off of the sale price on bottom paint?

You do get a discount on everything including paint. It depends on the item for a discount. Some paint might have a 10% but another might have 5% or even 2.5% depending on the cost and what our margins are. Our paint prices are so low that sometimes we can't offer the full 10% on it.

Bump

I got my paint on Sunday. I knew nothing and these guys helped me out and answered all my questions.

Dan, I have about a quart of Aqua left from last year and not going to do the whole boat this year, only going to do a touch up however I left it in my garage over the winter. Could I use it?

Joe if you are using Interlux Aqua you would need to repaint the who boat every year. All that remains is pigment and binding agents and none of the antifouling properties.

As for the paint being good or not, did your garage get below freezing? If it did the paint is no good, esp since it is waterbased. Even solvent based paints will separate when frozen.

Dan, no its Aquaguard, not interlux

Oh ok, same thing. Aquagard is not multi-season and since it's waterbased it might not be good. How cold does it get in the garage?

As clod as outside, your dad told me he gets 2 years out of AG

Depends on the # of coats. Aquagard say every coat you put on gets you one year. So 3 coats would get you three years.

I wouldn't trust it. It probably seperated from the solvents in the paint and chemicals. It still might be ok though. Is it an unopened can?

Almost that time of year folks!

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