Next years metal paint

[NJRobert]

There's been alot of talk about what type of anti-barnacle paint should be used on the metals, trim tabs, etc. This year I tried the Pettit anti-barnacle, in the spray can. The good news is that most of the paint stayed on. The bad news is that the barnacles liked it too!

I had to haul out mid-season, as I was running wide open way under power, and sure enough, they attacked the tabs, prop hub, and the shaft and intakes. Several people in my place have used the Hydrocoat anti-fouling bottom paint on their metals with much success, with no damage to the actual metals. Something I might try next season. I was wondering if anyone has any additional thoughts, what they use, etc? Here in the Northeast, the barnacles can be relentless in the early season.

[RobS]

I use SCUBA

[Carl]

I hauled mine the week before labor day to find the same as you described. In the spring I had put on 3 coats of Interlux Trilux. The paint held up OK, but the barnicles seemed to love it. They really like the area above the recessed trim tabs. I dont think the tabs could return to the up position all the way. Gained 3 knots at cruise RPM!!!! Next time I wont let it go so long. I knew it was bad, but once the jellyfish showed up I convinced myself "its fine". There was nothing on the bottom except for some slime on the waterline.

[chiefrcd]

I too use the Interlux and they loved it in Virginia too. I've not found a thing that will keep it off the metal, except running the boat a lot. That seems to be the best thing to do. I've tried several types of paint and had no luck at all...paint is there...but so is all the growth.

[NJRobert]

I'm seriously thinking of trying Hyrdacoat bottom paint, on the metals. I know someone who has used it on his s/s trim tabs for the past 7 years without a single barnacle issue. And the paint slowly comes off too. I've tried everything else to this point, so I might as well.

[Carl]

Robert, Are you going to use the primers that they recommend? This paint has copper in it so I dont think you want to put it directly onto the metal without some kind of barrier. I wonder if anybody on here has gone through this process?

[Maye Marie]

Might be, being dumb is best. I did not know I was to use a different paint on the metal. When I paint the bottom every thing under water gets the same coat. For three years I have been ok. I am running 200hrs a year so that could be.

[Mariner]

Don't paint the zincs!!! If "everything under water" gets the same paint, you might be covering up those zincs, which are critical to preventing corrosion. You may have been lucky so far, but luck can run out. All it takes is a little stray current and boom, your rudder looks like swiss cheese in a matter of weeks.

Also, i would be very careful painting the metal (prop, skeg, rudder, etc...). It all depends what kind of paint, what kind of metal, what your bonding system looks like. But generally, you never want to use a copper ablative on metal. I've seen it destroy outboards and outdrives.

[Maye Marie]

Mariner,
I was trying to interject a little humor in my reply. Yes I know you do not paint the zincs. Yes you can paint the rudder and prop just don’t paint the shaft. No the paint won’t stay on the bronze very long. Yes a coating on trim tabs will help stop build up. You should run zincs on the tabs if you do this. Yes the spray on coating for the metal is useless