Its that time again to slip the boat and clean up the underside of the boat.
One piont of discussion which is regularly debated at our marina is, what would be the best colour paint to use?
What colour anti foul paint do others use? and what are the pros and cons?
Looking at most other boats in our area (Sydney - Australia) I am seeing predominantly black being used. Are there advantages to using darker colours as underwater paint for certain water temperatures or is it purely a matter fo choice?. Currently we have the traditional blue paint colour which has given us reasonably good service. The boat was last slipped and painted about 19 months ago.
Thanks for your valued comments.
Bernd Rominger
1995 Catalina 36Mk2, Wing keel, Hull 1413
'BORN FREE'
Gippsland Lakes
Australia
I am jealous.....I wish it was that time of year here.....lucky you!
I historically have used black (Westmarine CPP ablative) and had great results. In fact, I could leave it on for two full seasons without a re-coat. Last year I stripped the bottom and went with a red coat with success. Definitely will have to repaint as it didn't seem to hold up as well. Then again....could be due to not having multiple layers of red yet....
I love the look of red for the bottom. For my taste, simply looks sharper.
good luck and enjoy the season!
Jack Bahen
Kinera - 1985 C36 Mk I Tall Rig
Hull # 422
Annapolis, MD
One of our skippers who sailed from Vancouver, BC to Mexico had black on his hull. He noted that it seemed to attract whales. He didn't think a close encounter would be helpful to the boat...
Stu Jackson, C34IA Secretary, C34 #224, 1986, SR/FK, M25 engine, Rocna 10 (22#)
I suggest putting on a colo(u)r that is different from the base coat that is already on the hull. You'll then be able to assess the performance of the paint over time.
Another idea...I know in your part of the world you don't use our "Red Right Return" on navigation buoys; that your memory aid is to match the bow light colo(U)r to the buoy colo(u)r...red to red, green to green when returning from sea. In this spirit you might consider painting the hull blue, so that you'll not forget which way it's supposed to go. Just match blue to blue and you'll be right, mate.
Larry Brandt
S/V High Flight #2109
Pacific Northwest, PDX-based
2002 C-36 mkII SR/FK M35B
Bernd,
I get in the water and clean the hull of my boat and have done other boats. I have found that the darker the hull, like black, the harder it is to see where you have cleaned. My hull is Navy Blue which is easier to see as well as red on other boats I have cleaned. I'd vote no on black. However with black your not so clean bottom will not look so bad when you are healing over.
Chris
Chris Stewart
S/V "24~7"
1984 Catalina 36 Tall
Hull #251 M25
(SF Bay) Alameda, CA
Bernd
I use blue Altex No 4 down here in Melbourne and it lasts about 2 years I don't think colour has any effect other than aesthetic.
Larry
It's "is there any Red Port (wine) Left going in to port" in our part of the world - the blue on blue is a real help though!
Peter Taylor Melbourne Australia. Altair #2227 2005 C36 Mk11
Thanks Guys
I think I will stay with blue anti-foul paint, at least I won't get confused with going in and out of channels!!
Bernd Rominger
1995 Catalina 36Mk2, Wing keel, Hull 1413
'BORN FREE'
Gippsland Lakes
Australia