Chuck,

I'm scheduled for a bottom paint job at a boatyard in San Diego next month. They will be applying two coats of Interlux Ultra, three on the waterline and strike areas (bow, keel & rudder). I've been told that Interlux Ultra is a good SoCal paint. Not sure exactly how much paint will be used.

Tony

Just painted my bottom with wing keel. [B]Took two gallons.[/B] Single thin coat rolled on, double coat on rudder and waterline. Three coats using brush on top and bottom of rudder and rudder post indent. Wear gloves, long sleeves, pants. Tin foil the pan to reuse if you're a cheapo like I am....

The general" answer to the choice of the proper bottom paint in your sailing area is:

1. Other skippers on your dock (sometimes they know, sometimes they're clueless :()

2. local boatyards

3. bottom cleaner / divers

That's who I'd ask.

Something that works in Florida or Northern California might not work for you, even though we're all in saltwater.

[QUOTE=stu jackson c34;22134]
2. local boatyards[/QUOTE]

Boatyard personnel are the least reliable source for an anti fouling paint recommendation, IMHO. They only see a particular boat bottom every two or three years (or less.) Therefore they don't have any idea how that boat's paint has performed or how well/often it was maintained in the interim . In other words, they don't have a clue if the paint worked well or not. What the boatyard knows is what they've been told by the sales rep and which paint earns them the highest profit margin.

Pettit Trinidad is the most effective, longest lasting paint available in California, IMHO. Two coats everywhere, three at the waterline and leading/trailing edges of the appendages, as per manufacturer's recommendations. You may find the yard trying to talk you into a single coat. Don't fall for it. They know with less paint you'll be back for another haulout that much sooner.