Now 'Green' Bottom Paint

[David G]

Anyone know anything more about this product? Personal experience, rumors, thoughts?

http://www.timesunion.com/business/a...ts-3507362.php

[Bobcat]

bet it won't work well. The whole point of bottom paint is to kill marine life after all.

[David G]

Link to the product itself: http://www.hullspeed.us/

[johnw]

Link to the product itself: http://www.hullspeed.us/

Bet it would work, at least on vessels that go fast enough often enough to knock off growth that's trying to get started. And it's got to be better for speed that the old ablative stuff.

[Welding Rod]

Just don't stop.

[Bob Cleek]

Total BS. "Slick" coatings have been around for ages. This one is probably as good as the next one. It is NOT an antifouling coating, save that a lot of stuff probably won't stick to it all that well. (Read their web site carefully. They don't claim it does much but make the boat slicker.) No such coating is any slicker than the surface to which it's applied. Slick coatings have long been used on racing hulls when they want the last little bit of speed possible. I am sure this round's crop of America's Cup boats will all be using some sort of "slickener," AFTER they hand sand them down to 400 grit. In fact, historically, the Claddagh boatmen used to smear butter on the bottoms of their Galway hookers when racing and some probably still do. The effectiveness of that continues to be proven, although discharging oil from the bow was considered seriously enough to be outlawed by some racing rules. It is hard to imagine a wooden boat with a bottom so smooth and flawless that a "slick" coating would be worth the bother and expense. I certainly wouldn't rely on such a coating to prevent borer damage.

As for wooden boats, I doubt the "epoxy" (water based? ... so they claim) coating is thick enough to mechanically deter borers and, in any event, all it takes is the slightest breach in the coating, a plank seam working or a skuff from hitting some flotsam or whatever and a worm will enter and start munching. The poisons in the good old time bottom paints soaked into the wood. Even when the paint wore down, there was enough poison to do a lot of good. The new paints don't seem to have much of any effect compared to the old. They are short lived and work only "when used as directed," which is to say frequent haul outs and repainting.

Sorry about dashing the hopes of the tree-huggers, but there really isn't anything that protects wood in the marine environment short of a really effective biocide... think: "when they try to eat it, they DIE." An effective bottom paint that doesn't kill marine life is an oxymoron.

[johnw]

That's all very well, Bob, but look what's coming down the pike: http://bwsailing.com/cc/2011/06/14/w...-bottom-paint/

[zertgold]

Hmm, their website doesn't really market to sailboat owners.

Link to the product itself: http://www.hullspeed.us/

[Hwyl]

Complete with reviews

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...keyword=ePaint

[Bob Adams]

Complete with reviews

http://www.jamestowndistributors.com...keyword=ePaint

Well:
After considerable research decided to try Epaint. Followed manufacturers instructions to the letter. After six weeks paint was coming off, and all forms of marine growth had formed (barnacles, weeds, and slime). Had to short haul boat to repaint. DO NOT USE this stuff it is garbage

[David G]

Hwy,

You're not saying this HullSpeed stuff is the same as ePaint?

[wizbang 13]

might as well try eggplant' as e paint.
bite me harder, Wa State has surpassed California in one area of enviro lip service.
If I get a 43' bowsprit , on my 23' boat, I may be exempt though!

[johnw]

might as well try eggplant' as e paint.
bite me harder, Wa State has surpassed California in one area of enviro lip service.
If I get a 43' bowsprit , on my 23' boat, I may be exempt though!

As I interpret the law, they want us to keep our boats on trailers.

Unless we're rich enough to own a 66' yacht.

[Soundman67]

just like always. If you have enough money you are exempt from laws.