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Copper, or cuprous oxide (a copper compound): keeps marine flora and fauna from growing on the bottom of your boat. Toxicants such as copper, are the key to the effectiveness of these types of antifouling paints. Not all antifouling paints are the same. They contain different amounts of copper, have different ways of releasing the copper, and have different binders (the material which keeps the copper in suspension.) Amount of Copper: One difference in antifouling paints is the amount of copper the paint contains. Don't be fooled - more isn't necessarily better. The secret to copper's effectiveness is how fast it's released. The percentage of copper a paint contains will give you an idea of how long the paint will last, but remember that binder type, water conditions, boat speed, frequency of boat use, etc. will also affect service life. Conventional Paint Copper Release: With conventional paints, copper is evenly spread throughout the hard paint film. Once the boat is in the water, the particles closest to the surface dissolve, but the paint itself does not. When the copper dissolves, there is a hole which lets the water dissolve copper further inside the paint. This happens repeatedly until all the copper is gone. Soluble and Ablative Paint Copper Release: Soluble and ablative paints work quite differently. With these paints, the paint itself slowly wears away as the copper dissolves. This continually exposes new copper. The rate of erosion is determined by a number of factors including the chemical composition of the paint, boat speed, and turbulence. Of course, the thickness of the paint layer determines how long the paint itself will last. Application
basics:
At haul out have the bottom pressure-washed. Put up on blocks. Immediately scrape any areas not hit by the pressure-washing, or not done all. Let dry for a day. Grind paint off any spots that need repair (gouges through gelcoat or into laminate, blisters). Should you have those spots, apply repair
filler to those spots. When repair filler
is dry, apply interlux 2000 bottom coat to repaired surface and any other surface that is exposed (if you see gel coat it needs to be covered). Let dry overnight. Scrape entire hull to get smooth, starting with a big hoe-like scraper, then following with a hand-scraper. Apply painter's tape to waterline stripe. Paint entire hull. Let dry overnight before day of Launch.
New hulls
or hulls that have never been bottom painted need to be "roughed up". First with a de-waxer and 80 grit sand paper. Wash off sanding dust and put a coat of Interlux 2000 (2 coats is better) to seal the gelcoat. Then paint with 2 coats of bottom paint.
Running
Gear:
Wire brush all metal surfaces (use electric grinder with wire wheel). Clean with alcohol and apply 2000(let dry according to instruction) and paint with bottom paint.
Running
Gear
Anti-fouling Paint (Propspeed)(scroll down) You can purchase all products discussed online from these fine retailers:
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