High speed bottom paint

[Mike36c]

I'm planning on keeping my skiff in the Bahamas for the summer and I need to coat the bottom with anti-fouling paint. I need a multi-season hard paint that can be sanded smooth (minimal drag), boat speed with gel-coat approaches 70mph and it would be nice to keep the speed. The waters there are clear and fouling isn't nearly as bad as South FL. Does anyone have experience with this type of application? Thanks

 

[34Hatt]

I would have it painted when I got the boat there then you get the GOOD Stuff. You know with all the bad stuff in it that is illegal here. You get a lot less growth with their paint and that willl keep it going faster.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

VC17 sure is smooth. I've never seen anything quite like it, but I'm not sure how well the antifouling properties are in salt water.

 

[Mike36c]

Thanks Dan but the good (tin) stuff is no longer available at Black Sound GT and Sky, I was looking VC line too which now comes in a biocide (anti-slime) version, it sure would be nice hear some first hand testing.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I've used it for a few years and many others do as well up here in Michigan. It's great stuff for us, but salt water growth is another matter. We use VC17 with the biocide and it cleans off really well. Maynard Rupp has it on his 36C in Florida and is supposed to be updating us on how well it holds up when he hauls next month.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

VC17 sure is smooth. I've never seen anything quite like it, but I'm not sure how well the antifouling properties are in salt water.

So far the VC-17 is superb, Sky. I will let you know for sure when I haul our 36C on march 9th. in Miami. Our diver said it looks just fine.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Thanks Dan but the good (tin) stuff is no longer available at Black Sound GT and Sky, I was looking VC line too which now comes in a biocide (anti-slime) version, it sure would be nice hear some first hand testing.

I am doing that as we speak, Mike. Our 36C was painted last winter, spent the summer in the Great Lakes and moved to Miami starting on Labor Day. the boat has been in Miami and cruising the Keys since late Sept. The diver has wiped it every month and is very pleased. I only allow the diver to use a towel as that stuff is very thin. Not ablative, but it will come off if they get to aggressive with stuff like scotch brite pads.. I will haul the boat in early march and I will report more then. I love the stuff. here in Michigan, all those bottom paints that build up seem to look pretty furry by fall. Our boats with VC-17 don't even need a power washing.

 

[Mike36c]

I am doing that as we speak, Mike. Our 36C was painted last winter, spent the summer in the Great Lakes and moved to Miami starting on Labor Day. the boat has been in Miami and cruising the Keys since late Sept. The diver has wiped it every month and is very pleased. I only allow the diver to use a towel as that stuff is very thin. Not ablative, but it will come off if they get to aggressive with stuff like scotch brite pads.. I will haul the boat in early march and I will report more then. I love the stuff. here in Michigan, all those bottom paints that build up seem to look pretty furry by fall. Our boats with VC-17 don't even need a power washing.

Thanks! It's sounds like the VC offshore might be the answer.

 

[Maynard Rupp]

Thanks! It's sounds like the VC offshore might be the answer.

Not true about the VC offshore. It is not just a beefed up version of VC-17. VC offshore is just another vinyl paint. I am told that it works very well, but it isn't the same idea. The big advantage of VC-17 is that it NEVER builds up. The paint is the viscosity of acetone and the paint film is incredibly thin. With the new "bio-lux" it seems to avoid slime buildup. When you run the boat at good speed, the teflon in the paint causes what little growth you have to fall off. When you look under a boat after a run, the bottom is perfectly clean. The unknown at this point is barnacle resistance. But VC offshore is not the answer IMHO.

 

[Mike36c]

Thanks Maynard, Your right, the VC Offshore is a different animal so I'll stick with the VC w/biocide. Sounds like a good concept as long as the boat gets used often. I'll report on it after the summer.

 

[ohiohatteras]

VC Offshore - got 6 years life out if it - in Great Lakes.
I wouldn't use anything else!

 

[Maynard Rupp]

VC Offshore - got 6 years life out if it - in Great Lakes.
I wouldn't use anything else!

I have heard that it is good paint. It just isn't the same principle as VC-17. I have scraped, sanded, and chemically stripped way too much bottom paint over the years. I like the idea of VC-17 because it never builds up a film that needs to be removed. I am pretty sure that your "offshore" version is a vinyl paint that does have a relatively thick film that eventually needs to be removed.