We're getting ready to pull the boat out of the water for a bottom job. Has anybody seen anything new in the market that lasts longer than the usual suspects in anti-fouling paints? In searching the net, I came across Blue Water paints, that received the 2003 NMMA Innovation of the year award. Are any yacht forums members familiar with it?
Getting the right one Is half the battle Duoporop. It all depends on a lot of factors. Like water temp and the amount of use your boat gets as well as how fast your boat goes. For 4example - you might ask a pro fisher what he uses and select that - and it MIGHT be a mistake. Why? Wel he may use his boat every day - and possibly at speeds twice your cruise, say 40 knots (if its a large modern vessel).. That fellow would choose a hard, high build, high speed, abalative, self polishing co-polymer antifoul. Why? Well he travels fast so the paint needs to be hard to stand up to the abraisive force of the water. It needs to be high build (lots of coats/thick) to not wear away before the fishing season is over. Now you ask him what he uses, and apply that to a slow 20 knot hull thats gets used 4 times a year - you don't go fast enough to wear any of the hard paint away hence the weed growth stays attached, you use it so seldom that the weed really grows like 10 bastards on the bottom of your hull, and then likely you claim it to be a dud antifoul paint. Truth is you probably should have selected a soft, slow speed, low build, ablative self polishing co-polymer antifoul paint for your craft. It's all about getting one suited to your vessel/usuage chartacteristics. Good luck!
Powerboat Reports has done an annual bottom paint review. You muight want to check their website at: http://www.powerboat-reports.com/backissues/paint_other_coatings.html I've had good luck with Interlux Ultra, but I believe there are some newer paints with better properties that you're looking for.
I have used Trinidad here in SoFL with good results. Prep is key, and be sure to do the underwater metal (running gear, trim tabs, through hulls, etc.)