Commercial Bottom Paint - Anti-Fouling Paint Used On Ships

**cmjeff** · June 10th, 2011, 04:53 PM

I have and old friend who bought an old workboat to do fishing tours and he is having problems keeping the bottom of the boat clean from barnacles, etc. So he asked me what the commercial ships use to paint their bottoms. The last time I was involved with painting a ship's bottom I think we used Intersleek but, the question is... which commercial bottom paint is best for anti-fouling?

Also...

What is in the paint that keeps the barnacles off?

And..

What is in the paint used in other countries? I was once in Indonesea and the agent offered to get us Tin based paint on the black market, he said that nothing prevents marine growth like tin, but I hear it's deadly to marine life in the harbor and, since my buddy's customers all fish, he has no interest in harming the marine environment.... but he's heard of other captain's mixing "additives" into their paint (e.g. everything from Mildercide from Home Depot to shavings from lead-free solder to chili pepper) that may or may not be legal. I've also heard the Navy uses some pretty nasty stuff that can only be purchased & applied overseas.

**NAUTICART** · June 10th, 2011, 05:35 PM

Hey cmjeff, what type of hull???

I never seen any difference in growth from hulls where they used cyan pepper mixed in paint, my theroy is it gets dilluted in the biga$$ body of water it's in.

The "ablative" paints, in theroy, gradually wear while under way, and inhibit the barnacles from "seeding" to the boat. Well it only takes 24 hours for a barnacle to do this and be seen with the naked eye. So running the boat often would be best for that option.

I don't remember anything about Tin in paints that we used at the ship yard 100 or so years ago.

If he can make it/ or not to clear waters, I would just get used to taking it out and diving the bottom frequently to maintain.

I like to check all intakes frequently.

Interlux and petit make a clear antifouling paint he can use on the sea strainers.

I'm not up with the industry like I used to be, but I would contact the manufacturer, they don't spend millions on research to have thier product fail.

Some paints require a pesticide certification and license for application. Thats where the small boat yards stick ya.

I would come and do it, but plane tickest and beer would get expensive.

**Mr 100-ton** · June 10th, 2011, 08:27 PM

if he does a search on the following forum it will give him lots of info

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/

it is a sailboat forum that has covered the topic

**john** · June 10th, 2011, 08:31 PM

Originally Posted by cmjeff

What is in the paint that keeps the barnacles off?

Why not check the MSDS sheets? It should list most of the ingredients... at least the nasty ones.

Tin was outlawed many years back and was replaced with TBT which is still manufactured in the US but is illegal in most states. But I think you're on the right track asking what the Navy uses... since they don't have to follow the laws. I remember talking to a supplier of fixed-firefighting systems in Singapore who said the Navy ships still come in to port to load up on Halon which has been banned in the US.