Alternative Bottom Paint - Port of San Diego Project

[jmoses]

All,

After a few years of working WAY WAY too much, I found my way back to ErisonYachts.org. WOW..... what a really nice site. The wealth and breadth of knowledge as well as members is amazing. I still have me ol' 1972 E- 35 MKII now located here in San Diego (South Bay). Sad to say, I work too much and the boat is crying for use.

Anyway, I have made the leap into the Port of San Diego's Federal EPA grant "Alternative bottom paint" project. After their own in-house research, the Port came up with about 10 copper alternative paints, some already on market some right out of the chem. lab. I was selected to get a new Teflon soft coating that is clear...... yes a clear bottom paint.

Having used Pettit's Trinidad SR, I noticed a decline in its performance over the past 8 years. Here in San Diego, the paint was barely working after a year (no regular diver service, just occasional scrubs).

Then came the Port of San Diego's (P of SD) project and I figured I'd give it a go. The boat is out of the water now and has to be stripped of all prior paint. Then a white epoxy barrier coat is to be applied, with a proprietary clear tie coat in between the the clear Teflon based bottom paint and white epoxy base coat. The nice part is P of SD pays for all costs outside of haul out fees. I have started taking pictures and will post as they progress along.

It will be interesting to see how the 'new' paints pan out. Some are zinc based, some are Teflon, some are straight biocides and some are who-know's what.

Anyway, I thought I put it out there and see what happens. BTW, P of SD is looking for a few more boats (Shelter Island Harbor especially), so navigate to P of SD webs site and read up on the study. It's been interesting having participated in the project since last July or so with protocols, feedback, assessing growth, etc.

John M

 

[treilley]

One question comes to mind with clear AF paint. How do you know when to repaint?

 

[rwthomas1]

One question comes to mind with clear AF paint. How do you know when to repaint?

Probably when you are knocking the growth off with a machete.... I've yet to read a review where "alternative" antifouling do anything better than the traditional stuff except lighten your wallet. RT

 

[Guy Stevens]

And scrub once a week.

If you read the report from the study, one of the assumptions of the reports is that boat owners PAY divers to scrub the bottom of their boats between once a week and once a month with no boats going unscrubed for over a month.

The report itself is flawed badly and is biased in favor of products that do not work at all.

It is a shame rather than deal with the problems that really contribute to the pollution of the water they are again going after the recreational boaters......

Guy

 

[Emerald]

I've always found it ridiculous to include a dive service as part of the paint test. In my mind, that's why I am willing to pay a premium for a good bottom paint - to keep from having to pay a diver to scrub my bottom. If I was doing that, I'd buy the cheapest junk I could. Doing a dive weekly, you could probably get away with house paint.

 

[rwthomas1]

Here in RI, at least with the crowd I hang with, a diver is only used in the spring. And thats only if you wintered in the water and need the zincs changed, hull checked and shaft scraped if needed. Thats it. Antifouling paint does the rest. We get the same crap here too. Overemphasis on recreational boating since we're an easy target. Must be wealthy if we own a "yacht" The cities and towns in this state pollute far, far more than all the recreational boaters combined X10. Everytime there is a really heavy downpour all the sewer systems overflow into the Bay, close beaches, kill shellfish, etc. Yeah, and the problem is recreational boating.... Right. Bloody idiots.

I've already vowed if they make ineffective but "environmentally friendly" paint mandatory here, I'll import the real stuff, from out of state or country if necessary. They can kiss my "transom"

RT

 

[jmoses]

The diver issue is simply to assess the growth (1 through 5) if any.... there is to be no scrubbing unless necessary (i.e. over a 3 rating). As for cost, the Port is taking the burden and owner pays only if bottom is scrubbed with a set fee depending on size of vessel (mine = $20.00 per month and only if scrubbed). Coating assessment is done on a three week interval and if no scrubbing is required, then owner doesn't pay. The notion of a diver appearing every week is not correct. I am also of the opinion part of the copper paint problem is way too much scrubbing of bottoms. I do a scrub once or twice a year if needed. Here in san Diego, the divers are aggressive salespeople and want you on an annual contract for 3 week scrubs...., that is WAY too much.

As for the paints being a sham, I find it a bit presumptious to criticize paints that are not even on the market yet. I have had involvement with study for nearly a year now and have had interaction with anti-fouling chemists and coating specialists for 6 months now. Being a skeptic by nature, as well as a researcher at NASA for 6 years, it has made me ask the inevitable question "Prove it". Keep in mind large cargo/cruise ships are using Hempels (and others) soft teflon paints with 5 year painting intervals. I agree, some of the paints are not viable and Port has dropped them (water based paints, etc.).

At the end of the day, copper paints in CA will be on the endangered product list just as tin was 20 years ago, and mercury in float switches and thermometers are now in CA.

As for the report being "..flawed badly and is biased in favor of products that do not work at all. " I'd like to hear the flaws and products that do not work so I can pass them on and improve the study. It is not my intention to start a 'flame war', but get facts and pass them on. As for longevity of paints, the clear paint I signed up for is approximately 2 years and if a machete is needed, the paint company will remove the paint and apply the original paint prior to stripping. I have a contract and it addresses both concerns of the participants - my need for an effective bottom paint that is viable, doesn't promote excessive growth, last as at least one year, and if it fails, I have redress to the situation. In turn, P of SD has certain rights as well (free access to bottom, participate for 2 years unless boat is sold or moved due to transfers, filming and photography of boat and bottom paint application/inspection and cleaning process, etc.).

At the end of the day, copper wil be on the way out in certain harbors in CA and if no one steps up to test them, we'll all be in a bind at some point in future. I took a gamble and if any of the paints work wells, good on me and you'll see those paint in a few years. If my paint doesn't pan out, then I chalk it up to a gamble that didn't work. I'll be sure to let folks know which paints failed and which ones work.

Imagine if Columbus listened to all the nay sayers - your going to 'sail off the edge'. I can only imagine the first roller furler as well: "That ain't gonna work" "too complicated", etc. Somebody had to step up and try it and work out the kinks and bugs and wa la, I have one and I bet most others do as well.


John M.

 

[jmoses]

Mid-Way through Bottom Job Picture

Forgot to upload bottom picture with barrier coat applied. Tie coat and bottom paint are yet to be applied.