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Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2020 7:05 pm
by honestcharlie56
Ha, all the guys at my Shipyard were telling me to seriously consider the coal tar. The shipyard owners said its great....until you need to remove it for any kind of service (thru hulls, anodes, etc.). So I elected to go the normal route, which is the only route I've ever seen here or otherwise. Maybe I'll do it next time.

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 2:47 am
by jralbert
If coal tar is rough, it is likely to slow you down. That's a huge fuel penalty. Maybe it's good anti slime, anti barnacle but the speed issue weighs heavily in considering the product

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 7:35 am
by Fastjeff
Don't ignore Joel's advise. My 32 footer was coated with green slime (not barnacles) and felt like I was dragging the anchor. Scraped her clean myself in shallow water--with a 1 1/2 inch wide putty knife!--and the difference was amazing.

Jeff

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:26 pm
by Bryank97
The speed never cross my mind as in houseboats we are lucky with anything over 20mph. The growth thing must be subject to where you boat. I bought my 32 in Cheboygan Michigan, Water so clear I could see the rudders, when we pulled for winter there was nothing to pressure wash....and my bottom paint is white/light grey.

In Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on the Allegheny River, we haul out every year, we do pressure wash, but its not like a heavy growth.
In Louisville Kentucky, Ohio river (Most boats stay in year round) when dad and uncle bought boats HEAVY growth/Zebra Mussels
At Pluckebaum, they scraped the underneath with a shovel first...then pressure washed...now thats bad.

My 32 Sedan is going to Erie PA, Lake Erie... I hope I do not get much growth but I have no clue what to expect.

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 6:36 pm
by Bryank97
Just a couple Zebra Mussels from the Ohio River, Think that would slow you down?

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2020 7:53 pm
by bcassedy
Boat's in the water this winter for first time in 10 years. I can see streaming algae growth along the bottom/sides that are submerged. Had just painted bottom last spring. Biocide seems a little weak. Thinking of pulling boat this spring to clean -or- bite the bullet, take a dip (when water temp allows) and scrub bottom as best I can.
Planning on pulling her at the end of this coming season. Might consider the coal tar option.
Joel/others... I hear you on finish using coal tar. Haven't used it before BUT if it's possible to get a smooth finish (possibly using plastic trowel/scraper), would that not mitigate a drag/poor mileage-performance issue?

Bill

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 6:58 am
by Fastjeff
The downside of non-copper bearing anti-fouling paints is that they don't work anywhere near as well (but we have no choice).

I read where the British (in the 17th century) sheathed the entire bottom of their wooden sailing ships with copper! Imagine what that would cost today.

Jeff

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 8:28 am
by saltine
After going down the rabbit hole of paint info I came up with a plan to go aluminum mcu base coat (aluthane). Looks similar to naked aluminum which I think is cool. Then I picked up a pail of Sherwin Williams coal tar mcu to overcoat the bottom. Should dry candy smooth. Planning to spray apply.

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 6:05 pm
by Bryank97
saltine wrote:After going down the rabbit hole of paint info I came up with a plan to go aluminum mcu base coat (aluthane). Looks similar to naked aluminum which I think is cool. Then I picked up a pail of Sherwin Williams coal tar mcu to overcoat the bottom. Should dry candy smooth. Planning to spray apply.
Spraying coal tar? That has to be a messy job. Dad I believed used a fine roller, it turned out pretty smooth if i recall. I supposed you could roll and tip it if you were picky.

Re: Seacoat Sea-speed bottom paint

Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2020 8:34 pm
by saltine
Bryank97 wrote:
Spraying coal tar? That has to be a messy job. Dad I believed used a fine roller, it turned out pretty smooth if i recall. I supposed you could roll and tip it if you were picky.
I think MCU paints are a completely different animal from old school coal tar. The application guide says airless, conventional spray, roll and brush are all options and gives specifics on gun setup. I admit at this point I am just convincing myself since I have never used it but I am pumped to try. I will be shooting the frame of squarebody GM with it first just to get the hang in a non cosmetic application. All and any advice is welcome.