Antifouling!

[petem]

SCM antifouling guy says...

Micron 350 is more than enough for this marina and is very very good one.

77 and 99 are extremely soft and not recomended in motorboats (and the price for the 99 is..... just unveliable)

Am I right that 350 is an eroding antifouling too? My preference is soft as I don't want hard build up. Also want something that lasts two years (we're not mega mile munchers).

 

[petem]

I must admit I'm totally confused by the range of anti-fouling offered by International. There seems to be four options...

Micron 66
Micron 77
Micron 99
Micron 350

... and I can't even ascertain which are current products and what has replaced what. Anyone know the answer? Anyone know what's good and bad?

 

[Hurricane]

Micron 66 is definitely not current - it was rubbish.

 

[jrudge]

So if Micron 66 is not flavour of the month ( or available ?!) - what is the current 2 season favourite?

Mine was done last August. It was local stuff and after a year it has had it.

Season almost gone so i will get it done next may, but it is simpler to get it to Mallorca anytime from now on.

Squadron 58, planning boat, typically do 20 knots ish if it makes a difference of eroding vs not.

Thank you !

 

[jfm]

I lifted boat in June after a year of m99 and the bottom was perfectly smooth like it had been painted the day before. Awesome and just as good as the awesome m66 and m77. I'm definitely not changing. It remains a two year product in my book.
Ref post #81, Pete, I totally disagree with your Scm guy. M99 etc are meant to be soft so that they wear off. They do that very well, and do not over-wear. I wish they were a bit softer in fact. And I do plenty of 22knot running.
I'll post some pics.

 

[petem]

I lifted boat in June after a year of m99 and the bottom was perfectly smooth like it had been painted the day before. Awesome and just as good as the awesome m66 and m77. I'm definitely not changing. It remains a two year product in my book.

Ref post #81, Pete, I totally disagree with your Scm guy. M99 etc are meant to be soft so that they wear off. They do that very well, and do not over-wear. I wish they were a bit softer in fact. And I do plenty of 22knot running.
I'll post some pics.

Thing is JFM, some websites are saying that Micron 350 replaced Micron 77 so my guy is still recommending a 2-year soft / eroding antifoul!

https://international-yachtpaint.com/en/gb/boat-paint-products/antifouling

https://international-yachtpaint.com/en/gb/boat-paint-products/antifouling/micron-350
https://international-yachtpaint.com/en/gb/boat-paint-products/antifouling/micron-350w
https://international-yachtpaint.com/en/gb/boat-paint-products/antifouling/micron-99

As I said earlier, I can't see the benefit of 99 over 350.

 

[petem]

So if Micron 66 is not flavour of the month ( or available ?!) - what is the current 2 season favourite?

Mine was done last August. It was local stuff and after a year it has had it.

Season almost gone so i will get it done next may, but it is simpler to get it to Mallorca anytime from now on.

Squadron 58, planning boat, typically do 20 knots ish if it makes a difference of eroding vs not.

Thank you !

J, what was the 'local stuff'?

 

[jfm]

Here are some pics. These pics are of june 2018 lift out, 13 months after the 2017 annual lift out where the new M99 was applied for first time (previously m77, now replaced by m99, AIUI), One coat m99 was applied in 2017, and the props/shafts/hilo mech/flap rams were left bare (=my choice)

These first 6 pics are taken immediately after 2018 lift out, before any pressure washing by the yard. As you can see, bottom is smooth - not an ounce of weed. Metal is barnacled as usual. Boat is in Cote D'Azur btw, and was hardly used over winter 2017-18, literally 6 months stationary.

Not much I can add to the pictures really. For the obvious high performance reason shown in these pics, I'm concluding that m99 is as good as m77, and I'm sticking with it. If *I'm being very precise, I think the m77 allowed a very thin layer of green algae to grow above the chine (see pic 2 below) where there is a lot of sunlight. M977 did this, but m99 seems to do it slightly more. But this is totally insignificant in my book, and the drag-significant bottom planing surface of the hull is squaky clean as the pics show.
As I've written on here before I don't rate coppercoat: slime grows and I don't like the green look, and m66/77/99 do an unbeatable job and get my vote (m99 being the onl;y one available, AIUI). M-xx also work on a 2 year basis if you want. All imho

FWIW I did the props in black velox over primer. I'll report back. Not expecting great results but I thought it was worth a try.

 

[John100156]

Pete

Having had two boats in SCM including a Targa-34, the best AF I ever used was M77, definitely two seasons. Nothing including Velox and most snake oils worked on the props.

However, it's not too difficult to beach the legs on a Targa-34, you can then just reach front and back of all four props from the bathing platform. I use to polish them when lifted, then give them a quick scrape every two weeks or so in mid-summer or before a run. Worked really well for us.

Don't rule out CC though on the hull, having observed several boats (including Hurricanes) in SCM, it did seem to work very well. We're popping over 11-16 Oct to visit some friends in SCM, so may pop over if you're still there!

 

[petem]

Pete

Having had two boats in SCM including a Targa-34, the best AF I ever used was M77, definitely two seasons. Nothing including Velox and most snake oils worked on the props.

However, it's not too difficult to beach the legs on a Targa-34, you can then just reach front and back of all four props from the bathing platform. I use to polish them when lifted, then give them a quick scrape every two weeks or so in mid-summer or before a run. Worked really well for us.

Don't rule out CC though on the hull, having observed several boats (including Hurricanes) in SCM, it did seem to work very well. We're popping over 11-16 Oct to visit some friends in SCM, so may pop over if you're still there!

Hi John,

Sadly, International don't seem to make 77 any more and Asnau recommend 350 which I believe replaces it. Keeping props clean is a bit of a pain (as you say, they can be easily reached from the BP) but we do take advantage of the cheap lifts to get the leg and props done. We'll be back out in SCM in Oct but probably before you. It would be good to meet up as I definitely owe you some beers for your kind help last October.

Pete

 

[John100156]

Pete - Roberto is pretty reliable and as said, is an International dealer. He also races a boat with a rag and stick, so knows his stuff. Certainly worth giving 350 a try I reckon. In my experience, most AF's will work pretty well on hulls in SCM. I must say I was impressed with M77 though. Lifts are excellent value so I would not waste money on the props. Rain check on the beers!

 

[John100156]

We tried white Velox on our props, which they supplied FoC for us to trial, be interesting to hear how well the black works, albeit on a slightly larger boat

 

[jfm]

Hi John,

Sadly, International don't seem to make 77 any more and Asnau recommend 350 which I believe replaces it. Keeping props clean is a bit of a pain (as you say, they can be easily reached from the BP) but we do take advantage of the cheap lifts to get the leg and props done. We'll be back out in SCM in Oct but probably before you. It would be good to meet up as I definitely owe you some beers for your kind help last October.

Pete

M99 replaces M77. It's the "pro" product, but looking at the data sheets 350 seems similar (even if "amateur" use) so maybe we're splitting hairs. though I suspect m99 is more potent. Good going choosing a soft/eroding

On the props/velox I will try to dive and photograph this coming weekend to see how it's doing

 

[MapisM]

M99 replaces M77. It's the "pro" product, but looking at the data sheets 350 seems similar (even if "amateur" use) so maybe we're splitting hairs. though I suspect m99 is more potent. Good going choosing a soft/eroding

On the props/velox I will try to dive and photograph this coming weekend to see how it's doing

The pro classification might have something to see with the fact that M99 is mostly recommended for airless spray application, I suppose.
By supporting eroding a/f, you mean as opposed to the traditional hard one? Because if you include CC in the comparison, I beg to differ.
Actually, my experience is way too short to declare myself a full flagged CC fanboy, but as far as I can tell so far, it's impossible to think of a reason to use anything else. Aesthetic aside maybe, but imho life is too short to bother about a couple of inches of weird color above the w/l.

Ref. u/w gear, I always used Velox Plus on the old boat, with somewhat inconsistent results - also considering that her props were spinning (and pushing) nowhere near any P boat.
On the DP, I accepted the Trilux 33 recommendation from the N Adriatic yard before starting the delivery trip (3 hands, above the Adherpox primer used on bare metal). During the trip, I already spotted some parts which were beginning to peel, but I didn't re-check the situation after almost 1200Nm. Will do on the next occasion.

 

[jrudge]

So just go a price on M99 and M350.

Apparently the 99 has biocide in it which 350 does not.

it is expensive! 99 is £1000 + vat for 20 litres. 350 is £860 plus vat.

In Mallorca I can get 30 litres ( seems what i need for 3 coats ) for E1500 + IVA ( ie about the same as uk).

This seems alot compared to others. As long as it works then of course it lasts for 2 years .... current anti foul is Sea Jet ( it was available !) and it failed totally really within 12 months. I was done in Aug 2017 and I got a diver to clean it which to be honest was a mistake - should have lifted.

Any compromise suggestions or just smile and pay the man?!

 

[petem]

That's a lot of dosh Jeremy. Well done for getting a quote for 99, my guy just kept dodging the issue when I asked him to quote for it (said it was for Superyachts and wouldn't last two years). I gave up in the end and went for M350. I suspect he's only put two coats on (I hadn't realised two year protection required three coats) so I'll be interested to see how long it lasts.

 

[petem]

Had to have the boat lifted last week for the drive cables to be changed, new anodes to see us through to the spring (last done in Sept) and also to check the drive oil and bellows.

As a reminder, in September we had two coats of blue self eroding Micron 350 A/F applied on top of white Hemple Racing. That was followed by a 150mile cruise from SCM to Altea. The boat was then unused for 6 months until trips out in May and Ibiza and back in June (160 miles). It's had no lifts / scrubs or anything like that since the paint was applied. Boat is in the Med in what is regarded as the cleanest marina in the Costa Blanca (no fishing boats).

The guys who lifted the boat recommended that the hull was done again but I declined as we'll be using the boat quite a bit now until the end of the season in October and there shouldn't be too much more build up. The guys were also very reluctant to pressure wash the hull as they said that it would strip the current A/F paint off. As the drives were being worked on they have been re-done.

What do you think?

 

[BruceK]

I never jet wash my hull unless I want to strip the AF off. Good call. However a good wipe down with a stiff bristle broom would have been nice.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

The guys who lifted the boat recommended that the hull was done again but I declined as we'll be using the boat quite a bit now until the end of the season in October and there shouldn't be too much more build up. The guys were also very reluctant to pressure wash the hull as they said that it would strip the current A/F paint off. As the drives were being worked on they have been re-done.

What do you think?

If it was me, I'd be pleased about the lack of fouling on the sterngear but not so pleased about the hull fouling. You would expect some hull fouling in areas exposed to sunlight but the fouling under the hull is a bit disappointing

FWIW, since I started boating in the Med I have always used whatever AF paint the locals recommend (without even knowing what it is sometimes) and have never experienced serious hull fouling. Of course sterngear fouling is a very different matter

I'm surprised the yard are recommending not to pressure wash the hull. Surely they can give it a light wash at a lower pressure just to get the worst of the fouling off?

 

[BartW]

I'm surprised the yard are recommending not to pressure wash the hull. Surely they can give it a light wash at a lower pressure just to get the worst of the fouling off?

Agree,
We always lift/antifoul in may or in june, right before the season, A few years ago we did a “soft” pressure wash in februari for doing a engine test / sea trial. Actually we didn’t do any other lift nor new antifouling that season, the old antifoul survived the soft wash, and was good enough for the whole summer.