Changing antifoul type

[Shuggy]

I’ve just had the hull sand blasted, removing 20 years’ worth of red antifoul and hopefully allowing us to be a bit more slippery through the water. I need to sand the hull and apply Primocon but I’m also thinking of changing antifoul type for cosmetic reasons (I know, I know).

We’ve used red Cruiser 250 (previously Cruiser Uno) since we got the boat 11 years ago because that was what was on here then and I knew it worked well where we keep the boat - in a sea loch with relatively low salinity.

I’d like to change the antifouling to a lighter colour, which would be white in Cruiser 250 or grey in Trilux 33.

43 foot sailing boat, family cruising with some light racing from time to time. Used frequently through the season, which is 1st April to 30th September. Swinging mooring.

Any opinions on Trilux 33?

Thanks.

 

[pvb]

Trilux is usually recommended for aluminium boats, and for saildrives/outdrives. I use it on my saildrive, and it's fine.

If you're only afloat for half the year, perhaps stick with Cruiser, as it's cheaper than Trilux. If you're tempted to antifoul only every 2 years, go for Micron (which is the same price as Trilux). I use Micron and it lasts 2 years with the boat afloat all year round.

 

[Shuggy]

Ah - thanks. I hadn't come across Micron so will go and have a look.

 

[johnalison]

The only antifoul that I have come across that is even half effective is International Optima, though I haven't used enough to prove that no others exist. Optima has one advantage in being water-based. The ten minutes or so needed before use is hardly a problem since one can get on with other jobs. The disadvantage for me is that it takes an hour to cure before immersion can take place. This means that I can't leave a pot and brush for the yard to use on the patches left by the props, because it will have gone off if I have pre-mixed it, and there will not usually be enough time for it to cure properly. However, a friend used it on a nearby mooring for many years while we use a standard AF, and his boat was invariably almost clean when hauled out, compared to ours.

 

[Shuggy]

I’ve never heard of Optima either so I shall go digging further. Thank you.

 

[Shuggy]

Optima is now retired.

 

[johnalison]

Optima is now retired.

That must be fairly recent. I last used it about three or four years ago.

 

[stu9000]

Is it not the case that new regs mean even well known established brands are using new formulas?

 

[Lucky Duck]

About two years ago International 'retired' most of thier existing products (Cruiser Uno, Micron Extra, Optima, etc) and brought in thier current range along with a hike in prices! Later some of the older stock was being sold off with large discounts so it may well have been regulations forcing the change.

Prices seem to have dropped again so this year I was able to buy two tins of Micron 350 for the same price as a Micron Extra a couple of years back.