Intertuf for keel protection

[Lyndon]

I went down to my local canal boat chandlery yesterday to see what they could offer me to protect the keel on my Kelt 850. They suggested International Intertuf which is a bitumen based product used on narrow boats to help resist corrosion, I was assured that it would be compatible with antifoul and that it should do the job.
Anyone else tried this stuff?

 

[dignity]

I use it on a steel motor barge, it is very effective in fresh water, not sure how good it would be in salt water. Also not quite sure how compatable it is with antifoul, ring internationals help-line they normally very informative.

 

[AndrewB]

There are now epoxy versions of bitumen primers which are tougher and possibly more suitable in salt water as a corrosion inhibitor. For example <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatpaint.co.uk/acatalog/Boat_Paint_Catalogue_Skipper_Two_Component_Primer_and_Undercoats_57.html>Skipper's Amtar</A>.

I've been using these paints (including Intertuf, but others are cheaper) successfully in the bilges of a steel yacht for a number of years. But I haven't ever tried overcoating them with other types of paint.

The application instructions must be followed precisely to ensure bitumen paint (epoxy or conventional) goes off properly. Even then, it can stay feeling slightly tacky for several weeks after application.

Incidentally, I think I read somewhere that Intertuf is being discontinued. Its replacement <A target="_blank" HREF=http://us.yachtpaint.com/Images/15_6241.pdf>VC-Tar2</A> is epoxy but (despite the name) not bitumous. However it is specifically recommended as an anti-corrosion keel primer prior to antifouling.