Micron 350

R

richardbrennan

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 Dec 2008
Messages
1,595
Visit site
I switched from the old Micron to Seajet 033 a couple of years ago when the new stuff came out with a 50% price rise and an unproven track record. Now that it's been around a few years can anyone share their experience of Micron 350 as it has now come down considerably in price. I am particularly interested in how it compare with the old Micron. This year the Seajet does not seem to have done particularly well, although whether that's due to the product or other factors such as reduced use of the boat and warm weather is something I'll need to consider; previously I have thought it pretty much on a par with the old Micron.
 
I've used Micron (in whatever flavour) for years. If you put the right quantity on the boat, it works. I lift and antifoul every second summer, when liftouts are cheap, and the boat stays in the water for the rest of the 2 years.
 
pvb said:
I've used Micron (in whatever flavour) for years. If you put the right quantity on the boat, it works. I lift and antifoul every second summer, when liftouts are cheap, and the boat stays in the water for the rest of the 2 years.
Click to expand...
That is what i have been doing for the past 5 years with no obvious change in performance from micron 2 to 350. Agree that you need 2 generous coats and I only haul out every 2 years although I do use the scrubbing posts once or twice per year mainly for anodes and prop cleaning {no antifouling on prop). I am just starting my second year and dried out on the posts last Saturday 8 months since the last time. Just needed a light brush with a soft brush to remove the slime that had built up due to the recent inactivity. Anodes had disappeared!

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Thank you PVB and Plum. I see you're both on the East Coast, I am in Portsmouth Harbour and my practice with both Micron and Seajet has been two coats plus an extra one on bows, keel and rudder. Until this year I have mainly been getting a coat of slime which comes off fairly easily, with just a green beard on the waterline appearing later in the season as the water warms up. I do this every year as with a dark blue hull, I need to come out for a good polish in anycase. You both seem to be saying that the new Micron 350 is just as good as the old stuff, so I may revert.
 
I was initially impressed after my change from SeaJet to Micron Extra, but in the Portugese rivers the Micron suffered badly and never recovered. It also sloughs off in massive clouds if you even so much as look at it sideways, where as the Seajet 034 was pretty robust.

Another thing, Seajet produce a primer you can use before applying their paints to ensure maximum adhesion. International don't offer anything like a tie-coat so if you've ever had anything else on your hulls you're playing a guessing game as to how well it will stick.
 
richardbrennan said:
Thank you PVB and Plum. I see you're both on the East Coast, I am in Portsmouth Harbour and my practice with both Micron and Seajet has been two coats plus an extra one on bows, keel and rudder. Until this year I have mainly been getting a coat of slime which comes off fairly easily, with just a green beard on the waterline appearing later in the season as the water warms up. I do this every year as with a dark blue hull, I need to come out for a good polish in anycase. You both seem to be saying that the new Micron 350 is just as good as the old stuff, so I may revert.
Click to expand...

Last season's experience was that it benefited from using the marina Brizo to remove slime in late October/early November but otherwise was fine when lifted out in late February. In theory the white stuff is less effective than other colours.

Bought this season's paint at £89 for a 2.5 litre tin which was the same price point as Micron 2 was a couple of years back.
 
It is difficult to choose an ablative AF based on the experiences of others. AF perform best on yachts that see reasonably movement and one persons regular movement (and the speed at which their yacht moves) - will be different. AF will also perform differently on yachts that are kept in different environments, a mooring with some freshwater and a sheltered marina with warm(er) water will result in different results.

I'd generalise and say you get what you pay for and be generous with your coatings (and generous coatings are emphasised above). AF is expensive and too many people try to eke it out to save money. Considering the effort necessary to apply AF and the usefulness of a coating that performs - trying to eke it out is not very sensible nor successful.

Jonathan
 
Neeves said:
Considering the effort necessary to apply AF and the usefulness of a coating that performs - trying to eke it out is not very sensible nor successful.
Click to expand...

Exactly! That was the logic behind my original move to 2-yearly antifouling. Plus, I do it in the summer when lift-outs are cheap and the weather is much more conducive to antifouling and topside polishing. I probably use 50% more antifoul than others would use on an annual basis, but taken overall it's much cheaper.
 
richardbrennan said:
I notice that the grey Micron is designated "Micron 300" rather than "350", as this is the colour I would use, does anybody know why?
Click to expand...

It seems to be a different formulation. If you look at the data sheets, Micron 350 has a much higher specific gravity than Micron 300 (2.2 vs 1.9) and I always think that antifouls with higher specific gravities work better.
 
As PVB says - an active ingredient in most AF is a compound of copper (thiocyanate?), it has a high SG. One way to judge AF is simply to look at its SG, or the amount of copper (or copper compound) quoted and buy the AF with the highest amount. Its not quite that simple as AF contain other active ingredients that also contribute to their performance - but the amount of copper is a good start.

A 20l drum of AF can be a real struggle for we wimps to lift into the back of a car because of the amount of copper - so be careful.

Jonathan
 
No - Micron 300 - its ablative - but apparently only available in grey

Micron 350 is also ablative - and the implication is - available in a range of colours (but I cannot define what they are).

edit 350 available in (what looks like, black, dark blue, lighter blue and a dark red


Jonathan
 
Last edited:
Reply from the manufacturer: "There is not much difference apart from there is only one colour in Micron 300 but 350 seems to perform a little better than 300 but both very good eroding antifoulings.

Martyn Bridge UKechnical Sales Advisor, UK YachtA AkzoNobel/ Marine, Protective & Yacht"

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
 
Grey is the best colour for me with a dark blue hull. However, I am reluctant to use an inferior product and I see that International do not claim a two year life for the 300. White would be another possibility, but again that seems a different product labeled 350w. I suppose I might just get away with black which seems the only safe bet, or stick with the Seajet 033.
 
I used over many years Micron Extra, moved on to Micro Extra 2 then recently 350. Agreeing with someone above, performance varies a lot with exact location, use of vessel and cruising speed of vessel. Examples: a slowish 24fter might not go fast enough to knock off slime and other stuff, whereas a yacht that can hit 7kts or more would probably wipe itself clean often when underway, is it way up in a large harbour such as Poole, Langstone or Chichester with lots of nitrates in the surrounding area run off and less refreshing open sea water getting in and out, is it berthed/moored in strongish tide or in relatively static water, is the yacht shaded in it's berth by yachts on either side, is the boat out at sea twice a week/ once a week/monthly/always, when at sea is it usually calm or choppy/rough. I reckon it will take a while for an owner to find out what works for your location and use. Even with local knowledge on what works on a 35fter may not be suitable for a 24fter in the same locality.

As for 350, my own experience is that it is very much better than its predecessor Micron Extra 2. But it is very expensive so I have high expectations for it. My 350 applied as per the instructions was put on in January 2019 and is still OK. I have wiped it down gently with a soft brush twice (not jet washed). It probably could do with a very gentle brush off again soon. I will be very pleased if it is still Ok as the water warms up through June/July. In some of the usual UK locations I could visualise it will do 2 seasons, with care. It appears to be a completely different product, not just a tweak to the chemicals. As per the instructions you need to protect yourself, a good mask is essential because the fumes are very unpleasant. It appears to have a kind of resin texture and appearance. When you do a mid season wipe down it does not fall away in huge clouds like the Extra 2 did, but still needs on a gentle rub/brush off because too vigorous and the paint will bleed away. For a mid season wipe down I either dry out against posts and use a soft dustpan brush with water, or dive on it with a soft broom and dustpan brush. Maybe a faster (7kts plus) yacht would clean itself.

Through last summer the 36ft yacht on the mooring opposite mine has been using another manufacturers product for many years and they seemed happy with it, applied once year when dried out between one tide. So they must have found exactly what suits them. I would hazard a guess that in low fouling areas and repaint every year then one could use a cheaper product and be perfectly satisfied.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

M
Galeon in the 50ft Class – Hoping to Borrow a Bit of Owner Wisdom
Replies
4
Views
362
Elessar
Elessar

Share this page

Top