Micron Antifouling

[richardbrennan]

It appears that International have stopped making Micron Extra and replaced it with Micron 350; this would appear to be primarily in order to meet EU Regulations.

I have been told that the new stuff is nowhere as near effective, although this must be based on the assumption that it is less toxic rather than experience at this stage, but what surprises me is that it is 50% more expensive!

 

[doug748]

BTW my local Force 4 are selling off their Micron at only 90 quid. Only £90 :nonchalance: !
The other stuff is well over a hundred. I normally spend no more than £30 so I must be cracking up.

 

[Lucky Duck]

It appears that International have stopped making Micron Extra and replaced it with Micron 350; this would appear to be primarily in order to meet EU Regulations.

I have been told that the new stuff is nowhere as near effective, although this must be based on the assumption that it is less toxic rather than experience at this stage, but what surprises me is that it is 50% more expensive!

I spotted that a couple of months ago and bought this season's supply while "you" boat still had stock!

 

[laika]

I have been told that the new stuff is nowhere as near effective, although this must be based on the assumption that it is less toxic rather than experience at this stage, but what surprises me is that it is 50% more expensive!

I talked with a guy from International at one of the boat shows last year. The International people have always impressed me. A couple of times in the past I've called them to ask a question about their products and spoken to someone who was both helpful and very, very knowledgeable and talked like product specialists rather than marketeers. This was no exception and I felt I was being talked to honestly. The guy said they were really pleased with 350 and rather than just being a compromise to meet regulations they'd manage to meet regulations and get performance approaching their pro products like (I think) Micron 99.

If I don't get Laika coppercoated in the next few months this will probably be my alternative so I'll report back in a couple of years...

 

[richardbrennan]

I have decided to give Seajet Shogun 033 a try this year as it came up tops in the PBO test. The Micron 350 is £120 for a 2.5 litre can, which I think is a bit steep. However, if the 350 performs as well as Laika reports, I might rethink next year.

 

[Plevier]

I note from the MSDS sheets that whereas Micron Extra 2 contains Zineb, an organic(?) biocide, and Micron Extra before it contained an alternative one, I forget what, Micron 350 just has zinc and copper oxides.
AIUI the copper and zinc oxides are good for repelling barnacles etc, the Zineb etc are much more effective at reducing weed and algal slime. That's why I was using it, being just inside a low salinity quite polluted canal.
So what now differentiates it from much cheaper a/f's that also contain just copper and zinc oxides as the biocides?
It inclines me towards CU-PRO from SML https://www.smlmarinepaints.co.uk/antifouling/CU-PRO that contains another alternative, zinc pyrithione.

 

[ip485]

Very, very impressed with Cu-Pro. After several (every other year) with Micron I gave this a go last time and so far (about 15 months in) it has performed at least as well, and was a great deal easier to (professionally) apply.

 

[sailaboutvic]

I am a bit of a lost this year , we coppercoat out other yacht and for 8 years it worked well ,
this boat came with international A/F and we used the same , this year here in Malta they want 135 euros for 2.5 lts I think we used 3 cans last time ? 42 foot boat which means just over 400 Euros I also might try shogun as it's a lot cheaper and I had some good reports .

 

[Ed_P]

Thanks for the insight and great to hear you had such good interactions with the guys at International. Definitely going to look further into the 350 based on what they are telling you and see if I could get it cheaper than the £120 it currently is.
Has anyone ever had any experiencing with Hempel Tiger Xtra?

 

[fredrussell]

Hempel Tiger Extra is popular on the East coast. I worked at Shotley Marina yard a while back and it’s what they apply unless customer asks for different.

 

[Twin]

Anyone tried Hempel Mille NCT?

 

[pvb]

I note from the MSDS sheets that whereas Micron Extra 2 contains Zineb, an organic(?) biocide, and Micron Extra before it contained an alternative one, I forget what, Micron 350 just has zinc and copper oxides.
AIUI the copper and zinc oxides are good for repelling barnacles etc, the Zineb etc are much more effective at reducing weed and algal slime. That's why I was using it, being just inside a low salinity quite polluted canal.
So what now differentiates it from much cheaper a/f's that also contain just copper and zinc oxides as the biocides?
It inclines me towards CU-PRO from SML https://www.smlmarinepaints.co.uk/antifouling/CU-PRO that contains another alternative, zinc pyrithione.

But Micron 350 has a higher volume of solids, and a higher specific gravity (2.2 vs 1.91), so hopefully it's got more of the nasty stuff in it.

 

[Ed_P]

Hempel Tiger Extra is popular on the East coast. I worked at Shotley Marina yard a while back and it’s what they apply unless customer asks for different.

Thanks Fred, guessing there was not many who asked for different? Seen a good price on the new 2018 formula, so trying to work out if it would be worth it or suck it up and go for the 350.

 

[pvb]

Thanks Fred, guessing there was not many who asked for different? Seen a good price on the new 2018 formula, so trying to work out if it would be worth it or suck it up and go for the 350.

Tiger Xtra is really only good for one season, whereas Micron will last two seasons afloat. Boatyards make a lot of money out of lifting and painting, so it's in their interests to use something which will only last a season. For many years, I've used Micron, with the boat in the water continuously for 2 years. In view of the cost of haul-out, the extra cost of Micron is justified.

 

[De.windhoos]

Micron 350 might be more expensive per litre compared to Extra, but with 350 you need 2 to 3 layers and with Extra you need 3 to 4. So total cost should be the same or even lower.

that said, I know that Extra lasts 2 years in the Aegean, so thats what I bought again this year.

 

[richardbrennan]

I think we will only know at the end of the season whether the Micron 350 is any good. In view of the price, I am going to give Seajet Shogun 033 a try this year and see how I get on.

 

[pvb]

I think we will only know at the end of the season whether the Micron 350 is any good. In view of the price, I am going to give Seajet Shogun 033 a try this year and see how I get on.

I'm guessing you antifoul every year? Why not try a 2-year regime? It saves hundreds in haul-out costs.

 

[Hoolie]

We've achieved a 3-year regime in the Med with Micron Extra EU. Not sure what International will market for the Med equivalent of Micron 350.

 

[richardbrennan]

Being the proud owner of a dark blue hull, we really need to come out once a year in any case to give it a decent polish. Also I have a Volvo folding prop and the anodes only last about six months, I usually come out on the Sealift at Haslar Marina to scrub off and renew them half way through the year. The boat is in commision for 12 months.