Best Bottom Paint For Salt Water. I am going to bottom paint the boat but Im wondering what is the best bottom paint for salt water. Even in our part of the Hudson which is brackish to salty - tidal we can get nasty barnacle growth that without anti-fouling paint would be a major headache.
Antifouling paint is imperative when it comes to saltwater unless you have a boat lift. Pettits SR-21 fared the best in our testing but we hear from many sailors or are just as happy with Interluxs VC-17. Formulated with new Activated Biolux anti-slime technology the two-part packaging you simply mix them together allows the antifouling ingredients to combine more effectively at the time of application.
VC 17 seems to be the paint of choice for fresh water but we use an ablative paint that discourages barnacles.
For the hull I would choose a quality ablative multiseason paintstore brand is made by pettit or Interlux and is OK. This shortens project times and reduces your maintenance costs. In general any of the thin-film paints should do well in a freshwater environment. Will I harm the paint by trailering the boat now and again.
