How to choose the Best Bottom Paint For Your Boat
Bottom paint is applied below the waterline on your boat, and typically refers to antifouling paint that prevents marine growth from clinging to your hull. Antifouling paint forbids aquatic growth such as barnacles, mussels, and sometimes oysters, and plant growth from attaching to your trawler. Most antifouling paints use the diffusion of metallic elements within the paint to halt these foul critters from bonding.
With all the different bottom paints out there, it’s hard to choose which is best for your boat. It seems like every manufacturer has something which in their opinion makes them better than the other guys. Not only that, but even different product lines by the same manufacturer can seem to contradict each other, each one claiming to be the best for your boat. So here are some types of paints which can be best suitable and reliable.
But there are many factors to consider before you get the perfect paint for each boat and it differs depending upon the requirement. Type of water the boat will be used in, type of hull, how fast the boat will be going and a host of other factors enter into the equation making a definitive guide on which paint is best all but impossible. So here are the steps to show you the process to find the perfect paint for your boat and budget.
The first choice to be made is the brand of paint. Sometimes cost will determine this, but make sure you ask around. Everyone has their own opinion as to which brand is best, so ask people whose opinion you trust. Interlux and Pettit are two of the most popular, but there are plenty more. Once you have chosen the brand you want to use, check out the manufacturer's website for helpful information on what the best paint is for your application.
If they get too technical, take notes and either ask someone who knows such things(marinas and boat mechanics, if you are friendly with any), or calls the customer support line for the brand you are looking at. Manufacturer's websites can be helpful after you have chosen your paint as well. They usually list important information like how many coats to use and which thinner they recommend.
Once you have processed all the details, you should have a pretty good idea about what paint you want to use. You may want to do a Google search and get some reviews on that particular line, just to make sure you have all the facts. Just remember, don't be scared by a couple of bad reviews, as long as there are an abundant amount of good ones.
Choosing the right Boat bottom paint can seem overwhelming given all the different choices, but if you follow these simple steps you can make an informed decision on the perfect paint for your boat.
