What paint would you use on your rudders?

[Tony E]

Hello all, I just had to do some fiberglass repairs on my rudders from last year ( please don't ask ) and I am up to the point of putting on new paint. I had painted my rudders before and I ordered an anti-fowling paint as the rudders are in the water quite a bit. The problem is that when you are climbing up the ladder from a swim or boarding the 26X that a chalk like substance wipes off and gets all over you. I sent an email to the paint company and one of the sales reps suggested I used this other kind of paint that is clearly listed as "above the water line" and once I pointed that out I have never heard from him again Has anyone ever had to paint their rudders? If so what kind of paint did you use and how is it holding up? If you have a brand name and kind that would be great. I had to order this paint from a store on the west coast of Canada and get it shipped here and it was like $100 for a pint so its pretty rich but as long as it works I would be happy. Thanks for your help!!!

[kurz]

painted the rudders to.

I used coppercoat. Shall give you 15 to 20 years of usage.

Is good now for 4 years... Hope for the next 15

[DaveC426913]

I had painted my rudders before and I ordered an anti-fowling paint as the rudders are in the water quite a bit.

You know there's an easier way of keeping your rudders clear.

Stop feeing bread crumbs to the ducks!

[Tony E]

Does Coppercoat leave that powdery chalk when touched or is it just like a regular paint to the touch? Can I ask where you bought it at? Thanks

[kurz]

I bought coppercoat in germany.

It is an epoxy. First you put the epoxy in a box the second mix it 1 Liter epoxy with 2kg of copper powder.

The roll it 4 times on the boat.

The surface is hard, as it is epoxy

[kadet]

Depends on your boat use. If you leave it on the trailer most epoxy/copper based paints lose their effectiveness if out of water for longer than 60 days.

For trailerable boats out of the water for any length of time I would use Pettit's VIVID.

[NiceAft]

Copper bottom paint is now questionable as an environmentally safe product. This article is four years old.

Ray

http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2012/february/copper.asp

[kadet]

Nothing to do with boating is environmentally friendly unfortunately, if the powers that be had their way you would not be able to use a powered GRP boat. The use, manufacture of, and disposal of which is extremely environmentally unfriendly.

Any antifouling paint by it's nature as a biocide is going to be environmentally unfriendly that is it's purpose, to kill marine growth that would otherwise attach to the hull. Barrier coats that require frequent scrubbing introduce other problems for the environment in their manufacture and the extra use of hydrocarbons required to haul boats more frequently. This does not solve the problem only moves it.

I love the way here every boater was forced to put in non-discharging toilets because of the environmental damage raw sewage was doing to our marine park. Yet there are 5 council sewage treatment plants that discharge directly into the bay with millions of litres of sewage everyday. I am sorry but an untreated cr@p from a boat poses no environmental threat, where do they think the dolphins, whales, dugong' turtles and fish etc.. cr@p?

I have sailed past a whale after it cr@pped man that was some nasty smelling slick

And this I think sums it up from the article

This ban applies only to private recreational boats 65-feet and under. That leaves commercial, government, research, and for-hire passenger vessels — not to mention large ocean-going ships that frequent Washington waters — free to discourage marine growth with paint that recreational boaters can't use. And the fine, if they do, is a maximum $10,000 per day.

The truly only environmentally friendly boat would be a log from a tree that fell down naturally, but then again it could be argued that you stole the nutrients from the forest that a decomposing log would return.

Everything in boating is a compromise.

[NiceAft]

One step at a time. One step at a time.

Ray

[gabid]

... Has anyone ever had to paint their rudders? If so what kind of paint did you use and how is it holding up? If you have a brand name and kind that would be great...

On rudders I used same paint as for topside (4 years ago). No problems, because rudders stay in water only while underway.
Brand used : Interlux Brightside

[kurz]

Depends on your boat use. If you leave it on the trailer most epoxy/copper based paints lose their effectiveness if out of water for longer than 60 days.

For trailerable boats out of the water for any length of time I would use Pettit's VIVID.

coppercoat says:


Yes. Coppercoat is a permanent epoxy coating and therefore unlike traditional anti-fouls, is not affected by drying out. Coppercoat is the perfect choice for dry moorings and trailered boats as it is highly abrasion resistant.

see:
http://coppercoat.com/faqs/

[Cougar]

Hi Kurz,

What did you have on the boat before Coppercoat? I am also considering Coppercoat, but in order do do that I have to strip the hull of existing bottom paint.

As said, Coppercoat is epoxy based. It's definitely NOT bottom paint and conforms to strict EU regulations as being the most environment-friendly solution next to no hull treatment at all. The only maintenance required is a light sanding once every few years.

[kadet]

I see now Coppercoat is actually an epoxy 2 part barrier paint and they just add some "copper powder to it" for little real benefit you still need to scrub it, so oxidisation will not reduce its effectiveness because it is already less effective to start with.

While Coppercoat offers a strong degree of protection against most fouling in most locations for many years – it is not described as a “maintenance-free” product and periodic cleaning of the hull should be expected.

Please remember that unlike conventional anti-foul (that starts off at full strength and becomes weaker by the day), Coppercoat is actually quite a mild anti-foul when new.

Does Coppercoat cause any problems with regards to electrolytic/galvanic action?
No. With the resin carrier insulating each copper particle, the final coating is inert and non-conductive. A current can not pass through Coppercoat and this coating does not cause or promote electrolysis or cathodic decay. Consequently Coppercoat can be safely applied to metal structures such as iron keels and steel or aluminium craft (after the application of an appropriate epoxy primer)...

Every other copper antifoul I have seen cannot be used on aluminum boats because of galvanic action?

[Tony E]

Thanks guys, I think I am going to go with that Interlux Brightside if it works for others then I will try that. If it works for gabid for 4 years already then it should work for me. I just finished the rudders with that anti fowling stuff as I might as well use it up and then next winter I will go with that other stuff. Thanks for your help. Now where to get that stuff for a good price. Its like $100 a quart/pint/liter...... pretty pricey stuff......anyone got a black market paint guy I could get in touch with....lol ?

[yukonbob]

In the end I did not do the rudders as from another Mac sailor recommendation that if you swim off the boat and use the transom ladder to board you may end up the same colour as your rudders. Ours were always up at dock and anchor to avoid damage from debris, anchor lines and fouling from sea growth.