HARD PAINTS at 20 MONTHS (FLORIDA)
| NAME | MAKER | PRICE/GAL | SPECIAL USES, COMMENTS | BOOSTER | COPPER/ ZINC** | LEACH RATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper Pro SCX Hard | Blue Water | 215 | High copper, dual biocide | NCN | 0.67 | No data |
| EP2000 | Epaint | 290 | Water-based, race paint, alum.-safe, photoactive | ZnP | None | --- |
| SN-1 | Epaint | 275 | Freshwater release paint, fast finish | DCOIT | None | --- |
| ZO HP | Epaint | 325 | Photo-active high performance racing paint | ZnP 4.8% | None | --- |
| Ultra | Interlux | 190 | High copper, dual biocide | NCN | 0.55 | Category 1 |
| VC Offshore | Interlux | 260 | High-performance racing paint | None | 0.41 | Category 3 |
| Trinidad | Interlux | 225 | High copper | None | 0.76 | Category 1 |
| Trinidad SR | Interlux | 250 | High copper, dual biocide | PTFE | 0.65 | Category 1 |
| Woolsey Defense | Pettit | 95 | Standard hard, single season, high copper | None | 0.52 | No data |
| Sharkskin | Sea Hawk | 150 | Budget priced, single season | None | 0.45 | Category 1 |
| Tropikote | Sea Hawk | 250 | Multi-season, high copper | None | 0.76 | Category 3 |
If there is to be any motion in a green-paint direction, government policy will be the prime mover—but what policy will be most acceptable to the public remains unclear.
In 2005, the Port of San Diego, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the San Diego areas regional water-quality agencies pooled resources to research alternative antifouling paints. The study concluded that there were indeed several effective low-copper alternatives to bottom paints, and in 2015 the state’s Department of Pesticide Regulations then categorized the paints by leach rates, with Category 1 being the lowest leach rate (see tables above and below).
Despite implementing new restrictions prohibiting cleaning of hulls with “soft” bottom paints, the port was still not on target for meeting the 76-percent reduction by 2022 mandated by San Diego’s regional water commissions. An amendment that would further restrict bottom cleaning is currently undergoing review, although the most recent hearing was postponed
(https://bit.ly/3alwbCB).
Meanwhile in Washington State, a phasing out of all copper-based paints for recreational vessels, which was delayed from 2017 to 2021, is likely to be delayed again. The state’s own study (https://bit.ly/2uQLpk4) suggested that the chemicals introduced to replace copper needed more study, particularly with regards to their impact on the salmon fishery.
As of the printing of this issue of PS, the Washington state legislature appeared to be on target to passing a bill that would push the phase-out to 2025.
Nearly all of the top paints from Practical Sailor’s 2016-2018 long-term test fell below the California Department of Pesticides
threshold for Category 1 paints, the lowest leach rate. The leach rates for each category are as follows:
Category I: Products with a leach rate below or equal to (≤) 9.5 μg/cm2/day
Category II: Products with a leach rate below or equal to (≤) 13.4 and above (>) 9.5 μg/cm2/day 2
Category III: Products with a leach rate above (>) 13.4 μg/cm /day
ABLATIVE PAINTS RATED FAIR OR BETTER 20 AT MONTHS (FLORIDA)
| NAME | MAKER | PRICE | SPECIAL USES, COMMENTS | BIO-BOOSTER | COPPER/**ZINC | COPPER LEACH RATE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold Coast SPC Ablative | Blue Water | 155 | High copper, for high-fouling waters | ZnP 3% | 0.39 | No Data |
| Copper Shield Ablative | Blue Water | 120 | High copper, high fouling waters | ZnP 3% | 0.45 | No Data |
| Shelter Island Plus | Blue Water | 185 | Solvent based, copper free , zinc boosted | ZnP | Zinc 25% | --- |
| ZO | Epaint | 285 | Photoactive, alum. safe, harder finish | ZnP 4.8% | None | --- |
| Total Boat Inflatable (new) | Flexdel | $50/qt. | Flexible water-based for inflatable boats | ZO 2.9% | 0.28 | No Data |
| Total Boat Krypton (new) | Flexdel | 180 | Copper-free, single-season, with Econea | Econea 5.2 % | ZnP 4% | --- |
| Micron CF | Interlux | 220 | Multi-season, Copper-free Econea | Econea 3.9 % | NCN 2% | --- |
| Micron 66 | Interlux | 280 | Self-polishing copolymer, not for fresh water | ZnP 4.1% | 0.4 | Category 1 |
| Micron CSC $ | Interlux | 205 | High-strength, low VOC | None | 0.37 | Category 1 |
| Horizons | Pettit | 170 | Ablative multi-season | None | 0.48 | Category 1 |
| Hydrocoat Eco | Pettit | 225 | Water-based, copper-free with Econea | Econea 6% | Znp 4.8% | Category 1 |
| Ultima SR-60 | Pettit | 240 | Multi-season, dual-biocide | NCN 2% | 0.6 | No Data |
| Ultima SSA | Pettit | 130 | Single-season ablative paint | None | 0.38 | Category 1 |
| Woolsey Yacht Shield | Pettit | 175 | Multi-season, dual biocide, high-copper | NCN 2% | 0.4 | Category 1 |
| Vivid | Pettit | 240 | Bright colors, white ZnP | ZnP | 0.25 | Category 1 |
| West Marine CPP* | Pettit | 140 | Uses composite copper technology | None | 0.38 | Category 1 |
| West Marine PCA Gold* | Pettit | 210 | Industry standard with biocide | NCN 2% | 0.4 | Category 1 |
| Biocop TF | Sea Hawk | 275 | Dual-biocide, multi-season | ZnP 4.5% | 0.38 | No Data |
| Cukote | Sea Hawk | 200 | High copper | None | 0.48 | Category 2 |
| Smart Solution | Sea Hawk | 190 | Metal-free, slick-film racing paint | Econea 2.9% | None | --- |
