Bad Bottom Paint Slowing You Down?

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May 102025

Practical Sailor: Bottom Paint Care - https://www.practical-sailor.com/boat... Are you decided which bottom paint to use on your sailboat? Wondering how to clean your sailboat bottom paint? Modern anti-fouling paints promise a hull free of marine growth for one to several seasons. But in nutrient-rich water and as the paint becomes expended, barnacles and green stuff take hold, slowing us down, increasing fuel consumption under power and degrading handling. For all of the money spent on special props and new sails, and attention paid to perfect sail trim, no single factor is more important than a clean bottom. To combat this, racers use hard, scrubbable paints and scrub the bottom every two weeks. If a cruiser with soft paint followed that rhythm, his paint would be dispersed far and wide within a few months. For these and other reasons, different methods are required. Finally, even going slow and wasting fuel means nothing to you, clogged through hulls can cripple vital systems and vibration from a fouled prop can damage the powertrain. Sooner or later, the bottom will need to be cleaned, either by haul-out, or by in-water scrubbing. Practical Sailor is your trusted resource for reviews of sailboats and sailing gear. https://www.practical-sailor.com Chat with us on Facebook! / practicalsailor

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