"Joe" wrote in And
Katy sails said the Navy tried it and it was a failure. I bet your
boat would be in the same condition it is in, if you used just plain
paint with no chilies!

The reason the Navy doesn't use it or for that matter copper paints is they
still use the 'hands down' best there ever was, Lead based paints. The Navy
as a gov't agency, is totally, completely exempt from the envirionmental
laws banning lead based paint. On a comparison just about everything fails
compared to lead paint.

Secondly, the Navy, like all military services, tends to pick and choose
that which they are told to pick and choose. One easy way is to write the
test criteria in such a way as nothing else but the preferred method will
pass. For example, they may demand that the winning product be produced in
certain quantities and those quantities must be locally grown, mined, or
produced. By adjusting the 'norms' anything not deemed suitable is driven
out of the competititon.

The criteria that is germane to the conversation is this: Does the addition
of 'capsicum' in whatever form or strength improve in any measureable form
the worth of the anti fouling paint in 'unadulterated form.' Is it worth
the cost of the additive?

My own experience says definitely yes in warmer waters. The need tends to
diminish in colder waters.

I use a large can of red pepper (capsicum) per gallon of paint. This, on
average, extends the ability of the original anti foul by six months to one
year depending on the water temperature.

The little critters dislike pepper sprary as much as we do!

Michael