On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:26:25 -0400, jeff wrote:

Dave wrote:
On Fri, 27 Mar 2009 22:45:22 -0400, Jeff said:

Yes, the current version of Copper Shield 45 is rated as "Multi-Season"
but Practical Sailor does not have it in the 18 month survey so I'm not
sure if it will go two seasons.

However, I've never had an issue with extended periods with any ablative
as long as the boat keeps moving.

Based on what I've read, I don't think that's the issue. A number of the
moderately priced ablatives claim to be multi-season, and I expect that's
correct if the boat stays in the water or perhaps only gets a short haul.
But that's not the same as saying you can leave the boat on the hard for 6
months without loss of the anti-fouling properties. My experience is that
you can't. I'm with Not At All on this one. Spend a few extra bucks for the
good stuff. In the long run the savings on the moderately priced stuff
aren't worth it.

It would be a more persuasive argument if there was any evidence that
the "high price spread" was in any way superior. My observation was
that CPP (at least the version I used) was equal to, or better than
Micron. And PS says that CS45 is superior. The question is "is Micron
truly superior or resting on its laurels?" I vote for the latter,

A British magazine, Practical Boat Owner, did a test of all the common
yacht anti-fouling paints by painting test strips and placing them in
most of the widely used "yacht" harbors in England and Scotland.

What they discovered was that there is no "best" paint as a paint that
remained fairly growth free in, say a southern English harbor, was
covered by growth in a different, perhaps Northern or Western, harbor.

The final analysis was "go with local knowledge".

Cheers,

Bruce
(bruceinbangkokatgmaildotcom)