In article , Ryk says...

I'm planning to do a full bottom job this winter season and have not
yet decided what to put on after I get the old crap off. The preferred
bottom paint around here (Lake Ontario) is VC-17 and it works well. It
would be my choice except that I may head south some time, probably
only for a season or two.

A local authority warns that VC-17 is "not for salt water" and says he
doesn't know of anything that will coat over it.

The Interlux web site says VC-17 is for fresh or low fouling salt,
which probably doesn't include anywhere southern ;-) They suggest VC
Offshore for salt with higher fouling loads, but it is not clear if it
can be applied over VC 17.

Can anybody comment on VC-17 performance in the tropics? How about VC
offshore? Any experience with applying anything over VC-17?


I have also been using VC-17 for years in the Great Lakes. But the experience
of a few trailer sailor buddies of mine is that the stuff is simply not up to
salt water use, even the Offshore version. And given that you then have PTFE
all over the hull, I would be a bit concerned about getting anything else to
stick over it. So if you are serious about heading south for awhile, you might
use conventional bottom paint after cleaning the hull off, at least till you get
back to fresh water.


Steve Christensen