Need advise on a good marine growth cleaner and also sprayon/brush on type of anti-fouling coating other than paint for a 17' boat. Currently, boat sits at Marina for the summer and been having to pull out of salt water every month to clean off with a pressure washer.

If you need some type of sealent they sell them at most marine centers. My 14' aluminum boat was getting pin sized holes for the last two years. So we baught a couple cans of this paint on clear coating, a few coats on the inside and one on the out side, and they stopped. You should be able to get stuff to get rid of the built-up too. Hope this helps.

I tried the off/on but did not remove build up barnies. Besides.....that stuff is big time toxic!

I had to paint my hull also due to my boat sitting in the marina. I got a gallon of 'new' type anti fouling paint from west marine. It's not the epoxies type. This stuff starts to break down and fall off but takes about two years. The advantages of this is that you wont have to scrape your hull when it's time to repaint again. It's great!! I painted about two months ago and have absolutely nothing growing below the waterline. One gallon was enough for my 21'er. I also had enough to put an extra coat around the waterline.

The older guy at west marine in Everett can explain in detail EVERYTHING you want to know about anti-fouling paint. I think I paid around $140 for a gallon??

Hope this helps...

PMartin,

What brand name was that paint??? Also, will it put drag on speed?

I don't remember the brand name. The guy there told me it was a newer type of paint that starts coming off by it's self. He was very specific about that so I am sure that anyone who sells it would know.

I will be making a run to west marine today or tomorrow. I will go look and get the name of the stuff I used. As far as the drag goes???? It probably does a little. It's not real smooth paint but it sure beats the hell out of your boat needing a hair cut every week.

PS. If you get it. Get the big rollers to apply it. You can knock you boat out in a couple of hours. Also, with this paint you can leave your boat out of water for up to 60 days with out the paint loosing it's effectiveness. Most of the other cheaper paints start loosing there effectiveness within a couple of hours after being applied if left out of the water.