(no subject)
I had received the West Marine annual catalog a few weeks ago, and I've been pouring through it and making a wish list for my dear old boat. In the thick catalog there are a handful of articles called the West Advisor to give Corinthians like me or mariners who would otherwise be in the know advice on choosing the right equipment for everyone's unique boating styles and preferences. One was about low copper bottom paint.
Why does the bottom need painting you ask? The anti fouling bottom paint inhibits the growth of algae, barnacles and other aquatic creatures from growing on the side of the boat and propeller if there be one. If a boat sailed the same lake and never visited another body of water, the only problem these would create is perhaps reduced efficiency and flow of water over the sides. However, most vessels go from port to port, spreading invasive species such as the zebra muscles (if you live Stateside you may have heard of it) like a maritime STD. Traditionally, ships used to have copper plated hulls, to combat the barnacles, but somewhere along the line it evolved into copper based paint. Some traditionalists still use the dark green copper bronze paint on their wooden boats. It looks nice, and it helps prevent infestation of invasive species, but I thought, what would it do to other fish? I had already bought a quart of anti fouling paint (Interlux micron extra. Blue.) And I made a mental note to look it up which, due to the supernatural laziness I've been known to exhibit in winter, it was lost in my inter departmental mail.
That is until now. The general gist of the West Advisor article dealt with the very same concern, and went on to say some individuals conducted tests and didn't like how high the levels of copper and some other metals were in marinas and other waters. So West Marine recommended paints of very low, or no copper, with varying degrees of effectiveness in certain waters, and was looking into alternative means of keeping the slime off our boats. I was glad to know the paint I had perchased was low in copper, and lasted a very long time, without having to reapply more gallons every year. (and also good for boats like mine which go in many different waters each season.)
On a sort of related note I set a goal for myself. Since last summer was such a disappointment, I'm only going to work on one project this year. I want to sail alone in Cape May, NJ by the end of the summer. I may not have the money after getting the boat ready to take the celestial navigation and ocean passage making classes in the fall, but in a way, Dawn Puffin is a sailing lesson herself.
Why does the bottom need painting you ask? The anti fouling bottom paint inhibits the growth of algae, barnacles and other aquatic creatures from growing on the side of the boat and propeller if there be one. If a boat sailed the same lake and never visited another body of water, the only problem these would create is perhaps reduced efficiency and flow of water over the sides. However, most vessels go from port to port, spreading invasive species such as the zebra muscles (if you live Stateside you may have heard of it) like a maritime STD. Traditionally, ships used to have copper plated hulls, to combat the barnacles, but somewhere along the line it evolved into copper based paint. Some traditionalists still use the dark green copper bronze paint on their wooden boats. It looks nice, and it helps prevent infestation of invasive species, but I thought, what would it do to other fish? I had already bought a quart of anti fouling paint (Interlux micron extra. Blue.) And I made a mental note to look it up which, due to the supernatural laziness I've been known to exhibit in winter, it was lost in my inter departmental mail.
That is until now. The general gist of the West Advisor article dealt with the very same concern, and went on to say some individuals conducted tests and didn't like how high the levels of copper and some other metals were in marinas and other waters. So West Marine recommended paints of very low, or no copper, with varying degrees of effectiveness in certain waters, and was looking into alternative means of keeping the slime off our boats. I was glad to know the paint I had perchased was low in copper, and lasted a very long time, without having to reapply more gallons every year. (and also good for boats like mine which go in many different waters each season.)
On a sort of related note I set a goal for myself. Since last summer was such a disappointment, I'm only going to work on one project this year. I want to sail alone in Cape May, NJ by the end of the summer. I may not have the money after getting the boat ready to take the celestial navigation and ocean passage making classes in the fall, but in a way, Dawn Puffin is a sailing lesson herself.