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Random Quote: My biggest worry is that when I'm dead, my wife will sell my fishing gear for what I said I paid for it.
Been using Micron Extra (black) for many (too many) years I've GOT to try something different. Boat is a mess every fall. This past Sept hauled and powerwashed (wouldnt get out of its own way), relaunch, back up to speed, blocked 'er up Dec 15 and was a giant mess again? wtf. every year...
Boat is on Manasquan river, I live right up the street from it, I avg. 100-120 hrs/yr or so, so it's not like it sits around That much. '01 310 Searay w/inboards.
Love to hear what guys do for underwater hardware as well. thanks.
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'01 310 Sea Ray
Location : quaint old drinking village with a fishing problem
I use Micron Extra with Biolux in dark blue #5696. I wet slip from April to November and when I pull it in the fall the bottom is as clean as a whistle. Just a little scum at the waterline aft. I used On/Off and power washed it anyway. It looks so good that I may not even paint it this spring. I may just touch up a few spots and repaint the tabs. Are you getting a slime build up or barnacles/worms?
The effectiveness of bottom paint is a very local matter due to differences in nutrients, water temperature, currents, etc. You might do well to look around the yard where your boat is stored and see which hulls look the cleanest and ask the yard what type of paint was applied or ask other folks who have slips close to yours.
I have used Micron 66 since it came out a few years ago and it has been extremely effective. My boat looks as clean in the fall after being hauled as it does in the spring -- not a speck of barnacles, algae, scum. It costs more than Micron Extra but at least in my experience, the Micron 66 has been excellent.
As for the running gear, mine is just polished as shiny as possible, no paint or coatings. I dive down and scrub a couple of times in late summer after the water warms up and stuff starts growing faster. I use my boat very frequently, which is of course the best way to keep the props clean. The Nibral bronze alloy used in the props has some copper in it and has some antifouling properties, though not much.
Micron 66 is for use in saltwater, or at least brackish water with sufficient salinity. The salinity requirements are published via Interlux bulletin.
That said, if you are in the proper environment, this is an excellent product. As I understand it, it acts like a simple ablative paint while underway, but differs immensely while tied up at the dock as compared to lessor products. While the boat is stationary.......even if the boat never leaves its slip the entire season, the hull will still be clean as a whistle thanks to the products "Self Polishing Copolymer" action.
I boat in brackish and salt water, and at the end of last season when I hauled for maintenance, the hull still looked like it did the day it was painted. I would suggest a step up to this product if you have sufficient salinity where the boat is moored. Your headaches should be gone thereafter.
Jack, mostly slime and loaded with barnacles. I can live with some slime I guess, but the barnacles got to be what's really killing me. Especially that time frame between Sept. and Dec. haulout... I couldn't believe how bad it got so quick.
Classicguy and V1, thanks for that suggestion, I hadn't heard of this micron66. The boat sits in what I have to believe would be called brackish water tho, narrow shallow river, I'm probably about 4-5 miles in from the inlet. Although, if barnacles can grow, does that mean Salty enough?
On a previous boat in the same marina I had 23 footer with Micron CSC (Brown), which was awsome. Maybe a little thin slime but NEVER a barnacle. Just a quick skirt job was all I did each spring. Was thinking maybe going back and trying the CSC again. ...i dont know
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'01 310 Sea Ray
Location : quaint old drinking village with a fishing problem
I used Micron Extra and have no problems in Forked River. It's pretty brackish where I slip, but other than some worms on the trailing edges of my rudders, the bottom is usually clean.
Are you mixing the paint up enough before applying?
Yes..I've been using the extra for about 6 years. Green on my last boat and black on the current one for 4 years. I really don;t even get any algae, which I always attributed to running her weekly. My slip has every little current also, so I would think that I would be a prime candidate for a lot of growth.
Kaf, your situation is very unusual. I get no slime at all below the waterline and have never had a single barnacle or worm on any surface painted with Micron Extra. Why don't you call Interlux NJ customer service at 908-686-1300 and see if they can offer an explanation or recommend a solution. I'd be interested to know what they have to say.
Yea Jack, I was thinking I should give those folks a call and see what they say. Especially now that I see nobody else having the same problem. Thanks for the phone #, I'll call 'em next week.
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'01 310 Sea Ray
Location : quaint old drinking village with a fishing problem
Yea Jack, I was thinking I should give those folks a call and see what they say. Especially now that I see nobody else having the same problem. Thanks for the phone #, I'll call 'em next week.
Sounds good. It's definitely worth a phone call. Let us know what they say.
Finally remembered to call Interlux today, they are going to have their local field rep call me and schedule a meeting to take a look at the boat.
He did say that complaints have risen over the past few years due to higher nitrogen levels in the waters.
also, I asked them if paint performance varies from color to color... the answer was no except for the Red. Red has a different copper compound in it and works better.
we'll see happens next week
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'01 310 Sea Ray
Location : quaint old drinking village with a fishing problem
Finally remembered to call Interlux today, they are going to have their local field rep call me and schedule a meeting to take a look at the boat.
He did say that complaints have risen over the past few years due to higher nitrogen levels in the waters.
also, I asked them if paint performance varies from color to color... the answer was no except for the Red. Red has a different copper compound in it and works better.
we'll see happens next week
KAF, that's good. At least, they're interested. Let us know.
The effectiveness of bottom paint is a very local matter due to differences in nutrients, water temperature, currents, etc.* You might do well to look around the yard where your boat is stored and see which hulls look the cleanest and ask the yard what type of paint was applied or ask other folks who have slips close to yours.
Welp.... Micron Extra Sux now what 
