Antifouling Paint for Bottom and Seacore Bravo 3 sterndrives


3

34PCinMA

New member
Just got a used 2009 34 PC with 496 Seacores. Keeping it on the Danvers river - I think we're nearly fully saltwater.

Would like recommendations on bottom paint, I'm leaning towards an ablative with copper. I was thinking of Pettit Ultima SR-40 - has copper and another biocide, and PTFE. Has anyone used this paint?

Also - what do you recommend for the Seacore B3 drives? It looks like Pettit Prop Coat or Interlux Trilux 33. Should I put it over SS props?

Would appreciate any advice. Have been having a hard time with speed and fuel consumption and hope this helps fix the issue next year.
 
Congrats on the boat and welcome to the Formula family! I'm a Masshole but boat in RI in similar conditions. Let me find out what our marina used to paint my Volvo's. However, we are a safe marina and I believe eliminated copper based anit fouling paints.
 
For the drives I have been using Interlux Pacifica Plus. I had spoken to an Interlux guy at a show several years ago and he said it was better that the Trilux that I had been using. After having used it for 3 seasons, I would agree that Pacifica Plus is better.
For the props, I have been using Rustoleum cold galvanizing compound that you can buy at Home Depot in a spray can. It is like an ablative paint where a little bit sloughs off over time. I take my props off each season and drop them off at a local machine shop to have them media blasted and then I paint them up before putting them back on in the spring. I know it sounds a bit crazy but its an inexpensive solution compared to some others (e.g. propspeed, etc) that has been working well with no growth. Also a good opportunity for maintenance so that you can grease up the splines regularly while the props are off.
For the bottom, I have used Pettit Hydrocoat. It has done a great job for me in the many seasons that I have used it and it is reasonable priced as well.
FWIW, I'm not sure that paint is going to make a much of a difference from a speed and fuel consumption standpoint unless your bottom and props are completely fouled. I know that the boat is new to you but I would suggest that you confirm that you have the proper pitch on the props. Also, make sure that everything is in good shape maintenance wise. Being a 'new to you' boat, I would replace all the plugs, plug wires, clean the air-filter, etc. Also, when changing the plugs, take a look to see if any of them look really lean or rich. I know you had the boat surveyed but most surveyors do really take much of a look at this stuff.
 
34PCinMA said:
Just got a used 2009 34 PC with 496 Seacores. Keeping it on the Danvers river - I think we're nearly fully saltwater.

Would like recommendations on bottom paint, I'm leaning towards an ablative with copper. I was thinking of Pettit Ultima SR-40 - has copper and another biocide, and PTFE. Has anyone used this paint?

Also - what do you recommend for the Seacore B3 drives? It looks like Pettit Prop Coat or Interlux Trilux 33. Should I put it over SS props?

Would appreciate any advice. Have been having a hard time with speed and fuel consumption and hope this helps fix the issue next year.
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There is also the option of NO anti-fouling paint at all. I bought my 400ss 10 years ago with no bottom paint. Previous owner had kept it on a boat lift at his house. The hull looked so nice that I didn’t want to paint it at the time so I got a Hydrohoist floating boat lift. The Hydrohoist has done its job of isolating the boat from the fouling and corrosion from salt water but it has its drawbacks. Got to the point this summer that I’d had enough of the Hydrohoist and was considering using anti-fouling paint next season. Really didn’t want to do that so I started searching to see if I could find a better option. I found this………

www.fabdock.com

Seems to be a widely accepted alternative to anti-fouling paint in Australia. I sent Fab Dock an inquiry through the website and a day later the owner Dean called me himself. Turns out that Dean was already in the US doing some business in CA and was going to also be displaying at the Newport Boat show. Fast forward a couple weeks…….I met Dean at the show, got a good look at the Fab Dock product, and my boat will be floating in its new Fab Dock next spring.

Full disclosure……..I was so impressed by the concept that I’m working with Dean to become the New England region Fab Dock dealer. I’m meeting with Dean this weekend to finalize the details. I had just sold my primary business last May and since then I’ve been looking around for the next thing to focus on. Looks like I’ve found it!

If it’s something that interested you or you had any questions I’d be happy to help.
Thanks, Pat
 
I appreciate all of this info - are you in salt as well? Which state? I thought I saw Pacifica may only be avail to the good west coasters!

You’re right about the fuel burn. My mechanic found the port fuel regulator stuck at 80 psi as well as a bad plug/wire, so I’m REALLY hoping this makes a difference. Only a couole more weekends here anyway but hoping she’ll be running a little better in Spring.

Thanks again!
 
Thanks buddy. Let me know - sounds like similar conditions, although you guys prob run 10 degrees warmer in summer! Lucky you
 
I'm in MA as well - along Buzzards Bay. There was a local marine place near me that carries the Pacifica but I have purchased it online cheaper than anyone carries it around here.
Glad to hear your making progress on the fuel burn!! For me, any time I buy a used boat or car, I always go ahead and take care of all these things because more often than not the previous owner doesn't know if or when they were done and the last thing I want to run into is a break down due to maintenance item. Sure it will cost a little bit but the piece of mind is worth it.
 
You got some good info on paint, and can always call interlux and get direct info for your given situation

It cost to paint, clean and repaint. In many cases (depends location), but you can buy a lift and never paint. The lift pays for in self after a few repaints.
 
AllDodge said:
It cost to paint, clean and repaint. In many cases (depends location), but you can buy a lift and never paint. The lift pays for in self after a few repaints.
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Thats why I bought the Fab Dock. Will be putting it in this spring when I launch the boat. Bought my 400ss with no bottom paint and I didn't want to be the guy to paint it. I'm in Narragansett Bay (salt water) so I originally got a Hydrohoist for it. Been using the Hydrohoist for 8 years now but over time I've gotten sick of going thru the motions of dropping the boat in and lifting it back out every time. Was considering bottom paint when I found the Fab Dock. Best of both worlds........boat sits in the water at dock level floating so it's in the water but isn't "in the water". After I looked into the cost of bottom painting correctly with prep work, the barrier coat, multiple coats of paint, periodic touch ups and maintenance etc. and then there's the Bravo III drives that'll still be a major hassle sitting in the water. Figured the Fab Dock will pay for itself over time between the actual costs of doing and maintaining all the anti-fouling work and potential better resale value on the boat having no bottom paint.
 
Davey Jones said:
How have the Fab Dock results been?

I have been looking at their product and DockyDock as well.
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Actually, several years later, fabdock is not a product I?d recommend. The fabdock itself did the job of keeping growth off the hull but did allow some brown staining. With that said the stains came off with some On/Off. The bigger problem is there?s really no support or parts for the product in the US. After Covid came along that pretty much killed it as far as I?m concerned. I stopped working with them late in 2020 and I still get calls from other fabdock owners that are having problems and can?t get a response from the company. Most of them I?m aware of are having problems of some kind and a number are no longer in the water. Most parts are unique so when there?s a problem your stuck and repairs to the material requires special plastic welding skills??.not many people seems to know how to do it.

I actually ended up going to work with their competitor SeaPen / Solstice Docking in early 2021. I?m now their technical services manager for the US. The SeaPen uses the same water level dry dock concept but much more durable construction and more advanced control system. Also has a mesh net liner between the boat and plastic hull membrane that creates an air space so there?s not wet plastic against the hull like the fabdock causing my brown stains. Most importantly Solstice is a US based company with resources. The product and parts are all in our own warehouse in SC and we have a full staff of US based people that handle the sales, logistics, installation, and customer support. The SeaPen is substantially more expensive than the fabdock or the docky dock but you do get what you pay for.

Having now been in the water level dry dock business since late 2018 I?ve learned a lot. You have three companies building them??docky dock is the economy version and based in the UK, fabdock is in the middle and based in Australia with no US infrastructure, SeaPen is the premium product and built in Australia but with a full US based infrastructure.

So there?s a long answer to your simple question!
 
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