Bottom Paints

Peter · Post by **Peter** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:56 pm

Just a quick question:
Is 'ablative' the same as 'self-polishing' in antifouling paints?
Thanks!

Hirilondë · Post by **Hirilondë** » Tue Jun 03, 2008 11:43 pm

I don't know what self polishing means. But ablative means the paint slowly wears away from the friction of water and thus renews itself constantly. It also means the paint doesn't continue to build up year after year like hard paints. It is not the preferred paint of most people who race seriously however.

I chipped 8 gallons of old paint off my bottom (yes, I measured it in my 5 g bucket when I cleaned up) then sanded forever to get a fresh start on my bottom 3 years ago. I never want to do that again! I use Micron Extra.

Post by **Tim** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 6:04 am

I would say that "self-polishing" would refer to a hard-type paint, not an ablative type. "Polishing" to me means that the surface would become slicker and harder with time, as would be the case with many hard, non-ablative paints.

But just because that's how I infer this meaning doesn't mean that's what the manufacturer means.

mhdyachtsman · Post by **mhdyachtsman** » Wed Jun 04, 2008 10:05 am

I have done a lot of research on the various paint technologies over the winter and the buzz words in the industry such as "self-polishing" are usually in reference to ablative paints which hydrolyze or wear away and release biocides throughout the season. A glance at the Petit and Interlux websites tends to show the use of this term only in reference to their ablative products.