What color is your bottom?

Bob Ohler · Post by **Bob Ohler** » Feb 26th, '11, 08:18

A spring fever question, if you will...

Many of the CD's had a brown bottom paint scheme, however, as many of you know, brown bottom paint is getting tougher to find these days. I recently special ordered some Interlux ACT brown. This is a one year ablative paint, which in my mind makes the most sense as I apply a fresh coat of paint annually.

My question is: What is everyone else doing for brown bottom paint? Have you switched to another color or are you still doing what I am seem to be doing, hunting for brown paint every year at this time?

Spring fever is going around here on the Chesapeake. I understand that the best remedy is salt water and time at the boat!

Fair winds,

Bob

drysuit2 · Post by **drysuit2** » Feb 26th, '11, 08:59

I switched to red. I had the same problem. It just became to hard to find brown. Especially in an ablative paint. This year I am thinking of using a hard {i.e. racing bottom paint} in green for my boot stripe. Has anyone tried that? Does it work? or am I asking for trouble?

Thanks

Jim Walsh · Post by **Jim Walsh** » Feb 26th, '11, 09:45

I have used Micron CSC in the past, and for the last two years, Micron Extra. This year it is available in brown....if the Defender catalog is accurate.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Feb 26th, '11, 09:49

For a boat named Raven with white topsides, black bottom paint seemed like an appropriate choice.

While I like keeping things original, it is only paint so it could go back at any time. Black ablative with a burgundy boot stripe looks pretty sharp.

The dinghy is painted to match, Steve.

tmsc · Post by **tmsc** » Feb 26th, '11, 09:54

I use blue Ameron ABC3. It is a harder type of ablative used on commercial ships. I put 4 coats on and a 5th on the waterline, front and bottom of the keel, and rudder. I typically get 5 years out of it as long as I keep the divers away. Hard to beat the 100 bucks a gallon too. I don't think it comes in brown though.

Kilgore · Post by **Kilgore** » Feb 26th, '11, 10:36

Black with red boot-stripe tape.

doubleb · Post by **doubleb** » Feb 26th, '11, 10:42

We went with Trinidad pro. Black
when we had the boat hauled for maintenance there was a guy at the marina with some left over from his job, all unopened cans. He made me a deal I could not refuse, and I have not heard the fish laugh yet? and my wallet felt good too.
i think the black looks sharp. At the time we had not decided on a color but I am not disapointed.

B.B.

on a side note
Hello Lee!

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » Feb 26th, '11, 13:46

For years we used Micron CSC (brown) and for the past 5 or 6 years we've been using Micron Extra w/Biolux (brown). Realization's bottom has never been any color but brown. But if your boat has a brown color scheme (tan decks, dark brown cove and boot stipes), it really looks nice with a green bottom. So when we can't get brown bottom paint anymore, we'll be switching to green.

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

Markst95 · Post by **Markst95** » Feb 26th, '11, 14:28

I used Petit Hydrocoat Green, lasted for two seasons nicely. I'll pick up some red this year at Defenders spring sale.

bobc · Post by **bobc** » Feb 26th, '11, 14:43

drysuit2 wrote:I switched to red. I had the same problem. It just became to hard to find brown. Especially in an ablative paint. This year I am thinking of using a hard {i.e. racing bottom paint} in green for my boot stripe. Has anyone tried that? Does it work? or am I asking for trouble?

Thanks

I don't think you're asking for trouble. I've used a dark green boot stripe with red and think it looks great.

If anyone's interested, my CD27 will be for sale as soon as I decide to take the winter cover off. I'm headed off to the dark side (trawlers). More info and pictures at http://www.cd27.org

Oswego John · Post by **Oswego John** » Feb 26th, '11, 14:44

At Present, my Tys' have a blue color. There isn't much area to cover in comparison to other, larger CDs. I always have leftover paint each spring. I seem to be caught up in the "Use up what's on hand" syndrome.

Several years ago, I made a new rudder system for a fellow who owned a CD 25. After everything was assembled, he painted the entire boat to make it ready to be sold.

He sent me a picture of the finished product. He painted the bottom "Shark White". In my mind's eye, it was so beautiful that it made an indelible image on my mind. Maybe some day this color will come to pass for me.

O J

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Feb 26th, '11, 16:45

My boat had green bottom paint on it when I bought it, it looked fine so everytime i have redone it I have stuck with green.

mahalocd36 · Post by **mahalocd36** » Feb 26th, '11, 18:42

Mix Red and black to make a nice, chocolate brown.

We did that one year when we couldn't find brown. (You don't need to add much black to red to get brown).
However last year we just ended up going with Red and we really like it. But, Mahalo's bootstripe, lettering, and cove stripe are all maroon, (canvas is tan) so it works well. Might look weird with dark brown.

Johnd · Post by **Johnd** » Feb 26th, '11, 21:02

Cathy Monaghan wrote:For years we used Micron CSC (brown) and for the past 5 or 6 years we've been using Micron Extra w/Biolux (brown). Realization's bottom has never been any color but brown. But if your boat has a brown color scheme (tan decks, dark brown cove and boot stipes), it really looks nice with a green bottom. So when we can't get brown bottom paint anymore, we'll be switching to green.

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

I just placed an order for the Micron CSC Brown, maybe if demand is there they'll keep making it?

Anyway, me bottoms' BROWN

Troy Scott · Post by **Troy Scott** » Feb 26th, '11, 22:17

Russell,

Light mint green, or dark green?

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