[tglass]

Can anyone recommend an ablative bottom paint that actually stays black and doesn't turn brown?

[ReelMagic]

I currently own a 2003 38 Open and have been using Pettit's Ultima SR 40 for many, many years (more than 15) and it has always performed extremely good. We live on Long Island and the boat is slipped at a marina on Long Island Sound.... The boat remains in the water for 2 years between short hauls and the bottom stays black with no growth (very little growth on the running gear) after the 2 years being in the water... Will be hauling the boat this spring for bottom painting, Zinc's, etc and don't expect anything different..... Been very pleased with it's performance to date.. I've been considering a change to Pettit's Horizons SR (water base) but have been slow to do so as the Ultima SR40 performs so good.... Was in contact with Tech Support at Pettit paints and they stated both are excellent ablative bottom paints...M2C

[tglass]

Thanks ReelMagic, I tried the water based Petit on my previous Tiara and wasn't impressed with the color retention.  I'll give the SR 40 a try.

[Silver Rush]

I use VC17 now it starts gold and turns brown and is a hard paint I like it. (2 years with no touch up as of last fall.
Prior to a complete bead blast and 3 layer epoxy barrier  coat and vc 17 top coat, I used Micron Extra and it stayed black except where my trolling bags rubbed on it. 

[ReelMagic]

Need to remember my boat is in salt water not fresh water although it shouldn't matter.... Did the water based work except for color retention??

[Ridin'High]

I used Pettit VIVID on my 35 Open and the paint stayed bright and no growth. I just recently bought a 38 Open and now having the bottom sanded and painted with the same paint. I boat in the great lakes and found this paint to hold up very well. Good Luck

[tglass]

ReelMagic, I was not impressed with the water based Hydrocoat.  I'm freshwater however the Kalamazoo River feeding Lake Michigan isn't pristine, lot's of suspended silt and agricultural run off so I expect to get a little dirty around the "smile" but I also got slime just below the waterline which I did not expect.  But it was the color retention that really disappointed.

[ReelMagic]

Thanks for the input... Looks like I will stay with what woreked in the past... Pettit Ultima SR40 has been great. Again thanks

[drifter]

We used Petit Hydocoat SR the last 2 years, black stayed black, very little growth (slime). Much easier to work with being water based and applies easily. Fresh water.

[sbw1]

Lots of Tiaras come from the factory with black, ablative bottom paint. Our boat is a 2004 and the color has held up well. The original paint was discontinued several years ago due to regulatory issues and we switched to a new ablative paint that was compatible with the prior coating. We called the factory and our yard used what Tiara recommend. It has held up well. The short answer is, call the factory in Holland, Michigan. They are responsive to this type of question.
BTW, we boat out of Spring Lake, Michigan so our water is not too different from the KZoo River. It is warm and a little on the dirty side.