Best Reliable Marine Paint Review Guide For 2022-2023

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Best Reliable Marine Paint Review Guide For 2022-2023 – These are in order of products that received the most praise, most often. Reliability, ease of use and cleanup, and effectiveness determine their placement. To see our picks keep reading our Best Reliable Marine Paint Review Guide For 2022-2023.

Interlux Trilux 33 Antifouling

Suitable for fiberglass, wood, steel and primed aluminum. Copper-free which means it won’t cause corrosion in contact with steel or aluminum. This Interlux product is really versatile and effective. It works in practically every kind of marine environment and climate making it suitable for most sailboats anywhere!

Product Details:

• Powerful antifouling paint
• Uses the latest Biolux technology to block slime
• Suitable for fiberglass, wood, steel and primed aluminum
• Size: 1 Pint
• Color: Black

What we like:

• Great Multi-season paint with reliable anti-slime results to keep fuel prices down and speed up.
• Both for saltwater and freshwater vessels.
• Biolux antifouling technology means you take care of the ocean while Trilux takes care of the slime that wants to camp out on the hull of your boat.
• Expensive but saves time by not clumping up for the next paint job

What we don’t like:

• The price tag at first glance (but it’s worth it)

TotalBoat Alumipaint AF

Ideal for aluminum & pontoon boats in saltwater. Wooden boats in a pinch too.

Single-season, copper-free ablative that keeps your hull free of hard and soft fouling year-round without any negative impact on the marine ecosystem. This paint provides a flat finish for your beauty of a pontoon boat and I’ve used it on a wooden dinghy too (because of iron spikes that react badly to copper).

Product Details:

• COPPER-FREE ANTIFOULING PAINT for superior single-season protection on pontoon & aluminum hulls.
• ABLATIVE PAINT wears away to continuously expose fresh biocide for maximum protection.
• SPECIFICALLY FORMULATED FOR PONTOON & ALUMINUM BOATS. Bottom paints are used below the waterline only.
• EXCELLENT PERFORMANCE ON OUTDRIVES & RUNNING GEAR. Copper-free formula won’t cause galvanic corrosion.
• AVAILABLE IN QUARTS & GALLONS, IN YOUR CHOICE OF BLACK OR BLUE. Coverage: 500 sq. ft. per gallon (125 sq. ft. per quart)

What we like:

• Easy to use
• Easy to clean up.

What we don’t like:

• Works effectively only if applied on top of a good existing layer. Otherwise, priming is necessary.

Sea Hawk Mission Bay Self-Polishing Copper Free

Ideal paint for aluminum & pontoon boats in both fresh and salt waters.

Nano-based copolymer ablative technology is probably the safest marine paint for metal bottoms. It is copper and solvent free (CSF) which prevents toxicity in the fishes we catch and other marine life for that matter.

Product Details:

• new

What we like:

• No copper biocides make it acceptable in Washington State, California, as well as inland Sweden where regulations are crazy strict
• Self-polishing for a prettier finish
• Is effective on all types of craft
• Can be applied over existing antifouling ablative marine paints

What we don’t like:

• If the boat stays still too long, some growth can be expected.

Pettit Hydrocoat Eco

Works well on aluminum, wood, fiberglass and steel.

Multi-season, water-based ablative that’s easy to apply, long-lasting, and provides a good self-polishing finish.

Might clump up after a few years, but with a little water and mixing, works just fine.

Clean-up is a piece of cake with water and soap. The Eco version of Pettit’s Hydrocoat line is the most versatile: good on all substrates (boat materials), in all climates during all seasons.

Product Details:

• new

What we like:

• Long lasting, versatile, easy to use and cleanup, looks good, complies with environmental regulations, thin with water.
• No copper. Instead, it uses ECONEA, a pharmaceutical compound that works great against hard growth like barnacles and zebra mussels.
• Uses zinc biocide to fight soft growth instead of copper.

What we don’t like:

• The high-tech Econea compound will prevent more sailors from using this, even though it’s effective and good for the environment

TotalBoat Underdog

Suitable for primed steel, fiberglass & wood

Budget-friendly, single-season copper ablative antifouling marine paint that will get the job done one year at a time. It rolls and brushes on easy, making it more a yearly tradition rather than labor.

Product Details:

• ECONOMICAL ANTIFOULING BOTTOM PAINT PROVIDES VERY GOOD SINGLE-SEASON PROTECTION below the waterline against hard and soft growth in low fouling conditions. Underdog is most effective on boats that are used frequently. Its durable finish withstands trailering and beaching better than traditional ablative bottom paints.
• ABLATIVE TECHNOLOGY CONTINUOUSLY RELEASES FRESH BIOCODE to combat marine fouling and reduce paint build-up to make painting easier the following season.
• USE ON PROPERLY PREPARED FIBERGLASS, WOOD, STEEL, IRON, AND PREVIOUSLY PAINTED SURFACES IN GOOD CONDITION.
• UNDERDOG IS EASY TO APPLY BY BRUSH, ROLLER, OR SPRAYING. Apply 1-2 thin coats. No sanding needed between coats. For brushing, use a natural bristle brush. For rolling, use a 3/16” nap or foam solvent-safe roller cover. For spraying, use airless or conventional equipment. Thinning should not be necessary, but if desired, thin with the appropriate solvent up to 10% (12 oz. per gallon). For brushing/rolling, use TotalBoat Special Brushing Thinner 100; for spraying, use xylene.
• AVAILABLE IN GALLONS, IN BLACK, BLUE, AND RED. COVERAGE: 500 SQ. FT. PER GALLON.

What we like:

• Withstands abrasions from the trailer and exposure to air while hauled up
• Affordable
• 400 square feet per gallon
• Fast dry-time

What we don’t like:

• 23% copper ablative biocide makes it a no-go in Washington state and San Diego

Interlux Fiberglass Bottomkote Aqua

Specifically designed for fiberglass boats. Also works well on the lead ballast component of the keel.

Water-based ablative that is easy to apply and has less-harmful toxicity. Covers well and dries quickly without clumping or lumping up. My neighbor at the harbor claims his fiberglass sailboat cuts through the water a little quicker since he started using this Interlux bottom paint.

Product Details:

• Exceptionally smooth finish that reduces drag and friction
• Low Volatile Organic Content (V.O.C.)
• Low odor formula
• A thinner film means less paint build-up
• Paint Color: Blue

What we like:

• No unpleasant, toxic odor
• Easy cleanup with soap and water
• Surprisingly durable
• Works equally well with roller, brush and sprayer
• Can be painted on inflatable boats

What we don’t like:

• Still looking

Rust-Oleum Boat Bottom Antifouling Paint – Amazon’s Choice

Great paint for fiberglass boats. Less suitable for wooden ones as well as steel vessels.

Prevents the growth of both hard and soft marine fouling. It’s pretty thick, so it needs to be shaken pretty well to be more pliable. I needed to construct a mixer piece and set it up with my drill to get a good consistency. It does the job, but it’s a good idea to use a respirator mask because of the potent paint fumes.

Product Details:

• Ideal for use on fiberglass, wood or steel surfaces to prevent fouling below the waterline
• Formulated to slowly release copper in order to prevent fouling
• Able to recoat in 4 hours, to launch in 16 hours and covers up to 110 sq ft
• Protective coating resists buildup of barnacles, algae and other marine growth
• Hard, smooth finish provides a flat sheen over most aged antifouling coatings
• For use in mild to moderate fouling conditions
• Suitable for both fresh and saltwater
• Best for boats that are regularly hauled and cleaned
• Use on fiberglass boats and all non-aluminum trailer boats
• This item is not for sale in Catalina Island

What we like:

• Reliable for boats hauled up at least every two years in moderate fouling conditions
• Stands up well against abrasions from a trailer
• Hard and smooth finish
• Very durable
• Applies well and dries fast

What we don’t like:

• Crazy strong fumes need ventilation and respirator mask

TotalBoat Krypton

Works well on all boat types: Fiberglass, aluminum, steel, and wooden.

This boat paint contains no copper bottom antifouling agents so it’s both Washington and California compliant. This bottom paint is most effective with boats that are hauled up seasonally. You’ll have to touch up your boat each year, but you can rest assured that you’re getting protection for your vessel while protecting the oceans.

Product Details:

• COPPER-FREE, ECO-FRIENDLY, HIGH-PERFORMANCE MARINE ANTIFOULING BOAT BOTTOM PAINT provides superior single-season protection against barnacles, weeds, algae & slime.
• KRYPTON CAN BE APPLIED TO FIBERGLASS, WOOD, STEEL, IRON & ALUMINUM BOATS. Bottom paints are for use below the waterline only.
• BRIGHT COLORS ARE MORE VIBRANT THAN BOTTOM PAINTS CONTAINING COPPER BIOCIDE.
• EASY TO APPLY BY BRUSH, ROLLER, OR SPRAYING: For brushing, use a high-quality, natural bristle brush; for rolling, use a 3/16” nap or foam solvent-safe roller cover. Copolymer formula means that after application, there’s no maximum dry time to launch. So you can paint in the fall, store for the winter, and launch in the spring! You can also haul and relaunch without losing the effectiveness of the biocide.
• AVAILABLE IN FIVE BRIGHT, VIBRANT COLORS: Blue (Quart & Gallon), Black (Quart & Gallon), White (Quart & Gallon), Green (Gallon only), and Red (Gallon only). Coverage: 500 sq. ft. per gallon.

What we like:

• No copper ablatives with its dual biocide: Econea and zinc oxides
• Freshwater and saltwater effective
• Can be used on outboard motors and other submerged component
• Touches up nicely from year to year
• Impressive customer service support

What we don’t like:

• It can go on thick with less coverage if it is not mixed really well. So, mix really well!
• Single season only, requiring some touching up annually

Interlux Micron CSC

Suitable for fiberglass, wooden and steel boats, but NOT aluminum.

One of the most popular and widely-used, boaters find this product reliable for boats that stay in the water year-round. Recoating is easy because paint does not build-up with the ablative qualities of this antifouling paint. It uses less cuprous oxide.

If going on top of gelcoat, all traces of mold wax needs to be removed.

Product Details:

• Package Dimensions: 10.0 L x 12.0 H x 11.0 W (inches)
• Package Weight : 12 pounds
• Country of Origin : United States
• Part number: Y5583/QT

What we like:

• Compatible on top of well-applied existing paints and primed bottoms
• Self-polishes as boat sails
• Can be applied when hauled up for the winter and does not oxidize in dry-dock
• Can be rolled, brushed and painted
• Biocide is in the resin, not the pigment

What we don’t like:

• Not ideal for aluminum hulls.
• Not ideal in freshwater
• Requires more regular cleaning in more brackish water

Sea Hawk Cukote Paint

Effective on fiberglass, steel and wooden boats below the waterline.

This effective paint will do the job, even if it’s a little more unpleasant for the olfactory senses as well as marine life. Based solely on efficacy it makes the list.

Product Details:

• High loading cuprous oxide
• Top performer, even in severe fouling areas
• Remains smooth and clean over time
• For steel, fiberglass, and wood vessels

What we like:

• Very strong copper ablative with 47.5% cuprous oxide, keeping a boat’s hull free of hard growth and streamlined.
• Exposure to air doesn’t degrade protective ablation (it can be applied at end of season)
• Semi-hard, self-polishing finish that looks good and maintains sailing performance.

What we don’t like:

• High copper amount less good for marine life and not allowed in Washington State and San Diego
• Potent and noxious smells

Sea Hawk AF33

Wood, Fiberglass, Metal boat types.

Highest grade of copper (cuprous oxide) available. This semi-hard ablative marine paint with a semi-gloss finish will save on fuel consumption and is a multi-season solution. It is not a paint allowed on recreational marine vessels under 65 feet in Washington State or the port of San Diego, it should be noted.

Product Details:

• Consistent viscosity providing better flow and rolling ability
• Harder ablative finish
• Highest grade of cuprous oxide available
• Exceptional value multi-season coating
• Finish: Semi-Gloss

What we like:

• Will save on fuel consumption
• Multi-seasonal protection in different climates (temperatures)
• Self-polishing
• Reasonable price
• Won’t degrade in air (no oxidation during the winter)

What we don’t like:

• For the environment. Higher copper impacts ecosystem more than alternatives
• Shouldn’t be applied on existing softer layers

Conclusion:

Thanks for taking the time to read our Best Reliable Marine Paint Review Guide For 2022-2023.