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From what I've been able to determine, if you have an aluminum hull (any
size) you can also have it painted with a TBT-based paint in the US (please
correct me if I'm wrong). This makes sense since the copper in most
standard antifouling paints doesn't agree metallurgically with aluminum (EPA
wasn't totally clueless about this issue). You need to have it applied by a
"certified" person. What constitutes certified? From what I can determine,
that would be a pesticide applicators license since TBT is regulated as a
pesticide.
But the question is, should you use it? Just because the big boats are
stilled allowed to do it doesn't make it right. The case against TBT is
pretty compelling. Back when its use was widespread on pleasure boats, many
of the harbors were virtually sterilized. It's extremely toxic to ALL
aquatic organisms, which is what made it such a good antifouling biocide.
One of the main reasons I like being on the water is the richness of the
environment out there, and it seems kind of pointless to threaten it if it's
not absolutely necessary. From my Coast Guard contacts, it sounds like TBT
is on its way out for the big boats too.
If you're repainting, I suggest that you check with Powerboat Reports
http://www.powerboat-reports.com/ for the latest recommendations. They've
been testing bottom paints for 10 years.
And one final plea for the scientific method. If you're trying wacko ideas
like cayenne pepper in your paint, why not paint half your hull with the
cayenne, and half without. After one season you should have a pretty good
idea whether it's more effective or not, and you'll have ruled out a bunch
of factors such as the water temp, geography, speed, etc.
Bob Deering
Juneau Alaska
-----Original Message-----
From: ] On Behalf Of Joseph Berta
Sent: Friday, March 02, 2001 7:33 AM
To: Charles Monroe;
