Visit our Popular Forums

ekelly36 · 04-04-2024, 17:54

Before going into this I want to say I would never do this but I was talking to an old sailer the other day about how I still need to do my bottom paint, he told me that he gets the cheapest pain possible and grinds up lead and mixes it in with his paint..... aside from this probably being illegal and potentially dangerous, isnt it more effective to just get a proper copper paint? it seems to me that would be a tremendous amount of work.... but he said he has been doing that to his boat for decades and never has any growth. Opinions?

**Jim Cate** · 04-04-2024, 18:46

Quote:

Opinions?

He is either not very observant or not telling the truth. We've had endless discussions about DIY additives and in the telling they all work wonderfully... in reality, not so much.

Jim

**GordMay** · 05-04-2024, 02:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jim Cate

He is either not very observant or not telling the truth. We've had endless discussions about DIY additives and in the telling they all work wonderfully... in reality, not so much.
Jim

Unless, the old sailor is so much more informed, and brilliant, than the professional chemists, who formulate paint[s].

Benz · 05-04-2024, 06:35

How does he grind up lead? When lead-based paint was legal, they used lead oxide. No idea where it comes from or how to get it.
I'd be curious about his method (note-not to use it; I'm happy with commercial bottom paint options)

Shrew · 05-04-2024, 07:23

Being older doesn't make you smarter. It just makes you older. Learning makes you smarter. There is no guarantee that is how this 'old sailor' spent his time.

fstbttms · 05-04-2024, 08:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekelly36

...he has been doing that to his boat for decades and never has any growth.

Bwahahaha!

ekelly36 · 05-04-2024, 16:58

yeah, I don't know... was just curious... I thought it sounded like way too much work .... and not saving much money.... I know some paint can be expensive, but I highly doubt it saves any money.... or is effective.... I'm of the same opinion as Gordmay... I'll let the chemists in the labs decide what is effective and just buy the finished product lol...