Third World Bottom Paints?

[virginia boy]

I've searched everywhere trying to discover the type of paint/coating that people use on the their hulls in third world countries where $230.00 USD might be a months pay. It seems that in the last thousand years someone would have come up with an inexpensive bottom coating that works??

[fstbttms]

To date; effective anti fouling means using heavy metals in the paint (especially in high-fouling regions). It used to be tributyl tin (now banned throughout most of the world) but is now primarily cuprous oxide. As you are discovering, these metals are not cheap. There is no inexpensive alternative that works well. Just bite the bullet and use a good anti fouling product from a reputable company. You will likely regret your decision otherwise.