Fiberglass Bottomkote® Aqua

Features:

• Suitable for use on either cruising or performance boats.
• Can be wet-sanded and burnished to provide an even smoother surface for racing boats
• Low Volatile Organic Content (VOC), which limits solvent emission into the atmosphere
• Easy clean up with soap and water

Color fast, durable water based antifouling paint that will provide premium protection from algae, slime, barnacles, zebra mussels and other forms of fouling. Fiberglass Bottomkote® Aqua is perfect for use on either cruising or performance boats. The surface can be wet-sanded to provide a smooth racing finish with less drag. Fiberglass Bottomkote® Aqua is a low in Volatile Organic Content (VOC) with the added benefit of easy clean up with soap and water.

All paint colors shown here are for guidance only. Due to differences in screen displays that are beyond our control the colors on these pages cannot be guaranteed to match the actual color in the can.

GETTING THE RIGHT COLOR
The copper compound within the antifouling is difficult to mask with color pigments. All antifouling paints change color when they are immersed. So don’t be surprised when you have finished and the color is not what you had hoped from the color chart, the true color will establish itself after the boat has been launched. Copolymer and ablative type coatings tend to fade more than hard antifouling paints.

Along the waterline the antifouling will often look dirty or faded, and can even turn green. This is due to the reaction of the paint with oxygen forming green copper oxide. For these reasons you should try keep the paint as close to the true waterline as possible.

ANTIFOULING
Antifouling is the most common (and most important) painting job carried out by boat owners. You can very easily do a professional quality job yourself, but you must bear in mind a few important points.

The type of antifouling you choose should be tailored to the fouling challenges in your boating area. Different water qualities and temperatures produce different types and breeds of fouling. Even in a small area the differences can be quite dramatic, due to outfalls, pollution, inflows from rivers and streams, the speed of flow of the water – and even shading from cliffs, trees and buildings.

It is vital to protect your boat through antifouling as once fouling has a hold on your hull; it will rapidly colonize the surface, making it difficult to remove. Prevention is therefore much better than cure.

THREE KEY REASONS ANTIFOULING GROWTH SHOULD BE PREVENTED:
Safety: Heavy fouling growth reduces responsiveness as well as making the boat sit lower in the water. This can have serious implications in challenging weather conditions.

Protection: Prolonged fouling growth will damage the substrate of the hull. For example, the natural glues organisms use to attach to the hull damage wood and fiberglass.

Speed & Efficiency: Fouling causes drag, which slows you down and increases fuel costs.

Bottom Paint Application Chart To use this chart refer to "Different Types of Antifouling Paints." Then pick the type that is best for your boat.
	Displacement Power Boat		Cruising Sail
	Top Shelf	Next Best	Top Shelf	Next Best
Self-Polishing Copolymers	Micron® 66	N/A	Micron® 66	N/A
Controlled Solubility Copolymers	Micron® Extra	Micron® CSC	Micron® Extra	Micron® CSC
Ablative	Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT	Super Ablative	Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT	Super Ablative
Hard	Ultra, Ultra-Kote®	Fiberglass Bottomkote®	Ultra, Ultra-Kote®	Fiberglass Bottomkote®, Trilux® 33™
	Large Boats Used Infrequently		Planing Powerboat
	Top Shelf	Next Best	Top Shelf	Next Best
Self-Polishing Copolymers	Micron® 66	N/A	Micron® 66	N/A
Controlled Solubility Copolymers	Micron® Extra	Micron® CSC	Micron® Extra	Micron® CSC
Ablative	Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT	Super Ablative	Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT	Super Ablative
Hard	Ultra, Ultra-Kote®	Fiberglass Bottomkote®	Ultra, Ultra-Kote®	Fiberglass Bottomkote®
	Racing Sail		Trailer Boat & Rack Storage
	Top Shelf	Next Best	Top Shelf	Next Best
Self-Polishing Copolymers	Micron® 66	N/A	N/A	N/A
Controlled Solubility Copolymers	Micron® 66	N/A	N/A	N/A
Ablative	Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT	Super Ablative	Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT	Super Ablative
Hard	VC® Offshore, Baltoplate, Trilux® 33™ (White), VC 17m® Extra	Fiberglass Bottomkote®, Fiberglass Bottomkote® Aqua	Fiberglass Bottomkote® Aqua	Fiberglass Bottomkote®
Non Antifouling	VC® Performance Epoxy	-	VC® Performance Epoxy	-
	Large Sportfisherman		Freshwater
	Top Shelf	Next Best	Top Shelf	Next Best
Self-Polishing Copolymers	Micron® 66	N/A	N/A	N/A
Controlled Solubility Copolymers	Micron® Extra	Micron® CSC	Micron® Extra	Micron® CSC
Ablative	Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT	Super Ablative	Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT	Super Ablative
Hard	Ultra, Ultra-Kote®	Fiberglass Bottomkote®	Ultra, Trilux® 33™	VC 17m® Extra
Non Antifouling	-	-	VC® Performance Epoxy	-
This chart is for guidance only. Your Boat and the conditions in which you use your boat will vary.

DIFFERENT TYPES OF ANTIFOULING PAINTS
Antifouling type is dictated by the quality, combinatino, quantity and type of resin.

SELF-POLISHING COPOLYMERS – SPC technology antifoulings work because the film contains a patented resin called an ‘SPC Copolymer’. This copolymer reacts with saltwater in a controlled way. As a result, the chemical reaction controls and sustains the release of biocides throughout the lifetime of the antifouling without decline. This chemical reaction will take place at the same rate whether you boat is underway or sitting at the dock. This type of technology has previously only been available in tin-based copolymer coatings, which are restricted in their use to boats over 82 feet in length. This new, patented Interlux® technology is available for professional application to boats of all sizes. It is not recommended for use in fresh water.
For Self-Polishing Copolymers use Micron® 66®

CONTROLLED SOLUBILITY COPOLYMERS or CONTROLLED DEPLETION POLYMERS – These types of antifoulings are partially soluble which means that as water passes across the surface of the coating, it wears down much like a bar of soap would wear away. The physical action of the water over the surface steadily reduces the thickness of the paint at a controlled rate, which results in always having fresh biocide at the surface of the paint throughout the season. For this reason these types of antifoulings have the capability to perform in the areas of highest fouling challenge. Boats painted with Controlled Solubility Copolymers can be hauled and relaunched without repainting since the biocides are chemically bound to the paint film and are only active when in the water. The longevity of these coatings is related to the thickness of the paint.
For Controlled Solubility Copolymer Antifoulings use Micron® Extra with Biolux®, Micron® CSC or Micron® Optima.

ABLATIVE ANTIFOULINGS – Ablative antifoulings wear away with use like the controlled depletion polymers but at a much less controlled rate. Ablative antifoulings are affected more by water temperature, salinity and alkalinity than are the controlled depletion polymers and generally wear away faster. They are less expensive than controlled depletion polymers and they provide excellent antifouling protection but they don’t last as long as the controlled depletion polymers or controlled solubility copolymers.
For Ablative Antifoulings use Fiberglass Bottomkote® ACT.

HARD ANTIFOULINGS – The technical term for these types of antifouling paints is ‘contact leaching’. The paint dries to a porous film that is packed with biocides, which leach out on contact with water to prevent fouling growth. This leaching is chemically designed to release biocide throughout the season, but the amount will steadily decrease until there is not enough biocide coming out of the paint film to maintain fouling protection. Once the biocide is exhausted, the hard paint film remains on the boat. Hard antifoulings do not retain their antifouling ability out of the water and cannot be hauled and relaunched without repainting. One of the main benefits of this type of antifouling is its resistance to abrasion and rubbing. This makes it ideal for fast powerboats, racing sailboats or boats where the owners have the bottoms scrubbed regularly. Most hard antifouling paints can be wet sanded and burnished prior to launch to reduce drag and improve hull speed.
For Hard Antifoulings use Ultra with Biolux®, Ultra-Kote®, Fiberglass Bottomkote® or Fiberglass Bottomkote® Aqua. For Hard Racing Finishes use VC® Offshore with Teflon®, Baltoplate, VC 17m® Extra or VC 17m®.

How much antifouling paint do I need?	Powerboat					Sailboat
Waterline Length (feet)	20	25	30	35	40	20	25	30	35	40
Quarts standard range	3	4	6	8	10	3	4	5.5	7	9
Quarts VC 17m / VC 17m Extra	3	4	5.5	7.5	9.5	2.5	3	4.5	5.5	7.5

Conventional One-Part Products This system provides a good level of protection
Stage	Product	Aluminum	Steel	Wood
Clean	Fiberglass Solvent Wash 202 or Fiberglass Surface Prep YMA601 or Special Thinner 216	YES	YES	202 or 216
Sand	-	grind or sandblast	grind or sandblast	Sand with 80 grit sandpaper
Surface Primer	Viny-Lux Primewash 353/354	1 coat	1 coat	DO NOT USE
Primer	Primocon®	1 coat	1 coat	1 coat (thinned 10-15%)
Filler	Watertite	as needed	as needed	as needed
Primer	Primocon®	2-3 coats	2-3 coats	1-2 coats
Antifouling	Interlux® Antifouling	2-3 coats	2-3 coats	2-3 coats

Drying Information	59 Degrees F	73 Degrees F	95 Degrees F
Immersion	32 hours	16 hours	12 hours
Overcoating Time	12 hrs min - 2 wks max	8 hrs min - 2 wks max	6 hrs min - 2 wks max

APPLICATION AND USE

Preparation
BARE FIBERGLASS - (POLYESTER OR VINYLESTER OR EPOXY): Since the boat may never have been painted, take extra care and time in preparing the bottom before proceeding to the system of choice. Clean surface carefully, start by removing all contaminants and "Mold Release Wax" on the surface as follows. Whether the boat is new or a few years old "Mold Release Wax" and other contaminants like dirt, grime, dust, oils and even road salt can be present on the bottom of the boat. Scrub the surface thoroughly using Interlux soap and water and a stiff brush. Flush with fresh water to remove the soap residue and allow to dry. Apply Fiberglass Surface Prep YMA601 with a maroon, 3M® Scotch-BriteTM pad and scrub well. Flush with fresh water or wipe off with a clean, wet cloth ensuring that no traces of Fiberglass Surface Prep remain. Dampen a cheesecloth with Interlux Fiberglass Solvent Wash 202.
Bare Fiberglass - No Sanding System: Prepare surface as described. Apply Fiberglass Primer with a brush or roller. Apply at least 2 coats of Fiberglass Bottomkote Aqua. Bare Fiberglass -Sanding System: Prepare surface as described. Wet sand with 80 grade (grit) paper. Wipe with Fiberglass Solvent Wash 202.
Bare Fiberglass -Sanding System: Prepare surface as described. Wet sand with 80 grade (grit) paper. Wipe with Fiberglass Solvent Wash 202.
BARE WOOD: Clean with Special Thinner 216. Sand with 80 grade (grit) paper. Clean with Special Thinner 216. Repair any defects with Interfill Epoxy Filler. Lightly sand and wipe clean. Surface must be free from all contamination. Fill seams, if necessary, with Seam Compound Brown 30. Apply first coat of Fiberglass Bottomkote Aqua thinned with Paint Conditioner 6216 (do not use more than 10% by volume).
PREVIOUSLY PAINTED SURFACES:
In Good Condition: Remove old flaking paint. Wet sand with 80 grade (grit) paper. Rinse with fresh water and allow to dry.
In Poor Condition: Remove antifouling paint in poor condition with Interstrip Semi-Paste 299E.
UNDERWATER METALS: All substrates must be primed, clean and dry. All preparation for bare substrates is covered on the appropriate primer labels. Contact Interlux® for further details.
STEEL/IRON: Interprotect or Primocon.
LEAD: Etch Primer followed by Interprotect or Primocon.

Method
Do not apply thin coats. If during application the brush pulls or the roller drags, add small increments of Paint Conditioner 6216 to improve handling (do not add more than 10% by volume). Apply 2 coats for full protection. BARE WOOD: Apply 3 coats of Fiberglass Bottomkote Aqua.

Hints
Thinner Paint Conditioner 6216
Thinning Thin only if necessary. Thin no more than 10%.

Some Important Points
Read the safety data section before use. Antifoulings should only be wet sanded. Never dry sand or burn-off old antifoulings. Pad areas should not be painted immediately prior to launch. Do not use in wet or humid conditions. Should it rain during or immediately after application, the coating must be exposed to dry conditions for at least 24 hours before immersion. In cold conditions, <10°C , 48 hours is recommended.

Compatibility/Substrates
Fiberglass Bottomkote Aqua can be applied to most popular antifouling paints as long as the old coating has been aged, is tightly adhered and is in sound condition. Do not apply Fiberglass Bottomkote Aqua over soft or tin-based copolymer antifoulings. Do not use on aluminium.

Number of Coats
2 minimum Bare Wood: 3 coats (first thinned)

Coverage
(Theoretical) - 407.1 (ft²/Gal)

Recommended DFT
2.0 mils dry

Recommended WFT
5.3 mils wet

Application Methods
Brush, Roller, Conventional Spray

Disclaimer: Charts apply to Interlux products only. The information provided is not intended to be exhaustive. Because iboats.com does not know how this information is being used, they cannot take responsibility for any actions as a result.

By purchase or use of this product, buyer agrees that the sole and exclusive remedy, if any, is limited to the refund of the purchase price or replacement of the product at iboats.com’s option.