Antifouling recommendation

[Gardenshed]

I've been using International Micron. Its OK but I was wondering if there are better alternatives or products that are just as good but less expensive.
Boat in Craobh and will be in the water 9+ months each year.
what do others use and any comments / observations appreciated

[claymore]

I thought Micron was a hard racing type of Antifoul? Not sure its necessary unless you are signed up for a full season of competitive racing.
I know a paint chemist who tells me that there is a fair bit of hocus pocus surrounding the various types that are available.
I just use cruiser uno or whatever they call it now

[Gardenshed]

Micron is an "ablative" type, not a hard-racing type. Suspect it is not really needed for what I do, hence the question about others. Cruiser Uno definitely one of the options
"Hocus Pocus" in the marine trade? (& related overprint) surely not........

[Bodach na mara]

I used to use Cruiser Uno and before that I used Micron for a while. The Uno i found slightly worse than the Micron. Then I changed to Flag or another of the cheapies and found it not much different from Uno.

I have been using Hempels Cruiser for the last 5 years as the boat came with about 7 litres of the stuff, and find it quite good.

I'm berthed in Largs and am afloat for 6 months per year usually, provided the engine doesn't need replaced or the government panics over flu epidemics.

[BlowingOldBoots]

I use Cruiser 250, the replacement of Cruiser Uno which is no longer made. I keep my boat in all year round and get 2 to 3 years out of two coats. I use roller application and don't skimp on film thickness. About 7 litres in total, 2.5 x 3 litre tins, 41' LOA, encapsulated keel, deep forefoot, skeg, so a bit of underwater area. I have used Cruiser Uno, then Cruiser 250 in 12 years of ownership, both Clyde and Craobh and it works well. I also don't scrape back or remove old antifouling; one day I will when I can be bothered. Like all boats that will not move that much, I get slime, but that washes off with a brisk sail at good speed and lots of wave bashing. In summer I have had seaweed fronds growing from the water line, but they go away with motoring or sailing. As I do not remove the old antifouling, I do go round and scrape off any loose stuff. In the past I have scrubbed the old antifouling with a heavy grit pad socked in water, the type that look like large green meanie pan scrubbers. I don't do that now.

On my propellor, 3 blade fixed propellor, I use Velox and after 2.5 years I found about 5 x barnacles tucked in, at the back.

This is my experience, works for me.

[Bodach na mara]

That's interesting about Velox. I have used it for three seasons. The first 2 it was fine but this season there were a lot of barnacles on the shaft and quite a few on the prop. Next year the P' bracket and shaft are getting Hempel but I will continue to use Velox on th prop blades.

[mm5aho]

I've used Flag Cruising grade for about 5 seasons, and Cruiser Uno before that. Can't tell the difference. Flag's stuff is sold by several as branded stuff, like Gaelforce.
The results seem to vary with the waters sailed - for all types.