A total of 26 paints on 30-some panels, including 5 paints on my boat (it's sort of multi-colored).
These panels have been hanging alongside the dock for a year in Deale, MD. The water is brackish, only about 30% sea water concentration, but it is a high fouling area none the less. The far right (upper) panel is a control, not coated. It will be a 2-year test, so these paints are only half way there. Needless to say, some are failing, but the cold will knock the soft growth off and we'll have to see how they look in the spring and next fall.
If I give away the results my publisher (Practical Sailor), who paid for all of the work, panels, and paints, will kill me.They should publish the full report soon.
Nearly all of the paints are compliant with the new California low-leach-rate requirements, which we believe will be adopted in Washington and perhaps nationally before long, since the EPA seems to be onboard with this approach. Since the paint companies have been involved and can make some darn good paints that comply (and are no more expensive, adjusted for inflation), it seems the whole copper paint kerfuffle has come to a win-win resolution.
I'll be picking my next bottom paint from these panels!
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