actually I prefer jalapeno peppers in my boat bottom paint- I like the heat!! maybe you should post on the cooking forum!! LOL ok I am over that. sorry I just couldnt resist. no, my DH has never heard of it He said maybe it helps the anti fouling properties of the paint. I asked him because I felt guilty about making fun of your post.

DH is a former paint/body man, he said maybe the cayenne pepper is to discourage growth of algae? I know you can put it in flowerbeds to deter slugs, so maybe it repels algae as well? They're both....slimy. We're just guessing here.

We are not in your area, but we sail in extremely yucky, slimy water of the Chesapeake Bay and tributaries. We upgraded 3 seasons ago to the Micron Extra. We got 2 seasons out of the paint, minor sanding & touch ups 2nd season. We haul , light powerwash at marina, and relaunch each season. It is a bit more expensive than the Micron CSC - but hey, you're already spending a fortune for the CSC - what's a few more $$ ? We think it is worth it and performed as stated. Use a heavy napped roller & put it on thick. (I don't get help painting interior, but do help boat bottom painting - I am definietly doing something wrong!)
About the cayenne :"Welcome to BoatUS Ask the Experts Web Site!



Question:
Don Casey:,

We are very confused over what bottom paint is appropriate for our area. We live in Sarasota, FL and have a 2003 250 Catalina with the original bottom paint from the factory. What bottom paint could you recommend? Also, how difficult do you think it is to do the work ourselves? We are going to have it hauled at Salt Creek Marina in St Pete and they will allow us to work on it ourselves. If you think it's ok for a couple of rookies to do the bottom painting, do you recommend adding cayenne pepper to the paint, how much sanding & how many coats would you put on? Thanks for any help you can offer! Carolyn Thomas

Kurt

Answer:
Kurt,

Bottom paints that are 100% effective in some waters give miserable results in other waters. My advice on bottom paint choice is always to ask other boaters in your area what they use and if it keeps the bottom clean for a season or longer. Buy the paint that gets the most local praise. In the latest Practical Sailor evaluation, Micron Extra, Micron Optima, and Micron 66 all received excellent ratings for fouling tests conducted in Florida waters. Petit Premium Performance, Petit Vivid, and Blue Water Copper Pro were equally effective. Petit Trinidad did not show as well in this test but nearly always does test well and is a long-time favorite of thousands of Florida boaters. Ask around. My thinking on cayenne pepper is if improved the antifouling properties of bottom paint, all the paint companies would add it, but try it if you like. It shouldn't hurt anything.

Don Casey:

Thanks, Magothyrivergirl, I was hoping you'd respond to this. We'll have to do an informal poll in Pt. Aransas and Rockport, I guess. Someone who owns a small marina in California told us that barnacles dislike cayenne. ;)

Why thank you! Nobody ever hoped for my response before - big grin & giggle! What kind of boat? How often do you haul for cleaning? I will say our prop, which does not get the antifouling paint gets barnacles that require hard scraping. This year, DH used some clear prop paint that is suppose to repel the barnacles, due to "an incident" our boat got hauled again 2 weeks after it was in the water for repairs & the prop looked nasty - so that was a waste of money. The bottom was still perfect, but slime was forming on the waxed hull right above the bottom paint. This isn't starting out to be a good season for us - our "incident" occurred 5 days after we lost one of our best friends in a freak, tragic boating accident during a squall that hit during a race. DH raced with this man for 17 years. We are devastated! Happened in my backyard (my screen name). back to the bottom paint- the antifouling is an ablative paint the polishes or wears off a little at a time, so maybe the barnacles don't get a chance to stick. Barnacles are everywhere here also - along with all the other nasty stuff in our waterways. I think it would take alot of cayenne to be effective - if it is - and it would "polish off" along with the paint making it an added expense and waste of time. That said , I am always interested in the usual - that's why we frequent these boards for opinons and tips! I would like to know what you decide and did DH laugh when you told him you were going "to consult" with your decorating friends before you painted - the boat bottom!!!

A brief hijack--Magothy so sorry for the loss of your DHs friend. I am trying to remember if I read about the tragedy in the Sun. We live in the Balto. area.
I have a friend that grew up on the Magothy and still lives there. MY DH grew up boating on it and I have skiied on it many, many moon ago. You have a beautiful backyard! One day, we want to learn to sail.
Sue

Sue, thanks - it happened during the Wed night races - 2 wks ago - May 21st - I was told the Sun had a few articles - the Capital had 2 big articles. Last Wed night MRSA (Magothy River sailing Assoc ) paid an on the water tribute to him, the boat, the crew & the boat that was involved in the rescue. It was unbelieveble & very emotional for all. DH had the honors of the firings of the shotgun at certain parts in the ceremony, as the longest person to sail with him & the most races. Many, many boats turned out and formally paid their respects. I will never forget it. We are really having a tough time moving on. He was a big part of our family thru sailing. My DS started racing with him when he was only 11years old - he is 27 now. Big hole! His presence is every where as sailing - boats are a big part of our lives.
Then last night - also Wednesday night - races on the Magothy & we got that horrible storm - twice actually - not a good sign for the summer.
You should learn to sail. Mostly it is very relaxing. And very beautiful.
Thanks again for your kind words. This was such a strange, tragic occurence for this area.

Heavens. I am so sorry. How endlessly sad.
This boat thing is no longer a joy for me, so I've managed to extract one or two concessions in exchange for paint. We've had too many close calls in the past, including an encounter with would-be pirates off the coast of California many years ago. But DH continues to love sailing, so I'm going along with it. This one's 32', smaller than any we've owned before. Turns out he already ordered the bottom paint, so we'll see how it works, and modify in the future, as needed. We're not racers, but I have been crew on racing yacht deliveries in the past. Imagine sitting off the coast of the Mexico-San Diego border for three days, no engine, waiting for some wind. Anyway, thank you for the advice.
P.S. He knows better than to laugh at my Gardenweb consultants; they diagnosed our blossom end tomato rot. :)

When the time is right I hope your hearts find healing in your sails. I know from experience that healing takes time, but it does come to us. S.