Bottom Paint for the IL River around seneca IL

I boat on the IL river. I have a 30' power boat that currently has several layers of ablative bottom paint and believe it is slowing me down and sucking gas. I am planning on having it soda blasted by pro's. My question is about what to put back on. I am thinking about a hard paint like VC-17m. I have read some people get multiple seasons out of it in the great lakes even with winter storage. I also read the read the reason hard stops working after winter storage is because the paint forms a oxidation layer over the winter that no longer allows the copper to do its job. On the IL river I am more worried about the biocide doing its job since zebra mussels are not an issue. Would it be possible to remove the oxidized layer with a mild acid if nessesary?

Please comment with your opinions and experience?

Re: Bottom Paint for the IL River around seneca IL

Are you SURE zebra mussels are not a problem? I didn't have any on my boat in 2008, the last year I had it, but at a lake where my in-laws live, the dock pilings are covered with them.

I would ask people in your area what they use. The Great lakes water quality and the IL River water quality almost couldn't be more different. You do need something that is good at stopping growth, cause there is a TON of it on the IL River. Most folks on here on iboats have no idea how much growth you can have in a summer.

If you boat is slow and using tons of fuel, and it's not supposed to, I'd be more concerned about weight in the hull that the layers of paint. of course, if the paint is no longer effective, then growth is your problem.

Re: Bottom Paint for the IL River around seneca IL

TilliamWe said:

Are you SURE zebra mussels are not a problem? I didn't have any on my boat in 2008, the last year I had it, but at a lake where my in-laws live, the dock pilings are covered with them.

I would ask people in your area what they use. The Great lakes water quality and the IL River water quality almost couldn't be more different. You do need something that is good at stopping growth, cause there is a TON of it on the IL River. Most folks on here on iboats have no idea how much growth you can have in a summer.

If you boat is slow and using tons of fuel, and it's not supposed to, I'd be more concerned about weight in the hull that the layers of paint. of course, if the paint is no longer effective, then growth is your problem.

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I have not seen a zebra on the river yet. Most other boaters at my marina use ablative paint and touchup every year. My boat still weights in at the mfr spec. I have seen some blogs about Lake Mich boaters starting to use VC-17m like the sailboaters. VC-17m does have biolux to deal with growth.

I would like to know if anyone has used this on the IL river before and if they have used it for multi-seasons. Also, do I need to add interprotect 2000 if I currently do not have any blisters? This is on a 1991 boat.