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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Silicone

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Bruce Baker
Captain

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USA
402 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/10/2007 : 07:33:46

Last week, we were racing another C-25 who appeared to have better boat speed than we did. We hear a rumour that he had treated the bottom of his boat with some kind of silicone (spray?). Has anybody heard of this? If so, would the silicone interfere with bottom paint properties?

Thanks.

Bruce Baker
Falls Church, VA
"Yee Ha" 3573
'83SR/SK

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2007 : 08:03:14

Nothing is more slippery than water moving against water, people use wetting agents to get a thin layer of water to adhere to a surface. Soap is a wetting agent. (Dennis Connor used microgroove tape to hold water molecules to his hull in Australia.) Anything that causes beading is the opposite of a wetting agent. Spay some silicone on something and see how water acts.
As to reaction to paint... anyone trying that hard has no paint.

Edited by - on

Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 09/10/2007 : 08:14:21

Clean smooth bottoms have alwasy been faster. I don't think that statemtent is any secret to anyone. I've never heard anyone treating the bottom with silicone though I have heard of people putting a coat of dishsoap on the boat prior to travelling and not washing it off before launch (keeps the bugs from sticking) and heard of people using more than just a rag or sponge to clean the hull on race day. In either case, the result would have been a faster boat for about 1 leg of the course. I don't think the silicon would stay on much longer either.

I haven't seen any paints with silicon added - at least any racing bottom paints, and I searched for a while. Teflon yes, silicon no. The fastet bottom paint being Baltoplate, now owned by Interlux. Be prepared to spend about 40 to 80 man hours per season if you put this paint on. Interluxes VC-17 would probably be the next best thing for racing.

Is his swing keel stiffer? i.e. does he have new bushing on it?, Is his boat void of all the extraneous crap these cruising boats carry? (i.e extra anchor, full watertank, full head tank, two batteries, tool box, etc) Are his sails newer? Did he have a better sail selection? Does his main have more roach? Were you rigged identically? A clean bottom is important, but not if you don't work on the rest of the equation too.

To answer your question, I don't think the silicon would stay on long enough to even come close to messing with the anti-fouling.

Edited by - Champipple on 09/10/2007 08:19:11

Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2007 : 05:48:46

One design speed gains are very small among various sailboat systems but cumulatively they can get the job done and can become the factor for a race where no more mistakes are made than the competition. What is wanted is the best power to drag ratio.

To get that, the racing skipper should give attention to every thing that adds power as well as every thing that reduces drag.

As to the fastest bottom surface, I think a clean (no paint) wet sanded surface has the least drag.

As to silicone spray... each of us play our part in keeping our lakes clean... is it wise to add silicone to our waters?

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3477 Posts

Response Posted - 09/15/2007 : 07:59:39

Bruce,

The other week, I saw your boat racing ! That was when they had the race on the North end of the river up in my neck of the woods. I happened to be out same day and was parallel with you for awhile. I did not want to interfere with any of the boats racing but figured I would stay at a distance.

I have the original sails on my boat and had the 110 jib on the furling rig that day. I guess what bothered me most was when the boats turned around the south buoy and then tacked close to the wind, I could not do same - I had to fall off a few degrees. I was doing okay when the boats were running with the wind and I saw one or two other Catalinas but did not think they were all that fast until you all rounded the southern mark....then it seemed that the other Catalinas were gaining.

I am getting ready to buy new sails and wanted to try out the 150 Genoa that I have never used (also an original sail). I just put that sail on the furling rig the other day. Although it is old it is in pretty good shape and I suspect previous owner did not use it that much. Speed increased but big difference I noticed right away, I was able to sail closer to the wind.

Your discussion about silicone....when you are in the races, do you have an opportunity to see the bottom of this other boat ? I imagine those that are in the races frequently are perhaps getting their bottoms pressure washed during the season...so maybe hard to evaluate how a silicone coat holds up. I suspect that whatever silicone he has on it must be super thin and not long lasting. He may apply it at times of pressure washing.....rcmd talk to those guys that do the pressure washing over at your marina...they probably know the story with each boat and what the owner(s) are doing for bottom prep as well as how it holds up.

Larry

Edited by - OLarryR on 09/15/2007 08:07:01

sescaravage
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2007 : 13:59:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Bruce Baker
 Last week, we were racing another C-25 who appeared to have better boat speed than we did. We hear a rumour that he had treated the bottom of his boat with some kind of silicone (spray?). Has anybody heard of this? If so, would the silicone interfere with bottom paint properties?

Thanks.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

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sescaravage
Deckhand

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USA
2 Posts

Response Posted - 09/17/2007 : 14:06:11

Our firm sells a silicone product "Duplex Fouling Release System" which is a four layer system. Two layers of Marine epoxy, with the second layer having some teethering agents included, a tie coat layer (which imparts strength) and a surface silicone layer. Our system will improve the speed of the boat 5-10% due to the reduced drag from the surface silicone. Please look at our website www.fujihuntsmartsurface.com for more information on how to win the race or just get to the fishing hole quicker, reduce fuel consumption/carbon emmissions and etc.
Steve

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