i always remember my 'green' hobby of sailing does impact the environment. this comes from the boat itself (it is plastic), sails, outboard, potti, etc. i do all i can to reduce my 'footprint'. dave scobie M17 #375 - sweet pea (http://www.m17-375.webs.com) M15 #288 - SCRED (for sale, http://www.freewebs.com/m15-named-scred) --- On Fri, 5/1/09, GILASAILR@aol.com <GILASAILR@aol.com> wrote: Folks, This is for ALL who are contemplating Anti-Fouling Paint Choices (ironic heh?) THIS IS NOT DIRECTED AT ANY ONE PERSON in particular - hell, I am here to offend all equally. (maybe, LOL) I need to make a comment, an ass of myself, or have my say. Shoot- I'm going for the TRIFECTA! Please let us think here for a minute. How many of us like clams, scallops,crabs, oysters, redfish, tuna, bluefish, salmon etc.? I like to eat all of those from time to time. I even like to just look at them in the water! I really would appreciate it, if the freaking bottom paint containing metals and biocide (rhymes with pesticide) was NOT FLAKING off the bottom of a boat to poison the rest of the animals in the sea, so that our boats can have a little less 'fuzz, scum, hair or whatever grows in your neck of the woods' on it's bottom! Please think about it. Hard paints leach the poison out over time, soft ones flake off and frequently have a very short usable life-span, and require another application. You CANNOT scrub ablative paints with much success. Lets try and give the beautiful places we sail a chance to breathe! Maybe because a lot of life is out of our control this 'week' -economy, political tensions between countries, people losing their jobs and houses. It would be nice - by acting responsibly - to help make the world a better place - if for no one other than yourself - the next time you go sailing! And by doing that , it makes a better place for your neighbor who enjoys the beach, or fishing, or surfing. Happy people make for a good place to live. Happy animals make for a good place to live. Yeah- I am 57 years old- a hippy - and 'TRY' to live in an eco-friendly manner - I am FAR from being even good at it - but I try. If you have to poison the place that you love to spend your "quality time" - try and have a 'minimal impact'. I hear chili peppers makes a good biocide! Hard paints don't slough off, try paints with lower levels of biocides, check for % of metals, toxins -' yeah Festus - that there Killer X3000 Paint is 40% cyanide - that 'll keep that dern slime off the bottom' . An old girl friend of mine taught me that 'friction is my friend' - works wonders on unwanted aquatic growth too! A little more abrasion and NO ABLATIVES!!! (these are trailerable SMALL boats-it's not like cleaning an aircraft carrier). Please just think about it the next time you choose. Thank You for your time and patience. Sorry for the rant - but now you know what I am full of. _ _ _ _ Reduce,Reuse,Recycle Take Care, Have Fun, Be nice to the Earth- Peace! GO M-17 # 316a "LB/GF" Team Geezer Racing 'Old and In the Way.....' PS - I probably won't go off like this for another couple years, at least not in PUBLIC! 'Nurse - I would like my meds now'