need for bottom paint?

[windfall]

-I have been wondering how long a boat needs to be in salt water (continously) before bottom paint becomes a neccesary protection against toredos. I guess the question is realy one of how quickly do the larva establish themselves, when do they begin to cause damage, and how readily are they killed when the boat gets pulled out.
-Particularly I am thinking of small wooden boats that are usualy trailered, but may spend a few days to a week in the water from time to time.
-The stuff is so nasty I hate to put it on a small boat, but the worms are obviously far nastier.

[ahp]

I don't know about toredo worms on wood but I can tell you about barnicles on FG, in Massachusetts. I didn't want to put bottom paint on my cat because I intended to race it and most are raced dry. Bottom paint is rough compared to gel coat.

If leave it in the water but you scrub off the bottom once a week you will be ok. In two weeks you start to get little pinhead size barnicles.

[PugetSound]

Toredo worms need salt water to survive. In the old days, a ships captain would sail up a fresh water river for a few days just to kill the little buggers. since I know you'll probably wind up washing the hull more often than the family car I don't see that you have a problem.
Also, toredo worms aren't particularly fond of cold water.

Barnicles may be able to survive awhile out of water, but I don't think toredo worms (or larvae) enjoy this advantage.

[rbgarr]

I read in the Pardey's book that they creosoted their first boat below the waterline before painting so that if there were spots where paint was rubbed off the wood would be protected from teredos. Would regular (non anti-fouling) paint be able to adhere to a creosoted bottom on a small boat that's in the water for weeks long stretches? That might be a way to ease your mind if you are still building your boat and haven't painted yet and don't want to use antifouling. Of course, getting and using creosote presents it's own problems.

[Bob Cleek]

I swear I don't work for Steve Smith, BUT, you know, a good soaking of CPES will probably prevent marine borer damage. They don't eat through epoxy soaked wood. You still need anti-fouling paint, of course, since you have to deal with the flora and fauna that attach themselves to the surface.