VC Offshore - Hard Vinyl Antifouling Paint

NOT SOLD FOR USE IN CALIFORNIA

VC Offshore is a multi-season, super slippery, hard vinyl antifouling paint designed for high performance boats of all types – including racing sailboats and power boats.
It far exceeds the performance of conventional antifouling paints as a high speed or racing coating.

VC Offshore is formulated with a substantial concentration of cuprous oxide biocide as well as a slippery PTFE additive that, together, create a smooth, non-fouling, low-friction surface which can be burnished, if desired, to create an even smoother, more durable surface that's harder and faster than the original.

In addition to racing and performance boats, VC Offshore is especially popular with high-speed, offshore sportfishing boats (think Viking, Bertram, etc.) and fiberglass six-pack charter boats that are running long distances offshore and need the increased boat speed and fuel economy it provides.

Compared to the similar performing VC Regatta Baltoplate, VC Offshore will require more effort if you decide to burnish the finish for extra speed, uses PTFE instead of molybdenum disulfide as a low-friction additive, plus VC Offshore comes in black, blue, and red, while Baltoplate is available in metallic gray or white.

VC Offshore features –
• Multi-season, hard vinyl surface with low-friction additive provides a superior, slippery, performance finish
• Can be burnished (polished) to achieve a smoother surface with minimum drag for even faster speeds
• 42.5% cuprous oxide content - protects against marine growth in high fouling waters, and moderate fouling waters if burnished *
• Suitable for use in fresh, brackish or salt water
• Can be applied to fiberglass, lead, steel, wood, carbon fiber
• Contains copper - do not use on aluminum hulls or outdrives
• 40% solids by volume
• Apply by brush, roller, or conventional (pressure pot) spray
• Thinner: Special Thinner 216
• Theoretical coverage is 300 ft²/gallon; practical coverage is 270 ft²/gallon (by brush or roller) and 180 ft²/gallon (by conventional pressure pot spray)
• Apply 3 coats; a 4th coat should be applied if burnishing or applying on bare wood (first coat on wood should be thinned)

NOTE – Having very aggressive solvents (typical of vinyl paints), VC Offshore should not be applied over non-vinyl paints.
NOTE – Applying VC Offshore with an airless sprayer presents technical challenges and is not recommended; contact Interlux Technical Services at 800-468-7589 for more information.

VC Offshore has a limited out-of-the-water time (30 days) as the surface reacts with air to seal in the biocides – so it generally would not be considered suitable for trailered or rack-stored boats.
However, due to the popularity of the hard, very fast surface it provides, VC Offshore is still sometimes used on trailered boats, even though it may lose its antifouling properties.
If a true launch / haul, smooth, hard antifouling paint is desired, however, Interlux's Fiberglass Bottomkote Aqua would be preferable – as it can also be wet sanded and burnished to a hard, very smooth finish – but has an indefinite time it can be out of the water without losing its antifouling properties.


* Although burnishing VC Offshore will reduce drag and increase boat speed, it will also partially seal the coating's surface – decreasing the ability of the cuprous oxide biocide to leach out of the paint, thus making the biocide less effective at preventing fouling.
So while a burnished VC Offshore bottom will retain good antifouling properties in fresh or lower fouling/cooler waters, a burnished boat used in higher fouling/warmer waters may require some scrubbing.