BottomShield Antifouling Paint

Bottomshield with Easy Application and Cleanup Technology provides season-long protection for powerboats and sailboats

Bottom paint is one of the most consequential maintenance decisions you make for your boat. Choose wrong and you're hauling out mid-season to scrub a fouled hull — or grinding off years of built-up paint layers before you can recoat. West Marine BottomShield Antifouling Paint was engineered to eliminate both problems, delivering a hybrid film technology that combines the best characteristics of hard paint and ablative paint in a single, easy-to-apply formula that's genuinely friendly to work with.

The Hybrid Advantage: Hard Durability Meets Ablative Intelligence.
Traditional hard antifouling paints are tough and long-lasting, but they accumulate layer after layer over time, eventually requiring costly sanding or blasting before new coats can be applied. Traditional ablatives self-polish and renew, but can wear through before the season ends under heavy use or in high-fouling waters. BottomShield splits the difference — its hybrid film delivers the structural durability of a hard paint while self-polishing gradually over time like a seasonal ablative. The result is a coating that stays effective throughout the full season without building up on your hull year after year.

Full-Season Antifouling Protection.
BottomShield is formulated to provide a complete season of antifouling protection against the barnacles, algae, slime, and marine growth that degrade hull performance and increase fuel consumption. A clean bottom isn't just cosmetic — fouling adds hydrodynamic drag that directly impacts speed, fuel efficiency, and handling. BottomShield keeps your hull performing the way it was designed to.

No Sanding Between Coats — Serious Time and Money Savings.
West Marine's Easy Application and Cleanup Technology means you can apply additional coats directly over previous coats without intermediate sanding. If your hull needs a second coat for heavier fouling conditions or additional film build, you apply it — no prep work required. Over the life of the boat, this feature alone saves significant labor time and eliminates the mess and expense of between-coat sanding.

Soap and Water Cleanup — No Solvents Required.
Most antifouling paints require harsh solvents for brush, roller, and tool cleanup — creating hazardous waste disposal concerns and an unpleasant application experience. BottomShield cleans up with simple soap and water, making the application process significantly safer, more comfortable, and more environmentally responsible. Your brushes, rollers, trays, and skin clean up quickly without chemical strippers.

Low VOC Formula — Marina-Friendly and Regulation-Compliant.
With lower volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions than traditional antifouling paints, BottomShield is an appropriate choice for marinas operating under air quality or environmental restrictions. Whether your home marina has adopted VOC limits or you're simply looking for a more responsible option, BottomShield delivers effective antifouling performance without the high-emission profile of older formulas.

No Strong Solvent Smell.
Application day is already a lot of work. The absence of strong solvent odor makes the entire process more tolerable — particularly in enclosed boatyards, indoor storage facilities, or warm conditions where fumes concentrate quickly.

Built for the Marine Environment.
BottomShield isn't a repurposed industrial coating adapted for boats — it's designed from the ground up for the demands of the saltwater and freshwater marine environment. The hybrid film technology is calibrated for the combination of immersion, biological pressure, mechanical wear, and UV exposure that characterizes real-world boating conditions.

For best results, apply to a properly prepared, clean, and dry hull surface. Consult the product technical data sheet for recoat windows, application temperatures, and surface preparation requirements specific to your hull material and previous coating system.

Key Features

• Paint Technology: Hybrid hard/ablative formula — durability of hard paint, self-polishing behavior of ablative
• Protection Duration: Full season antifouling protection
• Buildup: Does not accumulate over time; self-polishes gradually
• Between-Coat Sanding: Not required — recoat directly without sanding
• Cleanup: Soap and water — no solvents needed
• VOC Level: Low VOC — suitable for marinas with environmental restrictions
• Odor: No strong solvent smell during application
• Application Method: Brush or roller
• Best For: Recreational powerboats and sailboats in moderate to heavy fouling environments
• Hull Compatibility: Confirm compatibility with your hull material and existing coating system before application

Physical Data

• Vehicle Type: Water-based emulsion
• Finish: Flat
• Available Colors: Blue, Green, Red, Black
• Components: 1
• Curing Mechanism: Solvent release
• Solids by Weight (Theoretical): 72% +/- 2%
• Solids by Volume (Theoretical): 40% +/- 2%
• Coverage: 500sq.ft/gal.
• VOC: 145g/l max. (1.25lb./gal.)
• Active Ingredients: 25.2% Cuprous Oxide
• Flash Point: None

Application

• Application Method: Brush, roller, airless or conventional spray
• Number of Coats Recommended: 2 minimum, with additional coat(s) on leading edges and waterline recommended
• Dry Film Thickness/coat: 1.5mil. (3.75 wet mil.)
• Applicator: Maximum 3/16” nap roller
• Application Temperature Min./Max. Range: 50°F.-90°F.
• Thinner: Water

Drying Times*

*The above dry times are minimums. May be recoated after the minimum time shown. There is no maximum dry time before launching.

Get the right amount of paint:

Note: The following recommendations are for two coats of paint. All values are approximate.