Everyone knows that anti-fouling bottom paint is essential for the performance of a yacht. These paints contain heavy metals, biocides or photo-activated materials that discourage marine growth.

Bottom paint is always a hot topic among boat owners and boatyard workers alike. Recent environmental regulations concerning bottom paint have changed the way we do things at Rockport Marine. In 2010, we installed a catch basin to collect bottom wash water, which is filtered and then discharged into the town septic. This protects the delicate, intertidal zone in Rockport Harbor from the concentrated heavy metals found in the waste water discharged after a  boat bottom is washed in the fall. Although expensive to install, it is important that our coast line be protected by tighter regulations. Regulations such as these are  also driving paint companies to come up with more environmentally friendly formulas for their bottom paints.

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Rockport Marine is the winter home to many offshore cruising and racing boats that have participated in the Bermuda Race or have crossed the Atlantic. Tom Kiley, service manager and rigging expert at Rockport Marine, has been a Bermuda Race inspector for 20 years. He can be found on the dock in the warmer months preparing our storage boats for the sailing season, offering advice and troubleshooting any rigging issues.  All our customers know him for his practical advice and he is an invaluable asset to anyone preparing for a race. 

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