Antifoul No Copper

[ONAWAY]

Hi, Just boat a boat in Holland lying Lemmer. One of the great things about buying a boat abroad is that you get to discover all sorts of differences to back home.

For example copper based antifouling is illegal in the Netherlands.

Has any one got advice on where I can purchase this type of antifouling in the UK or Holland, at a reasonable price of course.

Help appreciated.

Nick.

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[snowleopard]

don't know about 'reasonable price', i don't think that exists.

re. non-copper, i don't suppose they'd allow TBT either. i have to use an non-copper paint for my saildrive legs. as one pot lasts years i don't worry about the price, i use international MPX which seems to do a reasonable job though it did get a bit manky in the tropics.

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[vyv_cox]

International copper free antifoulings have been launched in Holland this season. They don't work, of course, but then neither do the others.

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[ghostwriter]

on availability , there is no shortage of chandlers , check the websites of antifouling selling companies like International , Sikkens and Epifanes

the Dutch sailing mag Zeilen just did a survey on the subject (and PBO , YM can take an example on that one , sorry that I have to say it , but it is true ) and their conclusions were roughly :
-they do not work that well
-best way to remain clean is to sail a lot
-Sikkens Rubber and International seemed to work somewhat.

also , don't forget that most sailing in the Netherlands is in fresh water or only slightly silty , if you also want to go cross-channel , that will narrow down the options.
(I'm having exactly same problem and am going for International Micron...wait and see , or wait and weep ? )

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[vyv_cox]

The problem that I find with eroding antifouling in Holland is that a black slime forms quite quickly in fresh water. If you are happy with black or dark blue A/F this might not matter very much but on our white it looks terrible. Only answer is to go around with a brush from the dinghy. This removes all the antifouling and stains the water white. So we have now settled on hard antifouling again and assume that we will dry out to scrub at least once per season.

The new International copper-free stuff is hard, so maybe they think the same.

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[ONAWAY]

Thanks for the advice,

In the past I have always used International Micron........ but its got copper in it hase'nt it ?

Are you going to use this and sail in Holland ?

Regards,

Nick.

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[ghostwriter]

the Micron sold in and for Holland is copper free , I'm buying it in Belgium and on the shelf of the chandler there are two very similar cans , one saying that it's Micron copperfree and the other one just saying Micron.

don't know about Vyv's comment as I only just bought the yacht overthere so I can only tell later this year. yes , the yacht will be sailed on and arround the IJsselmeer , it's the odd trip outside of the IJsselmeer that forces you to look for something that can work a little when you go from fresh to salt water , other antifoulings like Cruiser will not hold long if you do that.

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[Lyndon]

Have a look at the Plastimo 1.3 range, the only colour that contains copper is black, it is also cheaper than a lot of other makes!

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