Antifouling over Coppercoat

[langstonelayabout]

None of the above posts are ringing endorsements for copper coat.

You've got the flavour of it. I have nothing good to say about the professionally-applied Coppercoat that was applied to my previous boat. I'm sure it might work if you are afloat and in use all week but for yachts with 'normal use' (some weekends) then it certainly didn't work in Portsmouth harbour or Brighton.

I'm happy to stick to Micron antifoul, although there are a number of threads regarding CuPro that sound promising.

 

[NormanS]

Ok sorry

Apology accepted.

 

[geem]

Our Coppercoat has been on five years in the Caribbean and it doesn't work any more. We are just in the process of sanding it back with 60 grit to get a key for new coppercoat. I am amazed at the quantity of copper still on the boat. I suspect we could have sanded it back and got some more life out of the Coppercoat except we have a repair to do on the keel where we hit an unmarked wreck in Cuba. We also have some small blisters on the keel and rudder that need drilling out, drying and epoxying. We will add three layers over the top of everything.
Here in the Caribbean fouling is strong. Antifouling paints are powerful to fight the fouling here but they are eyewateringly expensive. We can redo the Coppercoat for less than two seasons worth of quality antifouling paint. I suspect we have to do more scrubbing with Coppercoat but it's not such a chore in water at 28-30 degC. We do like to keep the bottom very clean.
Past experience with Micron in the Caribbean was not good. We were badly fouled after applying five coats in the UK. We scrubbed it but you simply scrubbed the Micron off. We ended up lifting out after only a few months here and applying high powered local antifouling paint. It was noticable that the tins of antifouling paint here weigh a lot more that a similar size tin in the UK!

 

[langstonelayabout]

Here in the Caribbean fouling is strong.

It was noticable that the tins of antifouling paint here weigh a lot more that a similar size tin in the UK!

That'll be because you can still get TBT antifouling in the Caribbean, you lucky things! I tried getting some sent here to the UK but they weren't having any of it...