Approximate cost of copper coat.

[Solent Sailor]

I was convinced by it and invested in some recently. Haven't heard a single person in my local marina/boatyard say anything bad about it - and all say its very good, but perhaps not quite as good as premium antifoul. But then, I find that I need to sponge off the slime once or twice a year anyway, which is no hardship - so I'm expecting similar with CC. Ewan was very helpful - if you can call in to see them, you will learn a lot from the experience.

Please please be careful who you ask to do it for you. I'm doing it all myself (mostly because I am a perfectionist and can do it better than most of the yards I know - I then only have myself to blame). However, one prominent yard/marina wanted £12k+ to blast, sand, epoxy and coppercoat my boat (44ft at the waterline). I'm paying considerably less than 1/3 of that amount for the CC itself. Firstly, this yard's sandblasting is extremely aggressive (I've now heard multiple horror stories, and I've seen the results for myself - no gelcoat left and lots of craters that will need filling!) which explains why they insist on applying an epoxy primer (which isn't necessary). Secondly, they were only going to use 8 litres of coppercoat and spray it on. From Ewan, applying by roller is preferable (less wastage, better end result) and I need 19 litres for my boat. I would need more if I sprayed it on because it goes everywhere, not just on the hull. "So, how would 8 litres perform?", I asked him. "Complete disaster, simply won't work or last" were his words. So - be careful trusting the supposed "professionals" unless you truly know that they know what they're talking about. Take references from people who have lived with the results for a considerable time - not just those who have a nicely painted boat that looks great with no guarantee as to how it was done or how it will perform. It's a significant investment for most people, so worth the homework.

 

[Elessar]

I was convinced by it and invested in some recently. Haven't heard a single person in my local marina/boatyard say anything bad about it - and all say its very good, but perhaps not quite as good as premium antifoul. But then, I find that I need to sponge off the slime once or twice a year anyway, which is no hardship - so I'm expecting similar with CC. Ewan was very helpful - if you can call in to see them, you will learn a lot from the experience.

Please please be careful who you ask to do it for you. I'm doing it all myself (mostly because I am a perfectionist and can do it better than most of the yards I know - I then only have myself to blame). However, one prominent yard/marina wanted £12k+ to blast, sand, epoxy and coppercoat my boat (44ft at the waterline). I'm paying considerably less than 1/3 of that amount for the CC itself. Firstly, this yard's sandblasting is extremely aggressive (I've now heard multiple horror stories, and I've seen the results for myself - no gelcoat left and lots of craters that will need filling!) which explains why they insist on applying an epoxy primer (which isn't necessary). Secondly, they were only going to use 8 litres of coppercoat and spray it on. From Ewan, applying by roller is preferable (less wastage, better end result) and I need 19 litres for my boat. I would need more if I sprayed it on because it goes everywhere, not just on the hull. "So, how would 8 litres perform?", I asked him. "Complete disaster, simply won't work or last" were his words. So - be careful trusting the supposed "professionals" unless you truly know that they know what they're talking about. Take references from people who have lived with the results for a considerable time - not just those who have a nicely painted boat that looks great with no guarantee as to how it was done or how it will perform. It's a significant investment for most people, so worth the homework.

I do very much agree with you, except to say spraying is OK if done properly. Just do the due diligence you have rightly suggested.
With the extra prep time it doesn’t normally make sense until the boat is bigger than about 60 ft.

 

[jon and michie]

Have you thought about going the ultrasonic route ?
I have been looking at this chaps video's on youtube - Basically his Hull was a mess with calcium - which he scrapped off and re antifouled 2yrs ago - Then a year later without lifting out he fitted an ultrasonic device.
and Last month put a camera underneath for an inspection with what look's like good results.

The links from the start

 

[Elessar]

Have you thought about going the ultrasonic route ?
I have been looking at this chaps video's on youtube - Basically his Hull was a mess with calcium - which he scrapped off and re antifouled 2yrs ago - Then a year later without lifting out he fitted an ultrasonic device.
and Last month put a camera underneath for an inspection with what look's like good results.

The links from the start

Thought about it.
Tried it.
And tried it on a test boat for MBY.
It doesn’t work.

It MAY add a little to ordinary antifouling but I’m not convinced.

On its own it simply doesn’t work.

 

[jon and michie]

Thought about it.
Tried it.
And tried it on a test boat for MBY.
It doesn’t work.

It MAY add a little to ordinary antifouling but I’m not convinced.

On its own it simply doesn’t work

Oh well that's that confirmed - I was thinking of going that route - So to the op I would go for the Copper Coat in my opinion from what I have read its worth the investment if you're planning on keeping the boat for a good length of time.
And think of all the times either paying someone to prep and re antifoul costs or worse as in a lot of cases doing yourself

 

[Solent Sailor]

I do very much agree with you, except to say spraying is OK if done properly. Just do the due diligence you have rightly suggested.
With the extra prep time it doesn’t normally make sense until the boat is bigger than about 60 ft.

Oh, quite so. Spraying results in a lovely smooth finish, my point was simply that you need buckets more (which Coppercoat don't mind selling you).

Ewan will happily tell you about the enormous superyacht they did - presumably the budget for wasted paint was a very small part of the build cost overall, but for me, I'd rather it all went on the hull.

Ultrasonic antifoul - I put that in the same bucket as those attempts to use ultrasound to deter rising damp in homes years ago - both proven snake oil.

 

[Bouba]

I suppose that my boat has about five layers of anti foul on it.
If preparation is a major cost …would it be better to keep using traditional anti foul for a few more years..until it’s at a point that I would have stripped it back to gelcote anyhow ?

 

[Chiara’s slave]

I suppose that my boat has about five layers of anti foul on it.
If preparation is a major cost …would it be better to keep using traditional anti foul for a few more years..until it’s at a point that I would have stripped it back to gelcote anyhow ?

Rip it off now and get some copper coat on there before some fool has it outlawed.

 

[jon and michie]

Rip it off now and get some copper coat on there before some fool has it outlawed.

Greta's getting ready with the Stop Oil Morons

 

[Elessar]

Oh well that's that confirmed - I was thinking of going that route - So to the op I would go for the Copper Coat in my opinion from what I have read its worth the investment if you're planning on keeping the boat for a good length of time.
And think of all the times either paying someone to prep and re antifoul costs or worse as in a lot of cases doing yourself

Greta's getting ready with the Stop Oil Morons

Coppercoat will be the last antifoul to be banned because its leeching rates are so low, like maybe 1/10th of anything of the conventional stuff (which is already low due to legislation)
After that it’s foul release systems and ironically burning more fuel.

 

[Hurricane]

Coppercoat will be the last antifoul to be banned because its leeching rates are so low, like maybe 1/10th of anything of the conventional stuff (which is already low due to legislation)
After that it’s foul release systems and ironically burning more fuel.

Add to that - in our marina, the boatyard has a particularly aggressive pressure washer which takes most antifoul off completely. Coppercoat, on the other hand, being epoxy, is much more resistant to the heavy duty pressure washer.

 

[ST840]

Sounds like I've made the correct decision on all front then.