Best AF for the Solent ??

ST840

ST840

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I’m scraping back to gel coat and doing a full new coat of primer and anti foul ready for new year. My boat is a semi -D which cruises at 18knotts and capable of 24knotts.
I’m moored in Southampton . What’s the best AF for my type of boat in these waters ?
Your experiences of different types and makes would be appreciated !!
Many thanks
 
When I got my boat back to the orig gel coat surface I chose to go the Coppercoat route, three seasons later and I'm very happy with the result. After all the scraping you'll have done the part that puts lots of people off, but not everyone sees C-coat as the answer. Mine was applied in a controlled environment (dry boat shed with heaters) and by the book, I wouldn't want to do it outdoors during a UK winter though.
 
I understand that CC is a good product but, I’ve heard sketchy reports about it . I’m not a fan of the green colour it turns either !
 
NDB said:
I’m scraping back to gel coat and doing a full new coat of primer and anti foul ready for new year. My boat is a semi -D which cruises at 18knotts and capable of 24knotts.
I’m moored in Southampton . What’s the best AF for my type of boat in these waters ?
Your experiences of different types and makes would be appreciated !!
Many thanks
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Used to use Micron 77 - lasted up to 3 years with unbeatable performance. Can't get it anymore so replacement is Micron 350.
 
NDB said:
Is the 350 just as good ?
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the regulations for antifoul are getting stronger and so the antifouls are getting weaker. And it is set to continue.

There is only 1 guaranteed way to stop fouling in the Solent. Dry stack.

The "mixed" reports from coppercoat are generally anecdotal reports from the know nothing nay sayers who have a mate that...... and so on. Generally speaking people who actually have it, like it.
There are a couple of genuine ones on the yacht forum at the moment that have gone bad. I am convinced they are due to poor application (in one case it seems quite likely it was allowed to dry between coats) You have to RTFM and follow it to the letter.

If you really don't like the colour, add a trilux stripe over the top 4" of the copeprcoat. You'll only do it once as you'll forget about it, then it will wear off and you will be left with coppercoat underneath.
 
Another vote for Coppercoat. Two seasons in, and it is doing a great job on Rafiki. If only I could find something that would work as well on the stern gear.
 
If you’re back to the gel and the hull moisture levels are dry enough, I would apply a few epoxy coats , gel shield, then I find Hemphill Tiger extra is a good antifoul. It’s cheaper than international micron and I find better. I apply it on most of my customers boats on the Solent and my own.
 
Sojourn said:
If you’re back to the gel and the hull moisture levels are dry enough, I would apply a few epoxy coats , gel shield, then I find Hemphill Tiger extra is a good antifoul. It’s cheaper than international micron and I find better. I apply it on most of my customers boats on the Solent and my own.
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Agree with the gel shield if you don’t go Coppercoat. Or even if you do - with caution about solvent entrapment.
When I had my boat business, hempel was my favourite conventional antifoul too. Worked well, and covered well, easy to apply. But they are all getting weaker and worse except Coppercoat which has been unchanged for 20 years or more.
 
Sojourn said:
If you’re back to the gel and the hull moisture levels are dry enough, I would apply a few epoxy coats , gel shield, then I find Hemphill Tiger extra is a good antifoul. It’s cheaper than international micron and I find better. I apply it on most of my customers boats on the Solent and my own.
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I switched to Hempel Tiger in March and have been very impressed.
 
For many years I used Micron Extra with good results, but when International switched to Micron 350 two years ago and upped the price by 50%, I changed to Seajet Shogun 033. The performance has also been good, (it won the PBO test), very similar to the old Micron in fact. Reports on the new Micron 350, that I have seen, have not been very complementary.

The boat is in Haslar Marina and I would say gets moderate use.
 
NDB said:
I understand that CC is a good product but, I’ve heard sketchy reports about it . I’m not a fan of the green colour it turns either !
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Is that because the boat is on the hard standing most of the year. I took the plunge and had coppercoat on our boat and three season on its been fantastic. Boat is always in the water so we don't see the bottom colour. Coppercoat any day for the saving in time and work.
 
When I had my antifouling stripped back I too looked into coppercoat and like you found mixed reviews and expensive, but that was over 10 years ago when at the time many companies were offering their version of coppercoat.

In the end I applied epoxy (think it was 5 coats) and then semi eroding antifouling. I have been applying premier one for many years and based in the solent, works well for me, just usually a bit of slime on liftout, and is nicely primed at the end of season for a new coat. However the paint has gone up this year so may consider something else, but still cheaper than most brands. I wouldn't apply a hard antifouling once you have stripped back, semi eroding much better in my experience.
https://premiermarinepaints.co.uk/antifouling/semi-hard-antifouling-paint
 
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