Copper Antifouling - does it work

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Colin_W

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I am thinking of using copper based antifouling and would like to hear from folks who have actually used it before I splash out. The thought of not having to antifoul for the next ten years really appeals.
Thanks

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Hi,

There have been many posts over that last year about copper based antifoulings without a great consensus of opinion. It really depends where you are and how you use your boat. If you have one of these new boat scrubs near you, then this system may well be worth the expense + a 3 monthly scrub. Dont forget with this system, that although you dont have to antifoul, you still have to sand down the hull to abrade to new copper. It also appears that there have been some cases of poor preparation (mostly non-commercial application) where some of the coating has fallen off.

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Re: Copper Antifouling - re Talbot

Spot on answer from Talbot. Having looked after an 80 footer (not mine) with epoxy/copper wetted areas, I can vouch for the twice yearly need for a thorough wet & dry rubdown being a painful experience, plus being a far more time consuming task than a quick sponge off - time consuming in a boatyard equates to much more money!

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yes, it works. but only in temperate waters.

there have been a lot of adhesion problems. you'll have no comeback unless you have it applied professionally with a written guarantee.

material costs are about double conventional coatings

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I applied Coppercoat to my 30 footer 4 seasons ago. I did the job after epoxying the hull, in a temperature controlled building. The Coppercoat cost me about 2.5 times the cost of conventional antifouling.

Since then, no adhesion problems. Each Autumn at crane-out, I pressure wash her to take off the coating of slime that appears each year. In the Spring, just before crane-in, I rub her down with a 3M pad & water - about 15-20 minutes work - roughly equivalent to the preparation I would do before antifouling.

So, four years down the road, copper antifoul is looking like a good idea.





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We had Lizzie B. Copperguarded in 1999. Although the manufacturers recommend jet wash and light abrasion twice yearly, due to circumstances beyond our control, first time out was April 2002. Rather than heavy fouling the hull was covered in a green slime, that came of really easily and quickly with a jet wash. The only heavily fouled area was the untreated propeller and the paddlewheel for the log.
The next time out was May 2003 and just light green discolouration. Again came off easily with jet wash. We keep Lizzie B in Portsmouth Harbour and she gets relatively light use. In 1999 it cost us about £1800 to have 3 coats of epoxy and 2 coats of Copperguard applied. Some yards in the same area quoted us up to £3000. I heard all the bad press about Copperguard, but most of the cases I read about seem to be self applications. I think the manufacturers were unwise to have sold it for self application as I cannot imagine most DIY ers being able to match the temperature parameters.If you want to see pictures of her first lift out PM me your personal email and I will send them to you. Alternatively you can see them by signing up (free) to the Yahoo pbomeet group. where they are on display.Five years and two lift outs on it still looks as good as new. We have certainly been very happy.

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I read your post on coppercoat for Lizzie B with interest. I have a 35 ft GRP sloop in Portsmouth harbour and am seeking a yard capable of stripping off the antifouling and applying Coppercoat. Would be interested to learn which yard you used.
 
If it lasts for 10 years you will have spent £180 a year on it. A bit dear, but bearing in mind the effort of applying conventional antifoul every year, not bad. Antifouling is a pain. However 10 years at £300 a year would be expensive.
 
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