Copper Coat on a small boat

Bigplumbs

Bigplumbs

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Like most I hate antifouling my boat especially as it is on a trailer. It is only a small 19 foot sports cruiser that I leave on a swinging mooring but I am thinking of having it copper coated. Anyone know who would apply it for me in the Ipswich area. Normally I like to do things myself but I would happily pay for this to be properly done

Dennis
 
I cannot answer your question but would be interested to know the cost as i am looking for a 21ft MF or similar and would consider copper coating. Thanks.
 
Hi Dennis,

I've heard lots of comments for and against Coppercoat, so having purchased the Portofino which was already Coppercoated I've asked lots of people who have and also discussed at work (I work in a marina with onsite services).

Most owners who have it - particularly motorboat owners - seem to like the product, the quayside lads who wash the boats and the guys who apply the stuff less so! (See below)

The only issue I see seems to be one of perception. One of it's appeals is to save money and thus you invariably get a few (particularly owners of sailing boats) who don't see past the 'no need to paint for 10 years or more' headline. This means we get quite a lot of sailing boats wanting a quick wash after a year or more in the water with little or no use. These vessels are inevitably 's*** high' in the words of the marina guys and because Coppercoat doesn't errode/let go like antifoul, they can take twice as long to wash. Many of the same people seem surprised when you mention abrading to re-activate and will tell you that they just wash once a year. Most motorboats (provided they are used fairly regularly) seem to stay much cleaner and I suspect because the flow of water dislodges growth before it starts to get a good hold. I think fuel bills perhaps mean that mobo owners take a bit more interest. ;) What growth there is tends to be plant not animal based too.

The treatment on the Portofino was done 20 years ago and according the the previous owner he simply had lifted onto the trailer and took home to wash himself. He said the process was quick and easy, but he did only keep the boat in the water for 5 months of the year, so perhaps not long enough for serious weed growth to get hold?

Application on a trailer really isn't a good idea - I've just reapplied as the treatment on the Portofino was 20 years old, so found out first hand how difficult this is! I wouldn't attempt it again even it I was 20 years younger and more agile... :D Definitely worth getting lifted and stowed. If you do opt to DIY, lots of helping hands recommended - the clock is ticking as soon as you mix... Also be careful of 'professionals' - not convinced that all who offer to do this are good at it. Ideally find someone by recommendation. The boat will need to be either chemically stripped or sand/slurry blasted to remove old antifoul and the product needs reasonable ambient temperatures to cure. (Personally I'd go with blasting option) We've seen a few instances where the preparation has been poor and the end result flaking or blistering in the first year - you really don't want this as it's hard to remove and very much a case of better to get it right first time.

All-in-all, I would definitely use again, even if you paint the antifoul yourself every year it's a saving in paint cost and time alone. Other than a pressure wash, a light abrade and perhaps the odd patching exercise is all you will need to do. I personally like from an environmental perspective and I can see a time when the biocides will be further limited or banned. (We've just had to install a chemical filtration system for run off from the pressure washing.)

The only other option I would look at for small powerboats would be Aquacote and currently looking to try that on the ArrowSport.

Regards,

Robin
 
Robin

Many thanks for a very well written reply. I have read several others and While I do lots myself I would not attempt this and the worry is the 'Professionals' you get might not be so. I am now rethinking again

Dennis
 
Bigplumbs said:
Robin

Many thanks for a very well written reply. I have read several others and While I do lots myself I would not attempt this and the worry is the 'Professionals' you get might not be so. I am now rethinking again

Dennis
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I think a case study or two would be enough - you just need to be sure the person doing knows what they're doing and doesn't short cut. I think the product itself is great, but prep and application important. Soneone who's good will be happy for you to talk to other customers.
 
OK, we've got CC on our sailing boat. It's been on since new and we re-newed it ourselves a couple of years back. That was hard work but simple. CC publish an idiots guide to how to apply the stuff, follow the guide and it works. There's no real skill involved, just some effort.
However, if you're putting CC for the first time, you must remove all trace of the previous coatings. That's best done by blasting of some type and that's a job for the professionals. With a small boat you could do it by scraping and sanding but it's a long laborious process....
Once you've got a clean hull, actually putting the stuff on the boat is easy if you follow the guide. Took us two days to do the boat, half one day, half the next. You have to do all of the coats in a single process which is tiring for only two people, get a mate or two to help.
Once it's on, that's it. It's not magic, if the boat doesn't move, it'll get fouled, just like it will with conventional antifoul. However, at the end of the season, lift out and jet wash and you're ready to go next year. Leastways, that's what we've found.
 
We have it, comes out every year for servicing anyway, never had any complaints re washing, & get her abraded for the new season. The thing I like is little or no loss of performance during the season, not having to re paint every year is just a bonus. The Coppercoat also provides extra protection due to epoxy content I have been told.
 
Suffolk Yacht Harbour do a very good job; they spray Coppercoat rather than brush/roller it on, which gives a smooth finish.

On abrading, Coppercoat's FAQs http://coppercoat.com/faqs/ say:
"Correctly applied Coppercoat will continue to deter marine fouling for many years. The annual chore of repainting associated with conventional anti-foulings is no longer necessary. If, over the months, a slight accumulation of slime does appear, this can be removed by pressure washing or brushing. An annual wash or brush is recommended. Eventually, usually after several years, the surface may benefit from being lightly abraded with a fine grade of wet and dry paper or a burnishing pad to expose fresh copper."
 
Bigplumbs said:
Got some quotes for doing the complete job of around about £1000. Now I have a dilemma
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Yes..that is the issue..it takes alot of years to break even so the only reason to do it is the saving of the annual task,IMHO. Might be interesting to know what that yard would charge to antifoul your boat?
 
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