Copper Coat with diving?

[dgadee]

Have been "continualy cruising" now for two years and expect to do so for the next 5 or 6 years. Current system is on boat for two months in spring and two months in autumn. Currently in Costa del Sol. I am wondering about ditching antifoul and going coppercoat. Reading the numberous posts on this the negative seems to be that lift/out is still seen to be required annually.

However, on the earlier advice of the forum, I've organised diving gear and am about to do a PADI course. Would it be feasible to stay afloat for a few years and do hull cleaning, anode changing, etc. with diving gear?

 

[savageseadog]

All you need to do with Coppercoat is scour it. Easily done with dive gear, buy some of the 3M stuff on a roll and make your own pads or buy something.

 

[moomba]

Have been "continualy cruising" now for two years and expect to do so for the next 5 or 6 years. Current system is on boat for two months in spring and two months in autumn. Currently in Costa del Sol. I am wondering about ditching antifoul and going coppercoat. Reading the numberous posts on this the negative seems to be that lift/out is still seen to be required annually.

However, on the earlier advice of the forum, I've organised diving gear and am about to do a PADI course. Would it be feasible to stay afloat for a few years and do hull cleaning, anode changing, etc. with diving gear?

In an answer yes you can as lng as you can keep on top of it. there is no issues with Diving and scrapping , although you will use your air up faster as your body demands more Air, and you would need to be near a tank compressor, there are Hookah systems that can be used as well , just put a weight belt on and go.
It also depends on your level of worry, as a lot of people like to lift the boat out every year and check it over , also for the rudder movement and propeller shaft, etc.
But as said it rely is your choice in this and ultimately yes is the answer just as long way to say it

 

[Daedelus]

I had my boat professionally coppercoated and it took only 2 months to grow a luxurious growth of weed that was surprisingly resistant to scraping. This was a consistent feature until I got rid of it.
However, if you want to attract extra marine life to provide an excellent diving occupation it would be better than coating the hull with fertiliser.

 

[dgadee]

I had my boat professionally coppercoated and it took only 2 months to grow a luxurious growth of weed that was surprisingly resistant to scraping. This was a consistent feature until I got rid of it.
However, if you want to attract extra marine life to provide an excellent diving occupation it would be better than coating the hull with fertiliser.

Got rid of the copper coat or the growth? I have seen it said that the first few months are not as effective - perhaps that's what you mean?

 

[jpthegp]

I've had Coppercoat for 10 years now and have not needed to burnish it; just a quick brush with the deck broom when I'm dried out on a sandbank or nice anchorage (Southerly 105 swing keel). In West Wales its probably too cold for luxurious weed growths... but seriously, like all antifouling, Coppercoat may work better in some environments than others. For me, it's perfect and has probably saved me thousands in lift outs and re-application of that painty stuff, let alone the hassle.
Going back to the origonal post, if I can scrub it clean with a deck brush it should be easy when diving, air consumption permitting.

 

[Achosenman]

I've had Coppercoat for 10 years now and have not needed to burnish it; just a quick brush with the deck broom when I'm dried out on a sandbank or nice anchorage (Southerly 105 swing keel). In West Wales its probably too cold for luxurious weed growths... but seriously, like all antifouling, Coppercoat may work better in some environments than others. For me, it's perfect and has probably saved me thousands in lift outs and re-application of that painty stuff, let alone the hassle.
Going back to the origonal post, if I can scrub it clean with a deck brush it should be easy when diving, air consumption permitting.

+1 No issues with Coppercoat on the Solent so far.

 

[langstonelayabout]

+1 No issues with Coppercoat on the Solent so far.

My lightly-sanded Coppercoated boat based in the Solent took a few weeks to develop a very healthy green coating of weed. I have no confidence in Coppercoat at all. It did prove a good base for antifouling though.

Conversely, I've heard it is good if you are constantly at sea (something that most of us aren't). If you use your boat around hull speed for 5 days out of 7 then Coppercoat is probably for you.

Just expect to scrub frequently (4 times a season for me) if you park in most of the harbours in the Solent.

 

[Sandy]

I am getting the boat Copper Coated this summer. I've heard lots and lots of for and agin comments all over the place, both on the internet and speaking to people.

I am expecting to dry out against a wall now and then and give it a wipe down. Every boat that I see being hauled out for winter has a layer of slime that is just wiped off. Why go to the cost and effort of a haul out when you can do it for free?

 

[Daedelus]

Got rid of the copper coat or the growth? I have seen it said that the first few months are not as effective - perhaps that's what you mean?

Got rid of the copper, the growth only went when the yard hit it with pressure washer on lift ot and i added to the effect with wet and dry paper.

I kept the stuff for 3 years in the hope that light sanding before launch would work but it never did.

Total waste of money.

 

[RichardS]

Got rid of the copper, the growth only went when the yard hit it with pressure washer on lift ot and i added to the effect with wet and dry paper.

I kept the stuff for 3 years in the hope that light sanding before launch would work but it never did.

Total waste of money.

I've had Coppercoat for 4 years now and have finally decided to throw in the towel. Despite hauling out, pressure washing and scraping/scrubbing/abrading at least twice every year, its performance has actually got worse every year although that might partly be due to sea temperatures/global warming etc.

It's an expensive shame that it didn't work but there you go.

Richard

 

[Kelpie]

I am getting the boat Copper Coated this summer. I've heard lots and lots of for and agin comments all over the place, both on the internet and speaking to people.

I am expecting to dry out against a wall now and then and give it a wipe down. Every boat that I see being hauled out for winter has a layer of slime that is just wiped off. Why go to the cost and effort of a haul out when you can do it for free?

Because the OP is in the Med?

 

[Sandy]

Because the OP is in the Med?

Ahh he might have problems with tides there, but could pop round to the Atlantic now and then for a quick dryout

 

[dgadee]

Indeed, I could pop round. Unlikley, though.

I've emailed Copper Coat to see what/if they say about the negative application stories.

 

[dgadee]

Price I've been given on Costa del Sol is Euro 5,000 (total including lift in and out) for a 37 foot boat. Doesn't seem such good value for money at present, but not decided yet. Large part of that is prep on hull and keel.

Copper Coat got back to me and the gist of their reply to why some are unhappy was that it's very much a DIY project and corners are often cut in prep, termperature/weather needs to be right, and correct volume put on as per instructions.

 

[Daydream believer]

Copper Coat got back to me and the gist of their reply to why some are unhappy was that it's very much a DIY project and corners are often cut in prep, termperature/weather needs to be right, and correct volume put on as per instructions.

The volume applied on my boat was the volume supplied by the manufacturer PLUS another volume supplied after the first volume did not work. nothing was cut in preparation. They said the hull had to be looking as white as a sheet of A4 paper & it was ( pics to prove it)
As for the "slime" issue, ( it is more than that) it slows my boat down no end, so it is useless to me. I launch in April & have to have it hauled for a jet wash in July as the boat looses up to a knot due to weed build up. Then come October the boat is useable due to weed again. Waterline weed gets up to 8 inches long.
I normally do 2000 miles per annum down to Brest etc cruising Channel Islands then back & up the Dutch canals for the last half, plus more east coast cruising & cross channel hops in the second half. So my boat sails in a variety of waters.
The advantage is that I do not have to antifoul & the cost of mid season wash is offset by saving in work & painting labour. So I just plan to have the boat lifted wherever i am at the time

 

[RichardS]

Price I've been given on Costa del Sol is Euro 5,000 (total including lift in and out) for a 37 foot boat. Doesn't seem such good value for money at present, but not decided yet. Large part of that is prep on hull and keel.

Copper Coat got back to me and the gist of their reply to why some are unhappy was that it's very much a DIY project and corners are often cut in prep, termperature/weather needs to be right, and correct volume put on as per instructions.

My useless Coppercoat was applied professionally. :ambivalence:

Richard

 

[coveman]

Had Coppercoat applied 5 years ago - boat is immersed for 6 months during the summer and all that needs so far has been a power wash off to remove slime - very simple and I've been very pleased with it.
So far I haven't had to re invigorate it by rubbing down with an abrasive pad or anything - has saved me a lot of hassle and work.
However I imagine if you ask ten different people you will get ten different answers! A lot depends on preparation and application technique I would imagine.
Maybe it just doesn't work so well in some areas, which is similar to the variable performance of antifoul paints in different areas.

 

[weustace]

Interesting discussion. We did a DIY Coppercoat job on Aphrodite in 2017. She has been continually afloat since, with two very easy scrubs per season more than adequate to keep the hull in good order. The Coppercoat is dramatically better than the regular antifouling (can't remember the brand) on the underside of the keels. This is in Chichester Harbour; when previously treated with regular antifouling, she suffered from an abundance of worm casts, but we have had none of these at all on Coppercoated areas—only slime, which wipes off easily with a softish deck brush. Given the hull needed to be cut back to gelcoat in prep for new a/f anyway, I reckon on a saving to date of £250—plus the labour of applying a/f each year. I'd apply it to a new-to-me boat with little hesitation, so it's fascinating to discover others having such a range of experience.

Regards
William

 

[mainsail1]

I also did a DIY coppercoat job in about 2008. The boat stays in the water all year and is hauled/dried out for a scrub in April and sometimes August. I have been pretty pleased with Coppercoat compared to antifoul and found it works best if left without burnishing after year one. Based on my experience with the boat kept in England, Scotland and France over the years I am surprised to hear of people's bad experiences.