Copper coating?

[stevelynn777000]

What are the implications, if any, of copper coating?

I'm thinking with regard to a GRP hull registering damp meter readings of 4-5 ot of 10 though not exhibiting any other signs of dampness and with no osmotic blistering.

Regards

Steve

<hr width=100% size=1>Can't think of one.

 

[Talbot]

What sort of copper coating are you talking about:

copper powder mixed in with epoxy and needing freshening every year with sandpaper (hard graft and from a lot of reports not very successful in heavy fouling areas) .
copper tiles - difficult to apply to a raggie due to the compound curves and expensive
copper self adhesive sheets - see mobo chat discussion following TCM's abortive attempt to save money by trying this!

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[stevelynn777000]

Self adhesive copper sheets.

I'll try and have a look at that TCM thing now.

<hr width=100% size=1>Can't think of one.

 

[Talbot]

Click on the links:

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=491183&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post491183>Original report on application</A>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.arweb.co.uk/argallery/copperbottom>Photos of application</A>

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.ybw.com/cgi-bin/forums/showthreaded.pl?Cat=&Board=mby&Number=519979&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1#Post519979>disaster report</A>

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[stevelynn777000]

Very interesting. TCM seems to imply that it was a combination of speed and displacement that caused the sheets to fall off. Would the same happen with a much smaller boat at much lower speeds?

<hr width=100% size=1>Can't think of one.

 

[steveallan]

Copper coating on its own would only give minimal protection against Osmosis I would suggest that before appling any copper coating you consider a suitable expoxy osmosis protection.

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[stevelynn777000]

If the blurb on the Ecosea website is to be believed their copperbot is good for preventing osmosis and is more or less completely waterproof. If this is true what would be the implications of effectively sealing in the moisture that's already in the hull. Where would it go?

<hr width=100% size=1>Can't think of one.

 

[discoduck]

Try Lauren Marine,Hazel Rd,Woolston, Phone no in PBO. Doing very good deals on hulls during the summer,Worth a try. The only real solution to damp hulls. Is to skim off and dry out.Then protect. Once the water is in.There is one way it is going to come out. Beast of Luck

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[Talbot]

"Fall off" is not the term I would have used. The adhesive itself seems to have given way, and left some on the sheet and some on the hull. Some of the tiles seem literally to have given up (rear edge of the tile was the bit that has given way), and up forward, it seems more as if they have been just smashed off. This is a system that was supposed to last for at least 10 years, and it has gone in a couple of months - I was considering it, but am not now.

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[Lizzie_B]

How long has the boat been out the water? If using copperguard or similar needs to be thoroughly dry. We had two coats copper guard in 2000, still looks like new. Keep in Gosport side of Portsmouth Harbour. First time out after application was 2003.Heavy green slime but no weed or marine life. All came away with quick jetwash in the slings then straight back in. Half hour in all. All this talk about sand paper is tosh.The manufacturers recommend 'lightly abraid' once a year. Just use a really stiff scrubbing brush with the jet wash. Took it out May this year. Did the same thing.When I think of the cost of hard standing and the time and effort spent in cleaning off and antifouling conventionally it's already worth every penny of the £1800 we paid for professional application at boatyard. That also included three coats of epoxy under the two coats of Copperguard. We stay in all year and don't sail that far or that fast. But what little 'free' time I have I'd rather spend with the boat in the water. Some of my best sailing is in the winter when others are antifouling!!

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[stevelynn777000]

Boat will have been out of the water at the time I intend to antifoul for about a year Lizzie. What you have sounds great.

<hr width=100% size=1>Can't think of one.