copper rich antofoul

[mocruising]

Having just purchased the boat and sailed from UK to Portugal I find the bottom pretty weedy. I have read good and bad over the years with respect to these copper rich more permanent antifoul's that are on the market. Can anyone give me any first hand experience as I have been quoted some high prices.

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[cozy]

there's quite an informative article about it in this month's Yachting Monthly

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[AndrewB]

Conspiracy theory.

The YM article is only informative regarding the process of applying a copper coat, not about its long-term effectiveness.

Although YM has carried several positive items about copper coating recently, frequently citing '10 year effectiveness' with a simple annual wipe-down, it has notably quiet about tests or even long-term owner reactions, and no longer alludes to the problems with some systems that were once being reported.

Here's the conspiracy theory -- are we being softened up for another change in the law, which will ban the conventional eroding antifoulings we are now allowed, so that these highly expensive and possibly over-rated coatings are all that is left?



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[scarlett]

I used Coppercoat in 2002 so she has had 3 seasons in the Med, with an average of five months in the water. So far so good. A very few barnacles and no weed. Some slime but off in a couple of hours on a 30 foot spoon bottom. The cost including osmosis preventative coat first, was about £600 in materials.

I would do it again and find it easier second tme round.

PM me if you decide to DIY use copper rich epoxy.

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[Close hauled]

Our's was coated with Copperbot when launched in 1996. so far, so good with a few patch repairs (cost £40). Until this summer...

Very heavy fouling. Having spoken, researched etc it appears this is because she sat in a mud berth for a long time. Apparently this does bad things to the anifoul, hence my problem.

Answer - lightly abrade surface before re-launch and should be OK.

I'll let you know in a year!

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