Coppercoat...how difficult?

mrplastic

mrplastic

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Hi all,

I intend to coppercoat the hull of my Beneteau 331 and wonder if anyone can offer relevant advice.
The hull has a lot of antifoul layers that need removing so will be looking to get it blasted. I have already bought the coppercoat at the boat show so will have that delivered when the boat is ready.

I have been quoted around £1800 to have the work done professionally this includes the blasting, all labour and materials bar the coppercoat. Does that sound reasonable given that I have been quoted £650 from a mobile operator for soda blasting.

The work itself doesn't faze me but the degree of difficulty is unknown.

Your thoughts and comments would be appreciated.
 
Preparation is everything - but you know that.

Application must be done in low humidity this is the most important thing.

You need at least two people, one to apply the stuff and one to stir it - constantly.

DONT go over recently applied coppercoat it will just stick to the roller and come off, so you put it on in thin coats and just keep going round the boat.

Did mine in 2003 when the boat was new best days work we ever did haven't touched it since.
 
It's easy had two done now procedure for last one was: take boat to ARC Antifoul - Ellasar to you, watch it get lifted, pop back a couple of days later to see soda blasted boat, leave with him for a week come back, boat is superbly done. Pay :-( then take it away! Sorry! They also did my rib and I supplied the copper coat, well worth it as they get such an even finish and they workmanship was excellent. No connection other than delighted.
 
I had my boat professionally done, only to find that my coppercoat was flaking off the keel, due I believe to not using the correct primer originally! (Not by anyone of this parish I hasten to add...) I recovered the whole keel in Copper Tek as it was supposed to be easier for DIY application.

I took it back to bare metal with a wire brush and immediately covered it in International Interprotect epoxy primer, before applying the copper. I am really pleased with the result, and was surprised how straightforward it was, and would do it again.

I waited until the very hot dry weather in July and paid for a cheap lift out deal. I believe this made a big difference to the result as the atmosphere was very dry, unless you have access to a heated shed, and would recommend waiting until then.
You must follow the application advice exactly with regards to timings, as there is a window with regards to curing.
Application using a roller is dead easy, and quick.

If I was doing it again, I would happily do the whole hull but would pay for the blasting, as this is the nastiest and most time consuming bit.
 
I've just had mine professionally done at Mylor in Cornwall. There are loads of pictures following the whole process in my blog - see sig. I did think of doing it myself at one point, but since the cost saves me so much over the next 10 - 15 years I think it's a no-brainer to have it done under the right conditions.
 
I have applied Coppercoat twice, once in Holland, once in Greece. The application process is somewhat physical and tedious, as with any antifouling, but not difficult. As has been said, it needs to be done in warm, dry conditions, follow the detailed instructions and all will be well. The only problems I have had are to do with the initial grit blasting and priming of the keel, which in both cases were not perfect. However, I have patched up after angle grinding rust spots, repriming and applying the small repair packs that Coppercoat can provide. These repairs have been totally successful.
 
We had the hull / keel blasted in September 10
- Fertan was applied to the keel immediately after blasting
- 3x CorroTech applied to the keel about two weeks later

Over the winter we sanded the hull and filled any pin holes with marine epoxy filler
- There is 2 / 3 days of work in this step to do it properly
- Make sure any dust residue is washed off the hull before application

Application April 11
- Day one: 1x ME100 epoxy (inc keel)
- Day two: 1x ME100 epoxy (inc keel)
- Day three 4x coppercoat (one every two hours)

My advice would be
- 3x people (one each side + support)
- Don't gamble with the weather! Wait till the dew has burnt off + needs to be dry before the night sets in.
- You need another 2x dry days after applying the coppercoat two avoid streaking

We achieved a better outcome than my mates boat done professionally after osmosis treatment
- No rust showing in the keel (yet)
- No Coppercoat peeling off the keel (yet)
Most probably because we didn't have the confidence to take any shortcuts / time isn't money
 
Thanks to all for your contributions, you have definitely helped me make up my mind! My work schedule would never allow me to wait for the ideal conditions knowing I would be free to make use of them. Professional application it will be and if it starts to peel away I will have someone else to blame!
 
Having done it myself including all the prep and epoxy coating the hull and corrotec on the keels I would have no hesitation in paying the yard to do it on my next boat. Not that its partucularly hard to do buts its very tedious , preparation is messy and right air temperatures and humidity are inevitably difficult to get when you need them.
 
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