First lift out by Sealift2, Coppercoat results after six month summer growth

[Anders_P42]

Boat had first lift and scrub on Sat, to check anodes after six months. The hull was copper coated by Osmotech, I know six months is not a long time but this summer was hot so I half expected more growth, especially as I read it takes a while for coppercoat to start working.

She's berthed in Haslar marina, so I used Sealift2 as they're on my doorstep.

On approach

Drive in, Sealift2 gives boat a gental squeeze

A few minutes later and she's in dry dock

Light covering of slim on hull

Transom slim, rubs off with fingers

Volvo trim tabs were untreated, more growth here!

Prop had same slim and a few barnacles. FYI the prop had TK line antifoul spray applied, can someone comment if the prop looks good or not? (looks ok to me). Anode replaced.

QuicKutter rope cutter.

Quick jet wash

Hull came up like new, well impressed.

Bow thruster anode ok

Stern thruster anode was replaced

Transom anode ok

Port rudder anode replaced

Starboard rudder anode replaced

Larger rudder anodes installed, I'm sure they will easily last until March/April.

Perfect day for it.

En-route to Cowes, is it winter!?

I'm happy with the performance of coppercoat so far, no barnacles on hull and only mild slime to jet wash off.

Lads at Sealift2 did a great job, she was well looked after and there were no lifting strap marks left on hull Sealift2 are very competitively priced - I bought 3 x lift and scrub vouchers for just over £400 (must be used within 12 months). That covers me for this first lift out, one at start of next season and one required for Beneteau inspection for extended hull warranty.

Went out for a blast after the clean off, she hit 29 knots - faster than sea trial with Volvo engineers. I recon cold weather has gained engine a few hp.

Thanks to Paul (Romans8) for crewing, much appreciated.

Anders

 

[Daydream believer]

May be OK for a motor boat but that amount of filth would really affect a yachts performance
In my opinion that looks no better than the Blakes Ocean Performer that I used to use
However one might suggest that the fact that one does not have to re antifoul makes the Coppercoat an acceptable alternative
As for the lift out - saying that the 3 lifts have to be done in a short time is a bit of a con for those that only want an annual lift
But as a coppercoat user i have to have my boat scrubbed mid season as well at end ( ashore in the winter) so it could be a better deal

 

[Ian_Edwards]

May be OK for a motor boat but that amount of filth would really affect a yachts performance

+1 for that
Has the CopperCoat come off in places in the shot entitled, "Hull came up like new, well impressed." or is it just a trick of the light?

 

[macd]

Anders: it's looks as though it's not yet reached full working condition. Coppercoat goes a dull camouflage green when active, and subsequently a brighter green (like on your waterline). Yours looks mainly brown. It may be worth a rubbing over with a 3M scourer before going back in.

 

[mrming]

Anders: it's looks as though it's not yet reached full working condition. Coppercoat goes a dull camouflage green when active, and subsequently a brighter green (like on your waterline). Yours looks mainly brown. It may be worth a rubbing over with a 3M scourer before going back in.

Was going to say the same thing. I burnished mine before launch and it has now gone green, indicating that the copper is exposed and the paint is working. Incidentally, on our brackish river it's no more or less effective than the hard racing antifouling I used before, but at least I don't have to repaint it every year.

 

[bigwow]

Wish we had one of those lifts up here

 

[oldvarnish]

It may be worth a rubbing over with a 3M scourer before going back in.

I'd be interested to hear the views of other CC users regarding the 3M scourer tip.

It's assumed that the scourer 'exposes' some fresh copper and so revitalises the CC.

But in one of very many previous threads, a poster suggested that the effect of the scourer was to effectively remove very small bits of growth that a pressure washer wouldn't get, and which you wouldn't be able to see, and that's why the subsequent fouling seems less.

An interesting idea.

 

[Anders_P42]

May be OK for a motor boat but that amount of filth would really affect a yachts performance
In my opinion that looks no better than the Blakes Ocean Performer that I used to use
However one might suggest that the fact that one does not have to re antifoul makes the Coppercoat an acceptable alternative
As for the lift out - saying that the 3 lifts have to be done in a short time is a bit of a con for those that only want an annual lift
But as a coppercoat user i have to have my boat scrubbed mid season as well at end ( ashore in the winter) so it could be a better deal

Three lifts in a year works out perfectly for my first year. Paul (who has same boat) suggested lifting after six months because he found his rudder anodes were Polo size after six months. He did not have galvanic isolator fitted but fitted one after first lift. I do have one and the anodes looked better than his.

I may continue with three lifts because I've saved 3lph fuel burn at 20knots cruise, which almost pays for the lift out plus less strain on the engine.

Forgot to say I berth bows in with Sun facing stern, so growth on prop and transom will be worse.

 

[macd]

I'd be interested to hear the views of other CC users regarding the 3M scourer tip.

It's assumed that the scourer 'exposes' some fresh copper and so revitalises the CC.

But in one of very many previous threads, a poster suggested that the effect of the scourer was to effectively remove very small bits of growth that a pressure washer wouldn't get, and which you wouldn't be able to see, and that's why the subsequent fouling seems less.

An interesting idea.

In my experience a jet-wash is far more effective at cleaning a Coppercoated hull than a scourer. If applied by roller, the finish is fairly orange-peely: the micro troughs in this somewhat resist mechanical cleaning. In my view Coppercoat applied by spray is in this respect better, simply because it has a smoother finish.
Regardless of jet-wash v scour, bottom line in this case is that the OP's hull hasn't yet acquired the tell-tale colour which indicates it's matured and working.

 

[Anders_P42]

+1 for that
Has the CopperCoat come off in places in the shot entitled, "Hull came up like new, well impressed." or is it just a trick of the light?

Trick of the light, when said 'like new' I meant freshly copper coated.

 

[Anders_P42]

Anders: it's looks as though it's not yet reached full working condition. Coppercoat goes a dull camouflage green when active, and subsequently a brighter green (like on your waterline). Yours looks mainly brown. It may be worth a rubbing over with a 3M scourer before going back in.

Interesting comment, thanks. I thought it would go green around the waterline because it's also exposed to air, I didn't realise the underwater copper would also turn green.

She's back in the water (was only lift and scrub), but may investigate scrubbing next time.

Anders

 

[superheat6k]

I would expect you could have foregone your lift, even your prop barnacle build up was very low. Where do you berth ?

I am out next week for some heavy maintenance on the stbd shaft, and I am expecting to find replicas of the Himalayas on my props. Definitely a problem for me the past two years at the top of the Hamble - the critters are growing as large as 10p pieces.

I used Micron Extra II this year and was splashed late May. By August and although the hull was visibly clean my speed was down by 5 knots, which can only be barnacles on the props, stil I will know for definite later next week.

 

[Anders_P42]

I would expect you could have foregone your lift, even your prop barnacle build up was very low. Where do you berth ?

I am out next week for some heavy maintenance on the stbd shaft, and I am expecting to find replicas of the Himalayas on my props. Definitely a problem for me the past two years at the top of the Hamble - the critters are growing as large as 10p pieces.

I used Micron Extra II this year and was splashed late May. By August and although the hull was visibly clean my speed was down by 5 knots, which can only be barnacles on the props, stil I will know for definite later next week.

Boat berthed in Haslar marina, Portsmouth. She lost a couple of knots off top speed, that's all. The rudder anodes would have been borderline if I left scrub for another 3-4 months, glad I lifted now.

There was some small worms (leave hard shell behind) on depth sounder, none on props.

Try some TK line anti foul on your props, Force4 sell it. Post some pics of the Himalayas.

Anders

 

[EwanClark]

Hi Anders,

As others have mentioned, the Coppercoat will eventually turn dark green all over, indicating that the copper has oxidised and reached full strength. At this time the hull will stay even cleaner for longer, helping to keep your speed up and fuel consumption down. I would expect the performance of the coating next year to be even more impressive than it was this summer.

I'm pleased to see that the TK line anti-foul on the prop has also done okay. It can be tricky to find an effective prop anti-foul so its good to read a relatively positive review of one of the available options.

 

[lw395]

Three lifts in a year works out perfectly for my first year. Paul (who has same boat) suggested lifting after six months because he found his rudder anodes were Polo size after six months. He did not have galvanic isolator fitted but fitted one after first lift. I do have one and the anodes looked better than his.

I may continue with three lifts because I've saved 3lph fuel burn at 20knots cruise, which almost pays for the lift out plus less strain on the engine.

Forgot to say I berth bows in with Sun facing stern, so growth on prop and transom will be worse.

Thanks for publishing the pics.
It seems to me that any boat moored in Portsmouth needs several scrubs a year?

How hard is it to remove the fouling you had?
Does it need a pressure washer or does it wipe off?
I guess on a boat like yours, really soft fouling would get washed off round about Gilkicker anyway, as you open the throttles.

 

[Birdseye]

May be OK for a motor boat but that amount of filth would really affect a yachts performance
In my opinion that looks no better than the Blakes Ocean Performer that I used to use

Had coppercoat for 5 years now. It is no better than ordinary antifoul and possibly a bit less effective than the very best. But that never was the selling proposition. As far as I am concerned, I had to clean off existing antifoul build up and epoxy the hull so to put some extra coats of coppercoat on was a no brainer. It means far less work than cleaning and re -anitfouling each year then to have to strip off the build up every 7 or 8 seasons.My guess is that it will be a bit cheaper too

 

[romans8]

I t certainly was a great day Anders

CopperCoat once again lived up to it's claim, I have had two boats treated with CopperCoating the first boat was moored at Warsash for a year then we moved to Haslar and on lift out at Warsash only slime was found then we moved to Haslar Marina and when we lifted it out we found only slime and the boat yard commented that there were no barnacles- he was impressed!
Out new boat which is identical to Anders Antares 30 was treated with CopperCoating has once again performed the same with only slime which was cleaned by Sealift2 with a pressure wash, the rudder anodes were virtually spent so we fitted a galvanic isolator which fixed this on the next lift to what one would expect to have a rate of decaying.

 

[Anders_P42]

Thanks for publishing the pics.
It seems to me that any boat moored in Portsmouth needs several scrubs a year?

How hard is it to remove the fouling you had?
Does it need a pressure washer or does it wipe off?
I guess on a boat like yours, really soft fouling would get washed off round about Gilkicker anyway, as you open the throttles.

I can't comment what others do in Portsmouth but judging by the fuel saving of 3lph at 20 knots cruise, it may be more economical to lift twice per year depending on the number of hours covered in a year. This was my first summer, new to boat ownership so I've clocked up just over 90 hours since July. Anodes aside, if I left her in the water until next July and clocked up another 50 hours, I'm sure additional fuel burned would cover this lift and scrub. The plan is to lift again end of March and see how good/bad the hull is before start of next season. If there's not much growth I'll switch to twice yearly following year. Three in first year may be overkill but all learning curve for me.

The slime rubbed off transom with fingers, under hull there were some black coloured areas no idea if that rubbed off with fingers I didn't try.

I suppose fouling would have been worse if she had been used less?

 

[Anders_P42]

I t certainly was a great day Anders

CopperCoat once again lived up to it's claim, I have had two boats treated with CopperCoating the first boat was moored at Warsash for a year then we moved to Haslar and on lift out at Warsash only slime was found then we moved to Haslar Marina and when we lifted it out we found only slime and the boat yard commented that there were no barnacles- he was impressed!
Out new boat which is identical to Anders Antares 30 was treated with CopperCoating has once again performed the same with only slime which was cleaned by Sealift2 with a pressure wash, the rudder anodes were virtually spent so we fitted a galvanic isolator which fixed this on the next lift to what one would expect to have a rate of decaying.

Appreciate the help Paul. Great to fit in a trip to Cowes, perfect weather but need to invest in some gloves...hands were feeling it on the Flybridge.

 

[Sans Bateau]

Anders_P42. The result you have there is exactly what you might expect. Dont waste time abrading the surface, its hard work for little (no?) reward, been there done it. Its my understanding that the epoxy which suspends the copper gradually erodes at the same rate as the copper. I've only abraded twice, first time before the initial relaunch and one half hearted attempt since. You should get quite a good result in Haslar with CC as it works better in salt water than brackish.

Copper Coat in no panacea, it works no better than conventional AF. In brackish water it may be not be as effective as regular AF, that said we have had CC on Galadriel for 10 years in brackish water and looking around the marina we are no worse off than anyone else. Where we do really benefit, as someone has already said, owners using CC only have to pressure wash off every year, no painting. Yes CC is expensive for the initial application and its financial benefits may seem marginal, but once its on its on and paid for. The chances that the price of regular AF remaining the same for 10 is just about zero.