I Can’t Believe It’s Not Coppercoat!

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BoatingBeginner

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I’ve read some interesting and inspiring threads on DIY copper epoxy antifoul, in particular:

Yachtmollymawk.com
Boatdesign.net
Epoxyproducts.com

Ybw.com 1
Ybw.com 2
Ybw.com 3
Ybw.com 4
Ybw.com 5

I think Ewan Clark from Coppercoat has made some fair points and is an outstanding brand ambassador. I’m sold. If I could afford it, I’d buy some Coppercoat today. I’d find the best professional painter(s) money could buy and set them to work.

But this is not a real world option for me.

In summary, it boils down to choice of epoxy. The 99% pure spherical copper is cheap and easy to source, and I’m not comfortable with adding biocides.

The epoxy needs to be soft enough to allow continuing exposure of fresh copper over the years – without needing to be ground down.

It seems the only epoxy which allow this will be water-based and solvent free. Here are some examples of what’s available on the market:
http://www.idhl.co.uk/floor-tech-wb-x-clear-5l.html
http://www.resifloor.co.uk/Floor_&_...6/p3202/Resifloor™_WB_Clear/product_info.html
http://www.antel-uk.co.uk/tds/waterbased-epoxy-coating.html

Can anyone see an obvious flaw to this?

For the record, I am considering such an application being undertaken outside the UK, where the Control of Pesticides Regulations (COPR) 1986 (as amended 1997) do not apply.
 
I would be inclined to have a chat with someone technical at an epoxy maker. Otherwise, go for it and report back.

Coppercoat is not quite as effective an antifoul as the paints ( I've just had a day scrubbing and scraping it mid season) but its still worth the money as an annual labour saver. Good at preventing crustaceans, in fact better than the paints, but not so good at the weed and slime.

Stick some biocide in.
 
Thanks - yes, I'll see what the makers say.

I'm not sure how they'll know if their epoxy will erode over time in a saltwater environment, though.

It'd be great if anyone who had used water-based epoxy could post about it, but I've found nothing so far...
 
I have DIY Coppercoat and am very pleased with the outcome (season No2)

I was not brave enough to try your approach and have no advice, but have pondered if a positive outcome is possible taking the approach you describe.

I definately think you should give it a go and report back.
 
botheras said:
One boat at Mersea reverted to trad AF this season from Coppercoat, and I know of legal cases with other manufacturers....
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Interesting - thanks. It seems Coppercoat is sensitive to how, and upon what, it is applied. Or it takes a year or two to develop its 'full strength'. At least, these are the stock excuses given...
 
I think if you follow through then you'll generate a lot of interest. I'd speak to the PM suppliers with regard to what is the best mix of particle sizes to get the maximum copper into the mix. If they are a tight size range you will have lots of voids (which will need filled with resin, thus lowering your copper content) and I agree a talk to the resin suppliers might be a pretty good idea. I'd also check how much your desired formulation is going to cost as I'm not sure you will make a justifiable saving (CC buys in bulk, mixes in bulk etc - so should enjoy a more powerful purchasing base than you). I'm also guessing CC have sorted out the 'best' resin and defining the resin will be the key to success.

I suspect none of it is rocket science, good luck!
 
I contacted a company in uckfield, Sussex who manufacture epoxies on site. Their main line or business is epoxy flooring systems. They formulate and produce water based epoxies. Their chemist was incredibly helpfully and they offered to produce a compatible base epoxy for the princely sum of 10 per litre. As you say pure copper is cheap. £180 for 20 kg, add £120 for the epoxy and you have home built copper anti foul for somewhat less than the grand asked by the genuine suppliers.
 
Neeves said:
I'd speak to the PM suppliers with regard to what is the best mix of particle sizes to get the maximum copper into the mix. If they are a tight size range you will have lots of voids (which will need filled with resin, thus lowering your copper content)
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I hadn't thought about that (now obvious) aspect! Brilliant - thanks! The copper specifications are always clearly stated.
 
nimbusgb said:
I contacted a company in uckfield, Sussex who manufacture epoxies on site. Their main line or business is epoxy flooring systems. They formulate and produce water based epoxies. Their chemist was incredibly helpfully and they offered to produce a compatible base epoxy for the princely sum of 10 per litre. As you say pure copper is cheap. £180 for 20 kg, add £120 for the epoxy and you have home built copper anti foul for somewhat less than the grand asked by the genuine suppliers.
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Thanks – it was reading one of your posts that first sparked my interest.

Interestingly, while researching biocides and various magic additives, I came across Star brite Compound-X Antifouling Paint Additive - a snip at just 40 quid for 10g. It’s a yellow powder you mix in to whatever you’re putting on the bottom. It’s received rave reviews.

But wait.

What’s the active ingredient? Oxytetracycline hydrochloride – otherwise marketed under the brand name Aquatet (a yellow powder). It’s sold in 1kg buckets. It’s sold in 1kg buckets.

How much for? Well, I’ll have to contact a vet to get a quote, but I’ll wager they’re not charging 4,000 quid (yes, four grand!) per bucket…

Is there a vet in the house?!
 
now that is interesting. For years and years, very clever food scientists have been wondering why antibiotics were becoming useless when used to fight human and animal infections.

Their conclusions are that indiscriminate, non-targetted, use of antibiotics on animals is one of the principal vectors of getting those antibiotics into human beings via the food chain. Very very strong legislation is in now place to prevent farmers giving antibiotics ad lib, just to improve profit margin.

Now here we have a suggestion that recreational boaters slather that very stuff onto the bottom of hulls in order to stop weeds and little creeepy crawlies growing. So the anti-biotic does what it says on the tin: it kills life. Off fall the weeds and barnacles down to the sea bed, where they enter the food chain of crabs, winkles and many other forms of demersal life. Round and round goes the food chain, fishes and humans becoming more and more affected by anti-biotics whioch don't work, so that when you really need something to stop an infection, nothing can control that infection, and you die.

If it ain't you, it's a sea slug, or a hermit crab, a whelk, or a sole. But you don't see them die, do you ? :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
I'd imagine that painting the boat in tetracycline would simply stop the barnacles which chose to live on her hull getting infections. Which probably isn't quite what we want.

--Dave
 
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