Recognising which "copper" antifoul

[Guest]

Recognising which \"copper\" antifoul

My boat has the remains of a copper type antifoul which seems to have worked quite satisfactorily for at least two years.
It is now time to recoat, is there any simple way I can tell which product was applied in order to replace like with like?

I should add that it is a slow displacement motor cruiser based on the south coast and never voluntarily plonked on the mud.


Thanks
Bernard.

 

[Gaffer]

Re: Recognising which \"copper\" antifoul

The short answer to your question is no, there is no way of telling which antifouling you have on. There are about 650 antifouling paints approved for use in the UK at the present time, but some are for professional use only.
You could do a compatability test, but that would narrow it down to a few hundred.
Good luck................

 

[VMALLOWS]

Re: Recognising which \"copper\" antifoul

Also, my experience is that the regulations/formulations change so rapidly that even if you identify a 'good brand' one year, it may be quite different the next.

 

[Gaffer]

Re: Recognising which "copper" antifoul

I would agree with that to certain extent, but to get it in perspective, last year the biocides Irgarol aand Diuron were banned from antifouling paints, before that was Tributyltin (TBT) which was some years ago now. The list of boicides in pesticides is under constnt review in order to protect the environment.
The fact that antifouling paint is classified as a pesticide, and contains biocides is in my opinion unfortunate becuse as the suffix -icide and -ocide would suggest that the ingredient is there to kill something as in an agricultural pesticide where something such as aphids and beetles which eat the grain are killed. But with an antifouling the purpose of the paint is to DETER the organisms from growing on a particular surface, ie. the bottom of your boat, but not actully kill them. By detering the marine life forms from inhabiting the hulls of boats we are not affecting their existance since there are many thousands of square miles of rocks etc. for them to live on quite hppliy.

 

[Guest]

Re: Recognising which \"copper\" antifoul

I didn't realise there were so many copper types, I thought there were only two and the difference might just be easily spotted.
Many thanks for the info I guess it's down to me to read the leaflets in the chandlers, look for a coppery brown one and go for it!

Cheers
Bernard