Report on first 3 months with new Coppercoat

[geem]

We launched this year on the 24th June. We have been in the boatyard since last August when we returned from the Caribbean. We did the osmosis treatment to the bottom whilst we were back in the UK. We did new Coppercoat as part of the bottom work. This is the third time we have done Coppercoat on two different boats.
We left the boatyard dock on the 12th July and have been sailing south since. Glasson to Holyhead. Holyhead to Scilies. Scillies to Falmouth. Falmouth to Madiera. Madiera to Canaries. We are currently cruising around the Canaries until November.
Today we dived on the bottom with our DIY hookah. The coppercoat is in near perfect condition. Not a barnacle in site apart from on the propeller that we left bare. That was completely covered in small barnacles.
The hull had a coating of clear slime in place. You couldn't see it, but you could feel it. Rubbing it with a cloth, you created a cloud if slime. This has been the easiest boat clean we have done.
The thing we did different this time was burnished with 400 grit sandpaper before we launched. Previously we had used more aggressive sandpaper.
I am hoping the bottom will stay cleaner when we get back to the Caribbean, but we will have to see

 

[Jon4468]

It sounds as though the boat had been moving a lot, that’s got to help.

 

[geem]

It sounds as though the boat had been moving a lot, that’s got to help.

Total days moving would be about 15 and approx 2000nm

 

[zoidberg]

Total days moving would be about 15 and approx 2000nm

That sounds like a lot of good sailing and good daily averages.

 

[geem]

That sounds like a lot of good sailing and good daily averages.

I rounded the days up sailing a bit. As we had a couple of weeks pottering around Falmouth. The daily averages for the longest legs
The longest leg was Falmouth to Madiera. That was 6.25kt average. We logged 1051nm
The leg from Madiera to Grasiosa in the Canaries was 7kt average. 268nm

 

[fredrussell]

…The thing we did different this time was burnished with 400 grit sandpaper before we launched. Previously we had used more aggressive sandpaper.

Interested in why you went for 400 grit. I’ve just self applied CC for the first time and if memory serves they recommend using a scotchbrite pad or 600 grit. On previous occasions have you found a rougher burnish less effective?

 

[geem]

Interested in why you went for 400 grit. I’ve just self applied CC for the first time and if memory serves they recommend using a scotchbrite pad or 600 grit. On previous occasions have you found a rougher burnish less effective?

The recommendations were 400grit sandpaper or a fine scotch pad.
When we applied it originally many years ago, they didn't specify a burnishing grit so we used something more aggressive out of ignorance

 

[Sea Change]

Thanks Tim, encouraging words. We're in the process of stripping our hull back just now and will be doing DIY coppercoat in the spring.
Had elderly coppercoat on a previous boat and it was reasonably effective. Also very useful if you don't haul out often as you can scrape it much more aggressively than AF.