That old question...again...antifoul ?

[billyfish]

Coming out of the water next month. Yuk , hate it, but bit of a necessary refit...thinking about Finsulate, having been down the coppercoat road before im a bit apprehensive. Anyone had it done ?

 

[[70521]]

Coppercoat is brilliant. With the restrictions of COVID I was jet washed in June, the first time in 18 months and having done under 500 miles, and the guy says it was the easiest job he had ever done. Now with 1500 miles under the keel this summer I wiped some slime off when I came out for the winter.

 

[TiggerToo]

What exactly makes you apprehensive about coppercoat? We have a similar experience to Sandy ...

 

[vyv_cox]

Finsulate was new to me so I looked at their website. Seems odd that most of the reference boats are kept in fresh water, where fouling barely occurs. I kept my boat in the Netherlands, in fresh water, for 7 years and only antifouled, conventional, a couple of times. After a few weeks at sea any fouling falls off within a few days in fresh.

Like other responders, my experience with Coppercoat has been good. 10 years x2 with it on my keel. Only failed because rust got beneath it.

 

[billyfish]

Well that's what I kept hearing about when I put coppecoat on my last boat, professionally done, was great for the first 5 years then went downhill from there , won't be doing that again....

 

[Daydream believer]

My copper coat went down hill from day one

 

[fredrussell]

It would be interesting if someone were to set up one of those forum polls re people’s successes or failures with coppercoat. I’ve never used it, but I may consider it one day I reckon.

 

[Tranona]

Been done several times over the last 15 years or so. Usual outcome - majority swear by it, minority swear at it. Usual negatives are difficult to apply DIY unless in perfect conditions and poor adhesion (as in post#4) to iron keels. Some find it ineffective over time and maybe if drying out in mud moorings.

Me - swear by. Now 6 years BUT first attempt (even though boat was new) on the keel failed. Last year, blasted epoxy coat and re Coppercoat DIY except for blast and first coat. Seems to work.

 

[Daydream believer]

It would be interesting if someone were to set up one of those forum polls re people’s successes or failures with coppercoat. I’ve never used it, but I may consider it one day I reckon.

One would need to add- would you use it again?
It does not work, but I would use it again. Simple reason is that at the end of the season the boat is laid up & gets jet washed. So she is ready for a launch 1st week in May. I sail to the CIs/Camaret until end of june, by which time it needs cleaning. Normally I end up having to motor home as sailing is not always possible unless the wind is up the chuff.

Then I get a lift & wash 1st week in August & immediately head for the Paulusfeesten in Ostend where I stay for 3-4 weeks for hols with the family if they come over via eurostar. When they go home I have a quick trip up the Walcheran canal ( sometimes they come as well) Then it is home for laying up as anymore sailing after that is impossible.
The point is that I do not have to invest in any paint, rollers etc, I do not have to rub down old antifoul (which used to give me migraine attacks) & the saving in cost covers the haulout mid season. For a large part of the season the boat sails well with a clean hull.
I do antifoul the bottom 18 inches of the keel over the coppercoat, as I sometimes bottom in the marina & touch going in & out & the coppercoat gets damaged & is not good in mud. That bit is not the fault of coppercoat. With an erodable paint the mud is more likely to fall off.
So does it work-- No
Would I use it----Yes

 

[TiggerToo]

So does it work-- No
Would I use it----Yes

that reads really "weird".

From your description it "works" ... does not do miracles: nothing does. But your description matches my experience (minus the A/F bit on the keel, as we don't sit on mud).

 

[Daydream believer]

that reads really "weird".

From your description it "works" ... does not do miracles: nothing does. But your description matches my experience (minus the A/F bit on the keel, as we don't sit on mud).

Well it works--- If you think 9 weeks is enough--- so I suppose in that case it does" work". But surely an antifoul product should protect a boat a little longer.

 

[[70521]]

Well it works--- If you think 9 weeks is enough--- so I suppose in that case it does" work". But surely an antifoul product should protect a boat a little longer.

On my last boat I had normal antifoul. I once left the boat for six weeks and harvested four buckets of mussels! Can't see that happening with copper coat.

 

[billyfish]

Did you eat the mussels full of copper oxide ?
And that is the thing , are we happy putting all this crap in the water, I'm not . which is why I like the idea of this finsulate , but it's as much money as coppecoat

 

[[70521]]

Did you eat the mussels full of copper oxide ?

Good lord no...

I only ever eat mussels in France, where they know how to cook them properly. The local offerings are like chewing on pencil erasers.

 

[Elessar]

Coming out of the water next month. Yuk , hate it, but bit of a necessary refit...thinking about Finsulate, having been down the coppercoat road before im a bit apprehensive. Anyone had it done ?

Did my Coppercoat last weekend.

I was very lucky with the weather. Note the drip channel made out of damp proof course. It did it’s job You are now a bit late in the year for applying Coppercoat but you might get lucky.

it’s the 3rd boat I’ve had Coppercoat on and know it works. I’m not convinced by anything else yet but keep an open mind.

 

[Elessar]

Detail of the drip channel. If you look carefully you can see 3 droplets in mid air. They would have ruined the Coppercoat seen here between coats 4 and 5.

The stupid forum software has rotated the last photo so that it’s wrong. But you can just make out drips in this one too - in real life if looked like a continuous pour.

 

[Elessar]

Coppercoat coats 1 and 2

Coppercoat coats 3-5

 

[Elessar]

had boat ready chocked today to do the pads.

 

[Elessar]

Pad prep

 

[TiggerToo]

looks cool (for a mobo) ;-)