tips please.... activating coppercoat

[symondo]

The list of jobs gets smaller however our engineer queried the anti fouling on our boat.
I said it was listed as coppercoat when we bought it but in all honesty, I have no idea how to check.

He rubbed a bit with a bit of sand paper and agreed it was copper coat. He mentioned I needed to 'activate' it again by rubbing down the coated parts.

Do I need to do this with sand paper dry, or best wet?
What about a scouring pad or an electric sander?

He said to go and look at a few of the other boats which are being prepped for an idea of finish but I'm curious if there is a better way than a bit of sand paper and a lot of elbow grease? And also not to muck it up!

 

[VicS]

From the application instructions pdf on the Coppercoat website:

Treated boats will benefit from having the cured Coppercoat surface lightly burnished with fine “wet and dry” paper or
sanding-pad prior to immersion – this will expose the copper powder and increase the immediate potency of the anti-fouling.
This process is particularly beneficial in areas of high fouling. (Tip – we recommend using 600 grade paper, wet, or a
Scotchbrite sanding pad and lightly rubbing the surface in a fashion similar to applying polish to a car bonnet.)​

Maintenance:
When correctly applied, this long life epoxy anti-fouling treatment should continue to deter marine fouling for many years so
that the annual chore of repainting, as associated with conventional anti-foulings, is no longer necessary. Damaged areas can
be touched-up as required. If, over the months, a slight accumulation of slime does appear, this can be removed by pressure
washing or brushing. An annual wash or brush is recommended. Eventually, after many years, the surface may need to be
lightly abraded with a fine grade of “wet and dry” paper or a sanding pad to expose fresh copper​

 

[srm]

Pressure wash and a light rub with a stainless steel 'wire' pot scourer works for me. The scourer removes any organic film that may have survived the pressure washing. Don't get too agressive as you will only remove more coating. Would suggest a light rub down with wet and dry to clean the surface if the boat has been ashore for any length of time (the coating is quite hard), then launch and see how it performs before getting more energetic.

 

[Elessar]

Pressure wash and a light rub with a stainless steel 'wire' pot scourer works for me. The scourer removes any organic film that may have survived the pressure washing. Don't get too agressive as you will only remove more coating. Would suggest a light rub down with wet and dry to clean the surface if the boat has been ashore for any length of time (the coating is quite hard), then launch and see how it performs before getting more energetic.

excellent advice. Scotchbrite from b+q for keying paint is good too if you dont have a pan scourer.

 

[symondo]

excellent advice. Scotchbrite from b+q for keying paint is good too if you dont have a pan scourer.

Looks like ive a date with a pressure washer and a scotchbrite pad or 2 then.

Many thanks1 I just didnt want to either rub the entire thing down to find i had: A - didnt do it right and had to do it again or B - rubbed too much and wrecked the whole coating.

 

[KevB]

I generally wait until the water is warm, jump in and swim around with a scotchpad to rub the first few inches below the waterline. Had it on the boat for about 7 years now and never needed to do the underneath. I do have a motorboat so the bottom has probably less light getting to it than a sailing boat.

Looks like ive a date with a pressure washer and a scotchbrite pad or 2 then.

Many thanks1 I just didnt want to either rub the entire thing down to find i had: A - didnt do it right and had to do it again or B - rubbed too much and wrecked the whole coating.

 

[symondo]

I generally wait until the water is warm, jump in and swim around with a scotchpad to rub the first few inches below the waterline. Had it on the boat for about 7 years now and never needed to do the underneath. I do have a motorboat so the bottom has probably less light getting to it than a sailing boat.

its a motor boat i am prepping. I'll look to go over the whole thing as best i can although it looks like a nightmare to do due to the height of it while on the hard.
I'll bear that in mind while checking the condition as i go though

 

[duncan99210]

We lightly abraded our copper coat at 13 years old..... Worked wonders for it. We followed the advice from the company and used wet and dry paper.