What do you think my best option is ?

[zedcell]

Hi everyone.
Having recently had my sealine S28 grit blasted back to the gelcoat for the repair of some stress crazing to the spray rails.
My delema is now that I have had the expense of having the hull grit blasted, do I
A Antifoul as normal ?
B Antifoul using a epoxy primer ?
C Copper coat.
I know some factors need to be considered like how long you intend to keep the boat where it's kept in my case the solent.
Would like to know what is general views on this especially from any one who has used copper coat on a motor cruiser with outdrives.

 

[ashtead]

Interested in pricing for the options ? Don't know about copper coat on an S28 but having as around our marina in Solent those who have it on seemed advocates so I guess it comes down on a sailing boat at least to appetite for investment compared to annual lift out and antifoul . I haven't heard of anyone being critical of coppercoat when I have spoken to others .

 

[JerryC]

"Blasted back to the gel coat" Yeah right, photos please! Who did it? I had 10 years of random uneven mixed hard and soft AF sand blasted off my boat. You don't want to see what my hull looked like afterwards, do you? Epoxy, epoxy epoxy! At least 6 coats alternate colours so you can ensure every bit is done.

 

[rbcoomer]

Personally, having stripped back, I think I'd Coppercoat or look at foul-off systems like Aquacote etc. By the time the various authorities have legislated on the biocides in antifoul over the next decade or so, they are likely to become less and less effective. The environmental impact would also make me think twice about antifoul unless the boat was already painted, but as you have already removed the costs going forward are just a lift and wash plus a bit of effort on reactivation.

 

[Boat2016]

"Blasted back to the gel coat" Yeah right, photos please! Who did it? I had 10 years of random uneven mixed hard and soft AF sand blasted off my boat. You don't want to see what my hull looked like afterwards, do you? Epoxy, epoxy epoxy! At least 6 coats alternate colours so you can ensure every bit is done.

I have had a previous boat blasted back to gel coat, if done properly then great, sounds like your wasn’t, you also have to bear in mind if there’s any imperfections in gel coat from manufacture then they will show, not necessarily the fault of the person blasting.

 

[zedcell]

What makes you think the blasting wasnt done correctly?

 

[rafiki_]

My Azi is not an outdrive boat, but I had a similar need to strip off the old a/f. We found some blisters which were filled, and then copper coated. She is now ready for launch. It was not a cheap option, but I firmly believe the right choice.

 

[oldgit]

I haven't heard of anyone being critical of coppercoat when I have spoken to others .

Asking somebody who has just "invested" a lot of money on a particular method of anti foul that will not prove/disprove value for money or effectiveness until your boat has been sold on, may not result in totally unbiased opinion.
As for not having spoken to anyone critical of coppercoat, you might want to research a little further.
Some might consider Coppercoat a bit of fashion accessory for hobby boaters, bit like underwater lights.
The lack of interest in general from commercial vessels might be a clue.

 

[ashtead]

Do advise as to the critics of coppercoat as I don't have it so would welcome views from those who are not brand champions ? I was justt reporting that anyone I have spoken to who has made the investment seem happy with their choice so as a fence sitter like the OP interested to hear from those who have put their hand in their pocket and taken the plunge . I just wanted to understand what quotes one might expect?

 

[Gemini]

I had my Targa 39 copper coated 3 years before I sold it, but at he time of making the decision to copper coat , selling it was not on the radar.

The boat had outdrives
I had had the boat for 9 years and and the old antifoul was building up, boat was 16 years old and probably never stripped back, and areas where beginning to resulting in re coating was not as smooth as I liked.

The boat was blasted back to the Gel coat and yes there where quite a large amount of air bubbles imperfections these where filled and sanded back , then epoxy coated x 2 and then copper coated .

Any boat on outdrives will have annual lifts out for servicing of the drives so a set tear cost regardless .

Average Antifoul cost to buy at the time was £450 plus application £300 approx
Cost to blast was £600 and the copper coat was approx £1000 to purchase plus application cost £600

By year 3, I expected to have broken even, and going forward it was just re activating the copper coat each year,

I was happy with the overall performance of the copper coat and found on the lift out normally February time & the boat not moved from Dec onwards was minimal, far less these than anti foal, I was pleased with the results.

Out drives where still like a forest.

If you do decide to go copper coat route, ensure they leave a 25mm band around the outdrive, and check conditions of any underwater intake/outlet skin fittings

Did I see improved performance and fuel consumption didn't notice that.

 

[zedcell]

"Blasted back to the gel coat" Yeah right, photos please! Who did it? I had 10 years of random uneven mixed hard and soft AF sand blasted off my boat. You don't want to see what my hull looked like afterwards, do you? Epoxy, epoxy epoxy! At least 6 coats alternate colours so you can ensure every bit is done.

Image as requested.

 

[slipknot]

I had my sail boat grit blasted then epoxied about 7 years ago. I chose not to coppercat as I wanted to race a bit and instead used a hard high copper anti foul. In hindsight I think I should have coppercoated when it was being epoxied.

 

[oldgit]

Do advise as to the critics of coppercoat as I don't have it so would welcome views from those who are not brand champions ? I was justt reporting that anyone I have spoken to who has made the investment seem happy with their choice so as a fence sitter like the OP interested to hear from those who have put their hand in their pocket and taken the plunge . I just wanted to understand what quotes one might expect?

Search on here should produce a few posts regards effectiveness of Coppercoat in UK waters.
Med boaters appear to favour the system more , but that may be due to the amounts of time their boats lie idle, compared to boats kept closer to home.
Located in the Thames Estuary, all the three boats in my club which had Coppercoat applied are now overcoated with a standard A/F.
One boat was coated only two seasons ago.
Boats are flybridge 11 to 13 m and used frequently throughout the year.
The choice may finally come down to economics, do you do your own A/F or pay somebody else.

 

[zedcell]

Thanks for posting that sounds like good advice.

 

[Elessar]

Hi everyone.
Having recently had my sealine S28 grit blasted back to the gelcoat for the repair of some stress crazing to the spray rails.
My delema is now that I have had the expense of having the hull grit blasted, do I
A Antifoul as normal ?
B Antifoul using a epoxy primer ?
C Copper coat.
I know some factors need to be considered like how long you intend to keep the boat where it's kept in my case the solent.
Would like to know what is general views on this especially from any one who has used copper coat on a motor cruiser with outdrives.

coppercoat causes as many discussions as anchors. I use it and am happy with it.

When you get your boat blasted, make sure you see work done by that actual operator, not just the company. It's a horrible job with high staff turnover and a very skilled job to get right.

One you have blasted, epoxy for sure. Whether you use antifoul or coppercoat. Daft not to add that protection whilst you have a bare hull.

The six coats alternating colours advice is good as long as it is sovented epoxy. And don't coppercoat for at least 2 weeks after your 6 coats.

If it is solvent free epoxy completely different rules apply - the difference is critical.