which Hempel primer to cover copper coat?

[ozzie]

We have just finished our season with a copper coated boat and I have not been impressed with it. We have suffered with weed build up which has seriously reduced performance, even a mid season scrub didnt last long before performance started dropping off again. The boat will be ten years old next year, so I am thinking its probably coming to the end of its useful life, so I have made the decision to go back to Hempels Tiger Xtra which I have used for ten years and has always performed well. The coppercoat is in sound condition, so the plan is to power wash, wet sand (80 or 120 grit?) then prime. Looking at the Hempel website they have two different primers listed - antifouling primer and underwater primer 26030. Both look as if they will do the same job so I tried to contact Hempel for some technical advice but they did not get back to me... Does anyone have any practical experience or advice on which one to use??

 

[Tranona]

Have you "refreshed" the Coppercoat? or if it is in sound condition recoating may be possible. On primers, the distinction seems to be that 26050 is specifically for light coloured antifouling, presumably to reduce colour bleed through. otherwise as you say same as 26030.

 

[V1701]

As above before doing anything else I'd sand the coppercoat to expose more copper and see how it does - see here...

 

[ozzie]

we did try to abrade the waterline where the fouling looked bad but it was back in no time. The diver who did the mid season scrub did say that the fouling was not easy to remove - he was down a long time! I spoke to Copper coat at the boat show who suggested trying to abrade a test patch. The theory being if the copper coat was still active it should stay clearer than the areas next to it. It didnt work....

 

[greeny]

After 10 years it will be nearing the end of its life depending on how many coats were applied originally. Just as you suggest. I have had such good results with coppercoat on my last 2 boats that I would stick with it and just prepare whats left and apply more coats on top. Otherwise you're back to the annual scrub off and re anti foul. Hard work and not cheap nowadays.

 

[AntarcticPilot]

After 10 years it will be nearing the end of its life depending on how many coats were applied originally. Just as you suggest. I have had such good results with coppercoat on my last 2 boats that I would stick with it and just prepare whats left and apply more coats on top. Otherwise you're back to the annual scrub off and re anti foul. Hard work and not cheap nowadays.

Having done all the arduous preparation to apply Coppercoat, it seems sensible to stick with it. Coppercoat can be applied on existing Coppercoat without primer etc.; a good scrub and light sanding should be all the preparation required.