OCC Forums » Systems and Maintenance » Maintenance » Coppercoat

Coppercoat

Gino Del Guercio — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 11:04:50 GMT

I’m thinking of having Coppercoat applied to the bottom of my 44 foot fiberglas sloop this summer. Has anyone had this done? Would you do it again? How much did it cost? And would you recommend the place where you had it done? I’ll be located in New England this summer.

RE: Coppercoat

sv.the.dream — Sat, 04 Nov 2023 11:04:50 GMT

We’ve done it ourselves last year and are delighted with the results even in the rich warm waters in Brazil, French Guiana.
I’ve detailed our process including costs on few blogs that might interest you. Coppercoat was great clearing any doubt we had during the process and stayed in touch with us during the entire process.

https://www.svthedream.com/post/coppercoat-antifoul-treatment-considerations-part-1

https://www.svthedream.com/post/coppercoat-antifoul-treatment-preparation-application-part-2

I’m due an update with photos of the current condition but I can tell you I would do it again on a new boat.

RE: Coppercoat

Alan.Leslie — Wed, 01 Nov 2023 08:43:21 GMT

After reading about many good expereinces, we're taking the plunge and doing Coppercoat in January in BoI Marina boat yard, Opua, New Zealand.....our normnal; antifoul just hasn;t worked well recently....hopefully this will be the answer, but....the answer lies in the preparation I believe...so, we'll see and will report results over time...

RE: Coppercoat

Joerg.Esdorn — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 19:40:50 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Simon Currin - 28 Oct 2023[/b]
JoergScrubbed each time we hauled since leaving UK in 2015 ( in Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Annapolis) . Very clean in Annapolis. Completely weed free on arrival in Bocas 6 months later. A very light scrub by scuba removing soft growth only and no barnacles. No other maintenance and no sanding prior to each launch (which is recommended by some). Since the original application the only time we have touched it was in 2018.Simon
[/quote]

Thanks, Simon. Sounds like I should seriously consider it.

RE: Coppercoat

simoncurrin — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 19:16:16 GMT

Joerg Scrubbed each time we hauled since leaving UK in 2015 ( in Greenland, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and Annapolis) . Very clean in Annapolis. Completely weed free on arrival in Bocas 6 months later. A very light scrub by scuba removing soft growth only and no barnacles. No other maintenance and no sanding prior to each launch (which is recommended by some). Since the original application the only time we have touched it was in 2018. Simon

RE: Coppercoat

Joerg.Esdorn — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 16:06:10 GMT

Thanks for the info, Simon. I'm considering putting on Coppercoat next year. What have you been doing to the bottom during those 18 months - have you scrubbed it at all while in the water? How was it when you hauled out in Annapolis? Many thanks!

RE: Coppercoat

simoncurrin — Sat, 28 Oct 2023 15:57:50 GMT

A SHOUT-OUT for our coppercoat.

We launched in Annapolis a year ago and got 6 months sailed through the Caribbean. The boat then sat for 6 months in a tropical Marina in Panama. When we left the boat we put plastic bags over the prop that had been treated with Prop Soeed.

We returned to the boat lady week and found the hull and prop in perfect condition.

To recap, our CopperCoat was first applied in 2012 and we did a top up DIY coat in 2018 after it got damaged by ice in the north.

Delighted with both CopperCoat and Prop Speed.

Simon

RE: Coppercoat

simoncurrin — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 17:53:35 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]alanfym - 31 Jan 2021[/b]
I applied Coppercoat in Sumer 2018 on my Najad 420. I found the best preparation (professionally done) was grit blasting to get back to gelcoat, and grit blasting provides a good keying surface tfor the Coppecoat, as well as following Coppercoat's preparation instructions. . Applied by myself and mates with a full time mixer and have had no problems with adhesion. Found it good in cool water (had it on my previous boat too) but the Caribbean requires more cleaning off I would say every 3 months or less, and scotchbrite is very useful here. No thin parts as put an extra coat leading edges etc, and was done by roller - not as good a finish as spraying but seems thicker applied this way. Would use it again as its an epoxy barrier to boot.
[/quote]

A friend used 'professional' grit blasting too. Sadly the wrong grit was used and the it removed the gelcoat too! Our old paint was scraped off by hand in 2013 when we first moved to Coppercoat.

After 5 years we hand sanded and did a successful DIY top-up application when in Newfoundland. Hard work for a couple but made easier by doing the starboard side of the hull on day 1 and the port on day 2. All went well.
Simon

RE: Coppercoat

alanfym — Sun, 31 Jan 2021 17:23:48 GMT

I applied Coppercoat in Sumer 2018 on my Najad 420. I found the best preparation (professionally done) was grit blasting to get back to gelcoat, and grit blasting provides a good keying surface tfor the Coppecoat, as well as following Coppercoat's preparation instructions. . Applied by myself and mates with a full time mixer and have had no problems with adhesion. Found it good in cool water (had it on my previous boat too) but the Caribbean requires more cleaning off I would say every 3 months or less, and scotchbrite is very useful here. No thin parts as put an extra coat leading edges etc, and was done by roller - not as good a finish as spraying but seems thicker applied this way. Would use it again as its an epoxy barrier to boot.

RE: Coppercoat

Sandy.Garrity — Sat, 13 Jun 2020 07:01:17 GMT

We have finally got down to the boat in Plymouth, UK. After all winter aflot and not being moved I wiped the thin layer of "stuff" that was on the waterline off by hand. Amazing stuff as the boat next to me has a lot of weed on it.

RE: Coppercoat

Ted.Owens — Fri, 12 Jun 2020 12:10:26 GMT

I have had Copper Coat for the last 3 years, and I have been disappointed with it. It worked great for the first 6 months. Then It began to get algae, which was difficult to remove. After another year, it would get barnacles. I was in the Caribbean, which might be part of the problem. I complained to Copper Coat about it, and they said that I needed to have the boat hauled out and further sanding done. The copper is suspended in epoxy and it needs to be activated by lightly sanding the top layer of epoxy off. I had this done, but it didn't help. I complained further to Copper Coat and they gave me new paint as a warranty replacement. By this time, I was in Portimao, Portugal, and it turns out that the experts in applying Copper Coat is Slick Hull Service are located there. I had them repaint my boat and it looks great. They believe that my original painters sanded the bottom too much by using a machine. Copper Coat is very particular in its application. Slick Hull did the painting with rollers (which is recommended by Copper Coat), then the did the activation by hand with a fine sandpaper and Scotch Bright. It looks great, now it will have the test of time. I am headed into the Mediterranean, which I understand generally has less growth. I am also adding an ultrasonic anti-fouling system to make double sure that I don't have to scrub the bottom. I am looking forward to seeing how it works.

RE: Coppercoat

Bill Attwood — Sun, 02 Feb 2020 07:16:16 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Gino Del Guercio - 2/1/2020[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]Bill Attwood - 2/1/2020[/b]
I DIY Coppercoated my Rustler 36. The application of the Coppercoat was a 10 hour non-stop job, with one person mixing and one person applying. The major work was removing all the old anti-fouling, done with hand scrapers. I then applied 2 coats of epoxy primer before Coppercoating. I have a detailed analysis of the work including manhours at home, but won’t be home until the beginning of March. If this would be useful, email me at “sy.kinsa@gmail.com”.
[/quote]

Thanks Bill, how does it seem to be holding up?
[/quote]

Hi Gino
Applied 2 years ago, so 2 seasons in the Baltic. Has worked well here. We tend to have “mini-mussels” which are v. easy to remove, but the hull doesn’t remain completely clean. A friend, whose recommendation for Coppercoat decided me, did an Atlantic circuit and was v. pleased at how well Coppercoat functioned. As has been commented, the prep work is absolutely key. I’ve had no problems with adhesion. I tend not to trust anyone else to work on my boat, but the removal of the old anti-fouling and making good took 2 weeks with 2 people helping me. Many people will have neither the time nor the inclination to do this, but I would definitely ask a firm doing this job for reference customers. A wrinkle, which Coppercoat UK confirmed, is that Isopropyl alcohol (the recommended thinner) can also be used as a surface cleaning agent. I used this and also water.

RE: Coppercoat

Nicky.Barker — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:15:54 GMT

Preparation is key. We had Coppercoat applied by a company when we were working about 10years ago. Though they said that they had slurry blasted and scraped the hull clean of the old anti-fouling they had not done a good job and over time the Coppercoat blistered off where there were specks of old antifouling. We had the work touched up over the years but this summer we did a full repair and 10 year re-coat ourselves. We scraped back to the gelcoat where the original Coppercoat was weak and sanded the whole hull thoroughly, washed the boat with water, applied barrier layer over the gelcoat and then multiple layers of Coppercoat over the barrier coat and the old Coppercoat. It's a long job but worth it; Coppercoat's a great product and far more economic than traditional antifouling in the USA. Speak to Coppercoat USA for detailed information ref application - Jim is really helpful - and don't be afraid to do the work yourself if you are allowed to at your yard. You can also look at our blog for what we did if you wish (www.blue-velvet-exploring-the-world.blogspot.com search for Deltaville Refit Part 1 Sep 2019).

RE: Coppercoat

dinwood — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 12:12:39 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Gino Del Guercio - 2/1/2020[/b]
+x[quote]

[b]Bill Attwood - 2/1/2020[/b]
I DIY Coppercoated my Rustler 36. The application of the Coppercoat was a 10 hour non-stop job, with one person mixing and one person applying. The major work was removing all the old anti-fouling, done with hand scrapers. I then applied 2 coats of epoxy primer before Coppercoating. I have a detailed analysis of the work including manhours at home, but won’t be home until the beginning of March. If this would be useful, email me at “sy.kinsa@gmail.com”.
[/quote]

Thanks Bill, how does it seem to be holding up?
[/quote]

We had ours done in 2012, sprayed indoors by one of the best (by reputation) painter in the Solent area and have since done getting on for 30,000nm in warm waters. It has been a long and painful saga with areas peeling off and now becoming so thin you can see the gel coat. I'm pretty certain that all the problems can be blamed on the painter; he accepted the first adhesion problems but not the subsequent thinning. The logic for CC still appears sound to me but don't expect too much. Even where we don't have problems it still involves quite a bit of keeping clean.

RE: Coppercoat

Gino Del Guercio — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 10:05:31 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Bill Attwood - 2/1/2020[/b]
I DIY Coppercoated my Rustler 36. The application of the Coppercoat was a 10 hour non-stop job, with one person mixing and one person applying. The major work was removing all the old anti-fouling, done with hand scrapers. I then applied 2 coats of epoxy primer before Coppercoating. I have a detailed analysis of the work including manhours at home, but won’t be home until the beginning of March. If this would be useful, email me at “sy.kinsa@gmail.com”.
[/quote]

Thanks Bill, how does it seem to be holding up?

RE: Coppercoat

Bill Attwood — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 08:17:35 GMT

I DIY Coppercoated my Rustler 36. The application of the Coppercoat was a 10 hour non-stop job, with one person mixing and one person applying. The major work was removing all the old anti-fouling, done with hand scrapers. I then applied 2 coats of epoxy primer before Coppercoating. I have a detailed analysis of the work including manhours at home, but won’t be home until the beginning of March. If this would be useful, email me at “sy.kinsa@gmail.com”.

RE: Coppercoat

simoncurrin — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:27:30 GMT

Yes I would do it again. We copper coated our boat in 2013. We didn’t touch it again until 2018 when it was looking a little ragged around the waterline - mainly due to abrasion with ice in the north. In 2018 we abraded the whole hull and applied another 4 coats with a roller. It was not a difficult DIY project.
Simon

+x[quote]

[b]Gino Del Guercio - 1/3/2020[/b]
I’m thinking of having Coppercoat applied to the bottom of my 44 foot fiberglas sloop this summer. Has anyone had this done? Would you do it again? How much did it cost? And would you recommend the place where you had it done? I’ll be located in New England this summer.
[/quote]

RE: Coppercoat

Sandy.Garrity — Sun, 05 Jan 2020 08:44:04 GMT

+x[quote]

[b]Gino Del Guercio - 1/3/2020[/b]
I’m thinking of having Coppercoat applied to the bottom of my 44 foot fiberglas sloop this summer. Has anyone had this done? Would you do it again? How much did it cost? And would you recommend the place where you had it done? I’ll be located in New England this summer.
[/quote]

I had it done in Cornwall England during the summer of 2019. So far I am delighted with it.

If you can find a yard who can spray it on you will get a better finish. If they can do it in a shed then there is no chance that it will get damp during the application. I am convinced that the application is the key so find a yard that does a lot of boats.

I spoke with Coppercoat UK at the Southampton Boat show in September 2018 and they said it is suitable for DIY application, I would never consider applying it myself.