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.

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...

+x

 

Simon Currin - 28 Oct 2023

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

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

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

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!  

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

+x

 

alanfym - 31 Jan 2021

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.