Forums, Everything Else, Coppercoat Anti-foul

CO923 at 13/12/2015 19:27:00
There was a discussion in 2009 about copper coat and ultrasound anti-foul. I wondered if there was any update on experience since then.

We had copper coat on the Hunter Medina 20 we kept at Granton for several years, and it worked very well, though we started to get some barnacles and there was a bit of flaking off in the last year we used her, before we acquired our Contessa (CO923 Peak Flow) and sold the Medina.

We are contemplating copper coating Peak Flow and wondered if there was more experience now about benefits and pitfalls. Has Tiptoe replaced her faulty copper coat and is the new coat OK? Anyone else?

Best wishes

Hilary Sillitto/Peak Flow, Granton

Richard Ritchie at 16/12/2015 09:12:07
Coppercoat was easy to apply and served me well.
BUT be cautious about applying if the hull has medium or high moisture levels, as is likely on a 30-40 year old boat.
Over time small blisters can develop between the gelcoat and the coppercoat, because it is a complete moisture barrier. These are water blisters not osmosis, and stop if pricked with a pin , and functionally not a problem, but make it more likely that there will be flaking.
If in doubt talk to the manufacturer.

CO923 at 30/12/2015 18:03:13
Thanks Richard.

Our boat was built in 1997 and has spent most of its winters in a shed, so hopefully the moisture levels aren’t too high yet…

We’re doing conventional anti-fouling this year and will think again about copper coating when the hull needs a good scrape. There are several Contessas in Scotland which have copper coat and whose owners are happy with the result. From what you say, if we are going to do it the sooner the better.

Thanks,

Hillary

nardus at 11/01/2016 14:34:13
In november we had (professionally) the gelcoat removed ,the hull had a medium or high moisture level. She would be dry enough for a few layers of epoxy-glass in april. Good opportunity for finishing the job with 3 layers op cuppercoat now the hull is dry.

Only wonder how much is the wet surface exactly for a C032 ?

rob at 19/01/2016 20:49:00
I did my contessa 32 with coppercoat three years ago. I was relatively happy with how clean the boat stayed. I left here in the water for the winter and only lifted here once a year for cleaning. I assume the result will be better if you wetsand the coppercoat after applying. I did not do that three years ago. This winter I lifted her out of the water and removed all the coppercoat due to the fact there was osmosis ( blisters with fluid in it all over the boat. As the previous writer allready said I do suspect the fact that the coppercoat is a 100 % closed and any moisture in the hull will cause this . In my case the fluid was acid alike ( vinegary odeur) . I am planning to dry here untill dry enough to apply two layers of glassfibre with epoxy and then finish again with coppercoat. I am afraid there will be less sailing this year:-(
The amount of underwater hull is approx 20M2

Regards Rob

nardus at 28/10/2016 14:05:33
I finished this summer with 2 layers glass and finished with DIY cuppercoat.
Used 30kg epoxy and 6 kg (West cupper compount)

rob at 28/10/2016 15:02:58
I finished the job as described in my previous post and spend exactly the same amount of epoxy and copper as Ben, Most of the epoxy was used to apply the glassfabric to the hull and to have it faired. The hull when taking the boat out of the water was pretty wet with skipper moisture meter readings around 23 ( with peaks over 30). It took me untill august this year to dry the boat. I rinsed the boat every three weeks with a pressurewasher and kept the boat outside in the sun and wind. In August the moister meter reported values all under 10 ( which is very dry) The boat is now back in the water and I am a happy sailor again