Copper coat!

[Solent Ranger]

I have got fed up with taking the rib in and out of the water on a weekly basis and also the thought of anti-fouling every year was too much. So I opted to Copper coat the boat. Took some pictures of the proceedings.

All wrapped up and ready to go:



1st coat applied.



4th and final coat and all shiny!

[Steve_B]

Looking good, you will not regret it
Steve

[Solent Ranger]

I took the rib out to do some post copper coating speed trials yesterday. Prior to having the work done I did some trials to see what speed I could achieve . With half tank of fuel and just me aboard I got 34 knots. Yesterday with same fuel load, still just me I got 40.8 knots. Unless I had actually seen it with my own eyes, I'd not have believed it would have made that much difference , but it has.

[Mextli]

Wow! Thats amazing.. 6 knots speed increase just buy replacing the pain

[Steve_B]

That is what we found. The best bit is that for your "normal" crusing speed you will be using less fuel. Therefore over the long term it will start paying for itself

Steve

[Mextli]

Could you spill the beans on the costs? It might be a consideratione for me, too

[MI3GTO]

I have been preparing to do the CC thing on my Shetland but will do the SR4 first so a few questions please.

Cost? Which product did you go for? Original CC or one of the other clones?

g

[Solent Ranger]

Best is to contact www.arccompany.co.uk and speak direct with Mark Tugwell.

[Searider]

David,

Surely your 34 knots was with a dirty bottom though?

Duncan

[Solent Ranger]

The bottom was stained, but not weedy or anything like that. The hull was in fact jet washed two days before the original pre sea trial. Others have said that fitting new low friction cables may also have contributed to more speed, but all in all I'm happy with the outcome, not so much for the top speed more for what it will mean at normal cruise speed.

[Steve_B]

For those interested in Copper Coat, I would recommend talking direct to Ewan at Copper Coat, who does post on here at times. Very helpful and happy to give advice on the product. They will have a stand at the SBS
Steve

Ewan Clark
Aquarius Marine Coatings Ltd.
(multiseason antifouling 10 years protection hard wearing copper filled epoxy resin copper antifoul)
Aquarius Marine Coatings Ltd
Unit 10
St Patricks Industrial Estate
Shillingstone
Dorset
DT11 0SA
01258 861059

[Mextli]

Ok, thanks, will do that once i have my RIB

[John Winter]

Hi, did they apply any to the tubes? Otherwise anyone know how to protect tubes from growth?

[piranha580]

Hi all,
just to revive the thread here, am taking the boat out next week with a view to antifouling it for a stint in the marina for the winter. Has anyone got any updates on their copper coating over the last few years..it was suggested for me to do it but am still unsure of a price as of yet.. does it affect through hull transducers as a matter of interest??
cheers...

[Boatnomad]

Not as expensive as i would have thought, for what you "seem" to get...

multi-season antifouling. 10 years protection hard wearing copper filled epoxy resin copper antifoul | Coppercoat

[piranha580]

Yeah that's true... Just got a final quote yesterday and considering it's only slightly more costly than standard anti fouling, I think it may make good sense... Especially if the cost is spread over 10 years... And as long as it does exactly what it says on the tin!!👍 ... Might post up a picture when it's done for future reference...

[Steve_B]

Rest easy, it does!
The quality of the preparation & application are important. This is the ideal weather to get it done.
Ours is now 3 years old and have not had to touch it. It has paid for itself several times over.
Steve