Copper Coat

Steve_B · 16 March 2012, 23:17

We took the plunge this year and decided to have the RIB anti-fouled. After assessing all the options, went for Copper Coat.
It is more expensive than most (although a good trade price was given), but should last for a considerable time. We purchased 6 ltrs which is good for 5 coats and is strange to see only 3 ltrs of resin and the same of pure copper power.
The guys who prep'ed the hull and applied said it was a bit of a pain and really would be better applied in much warmer temperatures, but got a good finish.
I will update on how we get on. However, on the trip back to Poole today, saw a speed of 60mph which I have never seen before and dont know if this is due to the Copper Coat or the conditions or both?
Steve

GJ0KYZ · 17 March 2012, 09:48

I put Coppercoat on my hull four years ago and it's still working fine.

chewy · 17 March 2012, 19:12

My Dads Aquabell was done about 8 years ago and comes out cleaner than some boats that have been pressure washed.
Well worth the money.

ewan clark · 20 March 2012, 11:50

In reply to 250kts, and just as a quick clarrification to those who are unfamiliar with Coppercoat, a package of 6 litres of Coppercoat consists of 6 half-litre pots of base epoxy, 6 half-litre pots of epoxy activator (which, when mixed together, makes 6 litres of epoxy resin) and 6 bags of fine copper powder. By the time the copper is mixed in, the total volume of a 6 litre package is actually nearer 9 litres!

With regards to hull speed, removing conventional paint anti-foul and replacing it with Coppercoat epoxy anti-foul should provide an improvement. Conventional anti-foul paint absorbs water, and in so doing swells, roughens and increases in weight. The unfortunate side effect of this is that it adds drag and blunts boat speed and efficiency (even when new, freshly applied and clean). On the other hand, epoxy anti-fouls such as Coppercoat are waterproof. They do not add drag and do not slow the boat as paints do. Consequently it is to be expected that your RIB should have a new and improved top speed. Of course it's primary job is keep the hull clean, but the fact that it provides increased hull performance is a nice bonus.

I don't wish to highjack the thread, but thought that a couple of explanations from us (the manufacturers of Coppercoat) may prove helpful to all.

HUMBER P4VWL · 20 March 2012, 13:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by ewan clark

In reply to 250kts, and just as a quick clarrification to those who are unfamiliar with Coppercoat, a package of 6 litres of Coppercoat consists of 6 half-litre pots of base epoxy, 6 half-litre pots of epoxy activator (which, when mixed together, makes 6 litres of epoxy resin) and 6 bags of fine copper powder. By the time the copper is mixed in, the total volume of a 6 litre package is actually nearer 9 litres!

With regards to hull speed, removing conventional paint anti-foul and replacing it with Coppercoat epoxy anti-foul should provide an improvement. Conventional anti-foul paint absorbs water, and in so doing swells, roughens and increases in weight. The unfortunate side effect of this is that it adds drag and blunts boat speed and efficiency (even when new, freshly applied and clean). On the other hand, epoxy anti-fouls such as Coppercoat are waterproof. They do not add drag and do not slow the boat as paints do. Consequently it is to be expected that your RIB should have a new and improved top speed. Of course it's primary job is keep the hull clean, but the fact that it provides increased hull performance is a nice bonus.

I don't wish to highjack the thread, but thought that a couple of explanations from us (the manufacturers of Coppercoat) may prove helpful to all.

In terms of speed, fundamentally I'd agree, I have to as technically there is more friction. In the real world though, i noticed no difference on the GPS with and without antifoul.

willk · 20 March 2012, 14:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

In the real world though, i noticed no difference on the GPS with and without antifoul.

In the "Real" real world, you have to be moving to test this properly....

HUMBER P4VWL · 20 March 2012, 15:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

In the "Real" real world, you have to be moving to test this properly....

5 points to you sir.

My top speed of 0 did not alter.

kerny · 20 March 2012, 16:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

In the "Real" real world, you have to be moving to test this properly....

yep I agree

not much movement moored to a buoy is there...

HUMBER P4VWL · 20 March 2012, 17:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerny

yep I agree

not much movement moored to a buoy is there...

There is on the Strait! Effectively up to about 8 knots against the tide, that's quicker than yours at WOT

jambo · 20 March 2012, 17:43

Willk I love the new Avatar. I take it you will be changing your tag to Zorro

thomas · 20 March 2012, 17:51

My mate was going to use it on his Targa 34 and was told not to as it's really bad for the marine life.

alystra · 20 March 2012, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas

My mate was going to use it on his Targa 34 and was told not to as it's really bad for the marine life.

Mmmmmm! Surely ALL anti fouling is 'bad for marine life'. That's why it's used, to stop 'marine life' from growing on the hull. If it isn't used the huge increases in fuel consumption will use up precious resources, adding to global warming (which will kill lots of 'marine life' because the water will get too warm).

Ordinary anti fouling wears away as the boat travels through the water, thus spreading its 'poisons' over a large area. Coppercoat stays on the boat for about ten years and only kills 'marine life' that actually sticks to it (which then falls off). It's therefore better for the environment and 'marine life'.

Frankly, I get pi**ed off with environmentalist clap trap and bad science. I also dislike trolls and I think I may have been hooked by one.

Apologies if I'm wrong.

Maybe I'm just fed up of grey skies.

kerny · 20 March 2012, 18:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by HUMBER P4VWL

There is on the Strait! Effectively up to about 8 knots against the tide, that's quicker than yours at WOT

willk · 20 March 2012, 19:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by jambo

Willk I love the new Avatar. I take it you will be changing your tag to Zorro

Um, thanks - but I'm just minding it for someone. I'll be glad to see the back of it, frankly. I woke up to find 173 sheep in the front paddock today and I don't own sheep. That and I'm fairly sure it can open the fridge and I think it's got the cat up the duff...

Erin · 20 March 2012, 19:54

You should have been suspicious the minute you saw it with a disguise like that. It's clearly up to no good

thomas · 20 March 2012, 20:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by alystra

Mmmmmm! Surely ALL anti fouling is 'bad for marine life'. That's why it's used, to stop 'marine life' from growing on the hull. If it isn't used the huge increases in fuel consumption will use up precious resources, adding to global warming (which will kill lots of 'marine life' because the water will get too warm).

Ordinary anti fouling wears away as the boat travels through the water, thus spreading its 'poisons' over a large area. Coppercoat stays on the boat for about ten years and only kills 'marine life' that actually sticks to it (which then falls off). It's therefore better for the environment and 'marine life'.

Frankly, I get pi**ed off with environmentalist clap trap and bad science. I also dislike trolls and I think I may have been hooked by one.

Apologies if I'm wrong.

Maybe I'm just fed up of grey skies.

I can't be an environmentalist, I drive a 4x4 and a RIB when I could be a raggie with a Golf although I do have a heat pump.

Since posting I did some research and found copper antifoul is more friendly, but my mate was told it would kill the fish and copper's not used anymore, something's different these days as it used to be shunned upon so was wondering how it;s different as it clearly has changes.

Steve_B · 20 March 2012, 22:14

Hi Ewan

I hope you dont think my comments were in anyway negative about the product. Far from it, I am pleased and look forward to see the way it carries on protecting our RIB over the years.
As posted on our Facebook site, the speed at WOT has already improved beyond anything we have seen over the last two years
Regards
Steve

Erin · 20 March 2012, 22:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas

Since posting I did some research and found copper antifoul is more friendly, but my mate was told it would kill the fish and copper's not used anymore, something's different these days as it used to be shunned upon so was wondering how it;s different as it clearly has changes.

I think you will find that it is copper based chemicals in eroding antifoul that are the environmental problem as they get into the food chain due to them becoming dissolved/suspended in water. Plain old copper metal fixed to a hull is not such a problem. I would suspect it releases very little copper minerals into the surrounding briny and is therefore only toxic to anything that tries to attach itself directly to the coating. Bear in mind that sheets of copper were attached to boats historically (square riggers and the like) to prevent fouling.

whisper · 21 March 2012, 01:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by GJ0KYZ

I put Coppercoat on my hull four years ago and it's still working fine.

Small world!!!

Here's some pics I took of your rib in 2009 when we went to France in our VW camper.

Awesome holiday, and an awesome rib

My dream is to take my own rib there one day

ewan clark · 21 March 2012, 10:48

The technical editor of "Motor Boat and Yachting" magazine (Greg Copp) tested it on his 13m Sunseeker last year, and the early results were published in the Feb '12 issue. His boat gained 2 knots at top speed, and 1 knot at cruising revs.

Similarly we had Sunseeker Middle East test Coppercoat on a brace of 82ft Sunseekers in Dubai, and again recorded a 2 knot increase in top speed. And even though it costs a fair amount to lift and repaint these big boats, it's a lot cheaper to gain speed this way than it is to fit bigger engines!