Coppercoat application to a RIB - a report - Page 2

willk · 02 April 2016, 11:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtflash

Good post wilk.

So did you gain or loose any top speed?
How smooth is the finish?
I presume it was a virgin hull?

One of my key priorities is smoothness, and top speed. I have the product, almost all ready to go, I paid a lot less for it though. 6 kits enough for a 8.1m?

Too soon to say about the speed (I certainly won't gain any

) - I'll report later in the year (won't matter to you then though!).

The finish looks like rollered antifoul - slightly stippled. I have yet to burnish it as per instructions, so it MAY even out a touch - but I suspect not.

I bought eight kits (see photo for full kit supplied) and used almost seven. The last would have been for points that were missed but we hit the whole job in one pass. The epoxy has a 1 year shelf life and the copper has no limit, so I'm holding them for touch up work if required in the autumn. I'd have thought that six kits would be OK for you.

If you want smooth and fast - I'd STRONGLY recommend getting it sprayed! My hull was as you say - virgin. That said it had seen two seasons of rubbing and cleaning so wasn't totally unkeyed. I set about it with an orbital sander and 80/120 grit pads - almost broke my heart (and arms

)

Portnahaven · 02 April 2016, 14:22

Spraying will give you a much smoother finish.
Burnishing will improve things a bit on roller application - taking some of the worst ridges off. But i did not want to thin the layer of coppercoat too much.
I was quoted 3000 by a yard for the job (on a virgin hull).

willk · 07 May 2016, 20:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Too soon to say about the speed (I certainly won't gain any

) - I'll report later in the year (won't matter to you then though!).

Preliminary results just in:

I launched and did my first cruise of 2016 yesterday. I was carrying max fuel, equipment and PAX over a 60Nm course and I have to say (hand on where my heart would be if I had one) that I didn't notice any change in performance. I generally cruise at 3000rpm doing 30kts and that is exactly the same. The cruising figures were what I was worried about. I didn't manage to test the top end as we were running with or against some major tidal flows. The next hurdle now will be the actual antifouling performance. I painted the leg and a few fittings with Trilux33 so will have something to compare with.

John Kennett · 07 May 2016, 20:48

Do you need me to nip over and test the top speed for you? Always happy to help out a mate!

willk · 07 May 2016, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Do you need me to nip over and test the top speed for you? Always happy to help out a mate!

Errr, thanks Boss - but the role of "Unrepentant Speed Merchant" has been taken by donegaldan - doesn't help any that our buddy Wildwords has just bought a 40kt Redbay Canopy!

Poly · 07 May 2016, 22:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

. I didn't manage to test the top end as we were running with or against some major tidal flows.

I thought all top speeds were always quoted going with the biggest tide you could find...

willk · 07 May 2016, 23:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poly

I thought all top speeds were always quoted going with the biggest tide you could find...

Sorry P., I know you're a stickler. Two passes up and down stream/wind and the average taken = The Hull Truth.

In any case, she's still throwing those 28" pitchers hard enough to stay in the over 40 club, so you can relax...

Poly · 08 May 2016, 00:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

Sorry P., I know you're a stickler. Two passes up and down stream/wind and the average taken = The Hull Truth.

That's the right way, but its not the FIBnet way!

martini · 09 May 2016, 17:52

Nice to see you back in ownership of a proper boat again

Chris · 09 May 2016, 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

Nice to see you back in ownership of a proper boat again

Allegedly

Could have been coppercoating a bath tub for all we know. I want to see a picture of this magnificent beast !

willk · 09 May 2016, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by martini

Nice to see you back in ownership of a proper boat again

And nice to see you around again! Long term, I wouldn't be too surprised if she rocks up in your neck of the woods...

Erin · 09 May 2016, 22:26

I contemplated copper coat a few years back but cost and mixed reviews for my drying mooring put me off. Aquacote looks interesting though. Aqua-Cote.com

willk · 09 May 2016, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

I contemplated copper coat a few years back but cost and mixed reviews for my drying mooring put me off. Aquacote looks interesting though. Aqua-Cote.com

I'm not quite sure how regular antifoul is cheaper over say, four years? Quite a few antifouls don't do well in mud. I'm in six meters over sand

gtflash · 09 May 2016, 23:42

Just did mine at the weekend. Out of 10 I'd give it a 6 in terms of effort. The rollers were a pain, I had a collection, but the only ones we liked were Foam ones, but they accumulated so much copper weight they fell off the roller. My boat twin stepped hull with spray rails was a little awkward with lots of shapes, so the last 2 of 5 coats ended up being done with small foam (chemical resistant) rollers. We worked better as a team that way both doing the same job, and we just rotated. It took about 1 hour a coat all over for 2 of us, although one kit only went 3/4 round my boat.

First 3 coats looked awful, then next 2 smartened it up. It is very brown looking which I am not sure about, and I have a few little bumps to burnish but generally I am really pleased. Still a tad soft to touch today.

willk · 09 May 2016, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by gtflash

It is very brown looking which I am not sure about.

After mine was done, the lads at my home port nick-named her "Skidmark"

willk · 04 June 2016, 21:05

She's now been in the water for four weeks. I checked the hull during a "maintenance moment" and there was no change from the original launch state. In fairness, there's never much fouling in May. After a week cruising, I'd guess that I might have lost about 0.5kts off a clean virgin hull? No actual trials yet so more later.

Portnahaven · 06 June 2016, 13:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

She's now been in the water for four weeks. I checked the hull during a "maintenance moment" and there was no change from the original launch state. In fairness, there's never much fouling in May. After a week cruising, I'd guess that I might have lost about 0.5kts off a clean virgin hull? No actual trials yet so more later.

Your craft was looking good in the sunshine as I passed by it this weekend. Didn't check the coppercoat in case someone thought I was trying to tow it away.

We boated 20 tope - then ran out of bait on Sunday.

Ribster · 08 June 2016, 08:59

Hi Willk, how did they hang the boat? What points did they attach to? I presume they couldn't use straps as they would be in your way. Any pictures?

willk · 08 June 2016, 09:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ribster

Hi Willk, how did they hang the boat? What points did they attach to? I presume they couldn't use straps as they would be in your way. Any pictures?

They used a pair of McLaughlin Skyhooks attached at the points where the straps met the boat

There are photos but I signed a confidentiality agreement...

Ribster · 08 June 2016, 09:14

The reason I ask is because I need to replace the Keel Guard on my rib and I am trying to work out how to do it.