Coppercoat, Should I remove it?

tonto · 27 August 2012, 10:15

Hi,

It looks to me like my new purchase might be coppercoated.

I am not intending to keep it on a mooring at all, and will trailer it everywhere.

It looks like the coating has failed in a few small places.

Would anyone recommend renewing it? patching it up? or removing the coating altogether? and if so what to use to get it off?

I know traditional antifoul reduces top speed, but dont think this stuff is supposed to have any effect as AFAIK, any one able to give me any info regarding this?

Personally I think it looks a bit tatty after going blue/green, but can live with it if it does not make any difference to speed/fuel consumption.

Any suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated.

Gary

Pikey Dave · 27 August 2012, 10:31

Someone on here recently claimed to have GAINED 6kn

after having copper coat applied, might be worth re-doing it

tonto · 27 August 2012, 12:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Someone on here recently claimed to have GAINED 6kn

after having copper coat applied, might be worth re-doing it

I have been following that thread, and it was what promted me to post! I must say 6 knots additional is a huge jump.

Looking at coppercoat website it does show that it goes that horrible blue/green colour after a while, so it might not need re coating.

Plus the cost of recoating is gonna be painfull.

Looking for some alternative thoughts, but if none, will probably just touch it up in the areas that need it.

Thanks

Gary

GJ0KYZ · 27 August 2012, 12:58

Sandpaper the hull a little bit. If the green stuff goes bronze then it's Coppercoat. I'd leave it on myself; it's a good selling point for the future.

willk · 27 August 2012, 13:48

It could be just poxy old antifoul either - the blues can fade out like that. Either way, it's not coming off in this lifetime

If it's coppercoat - I'd give it a quick burnish and touch up.

If it's layers of nasty dead antifoul then it's out with the BA and sander for a day on your back. You're looking at paint or a hard antifoul after that.

jyasaki · 27 August 2012, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pikey Dave

Someone on here recently claimed to have GAINED 6kn

after having copper coat applied, might be worth re-doing it

To be fair, I think that gain was between removing the old ablative stuff and applying the coppercoat.

jky

alystra · 27 August 2012, 18:34

I must say it doesn't look like Coppercoat to me (I'm going on what the several Coppercoated yachts here look like when ashore).

Best to burnish a bit of it with wet n dry. If, as GJ0KYZ said, it goes a bronze colour then it's Coppercoat and probably worth leaving. Otherwise, I think it's ordinary antifoul.

I'd try Nitromors (the one for fibreglass) or similar if it is ordinary antifoul first to get at least some off before I resorted to sanding.

Tim M · 28 August 2012, 18:36

Looks like blue antifoul to me!

GJ0KYZ · 28 August 2012, 19:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tim M

Looks like blue antifoul to me!

I've just had another look and I think you're right. You never know though..

chewy · 28 August 2012, 20:01

Thats not coppercoat.

Boatnomad · 28 August 2012, 20:38

Yep,looks like old blue antifoul to me also.

tonto · 29 August 2012, 00:24

Thanks guys for the advice.

Looks like the old Nitromorse, and sander is the way to go, and see what sort of finish I end up with.

If it is salvageable I will try to keep gel coat finish, otherwise, probably coppercoat.

Looks like I got a bit of work ahead of me!

Gary

chewy · 29 August 2012, 06:28

Nitromorse is crap these days, you'd be better getting a proper antifoul stripper....

tonto · 29 August 2012, 08:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by chewy

Nitromorse is crap these days, you'd be better getting a proper antifoul stripper....

I think there was a thread that suggested Reactive resins Strippit?

Will probably go with that, and see what happens.

Will keep you updated with progress.

Thanks for the help guys,

Gary

chewy · 29 August 2012, 09:12

The old Nitromorse could soften your gelcoat. Not sure about the new stuff as it struggles to strip paint!

longjohn · 29 August 2012, 10:22

These guys do the best paints strippers with ones specially designed for marine applications
Cirrus Systems | Home - Cirrus Systems

SPR · 29 August 2012, 10:26

I hear yotties use some type of blasting process

S.

gotchiguy · 29 August 2012, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPR

I hear yotties use some type of blasting process

S.

Sand/shot blasting? Ok on a metal/wood hull but wouldn't that ruin gelcoat?

Portholme · 29 August 2012, 11:31

I've stripped two boats using a tungsten carbide paint stripper, very gently. The first boat needed a few scratches filling but the second was perfect. Gentle movements from waterline to keel strip off most of the old soft Antifoul (don't know about hard Antifoul).

Then a quick rub down and finally I used acetone to take the old international base coat off which is as hard as nails and would not come off easily with sand paper.

The dust is horrific, wear a decent mask!!!!

tonto · 29 August 2012, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gotchiguy

Sand/shot blasting? Ok on a metal/wood hull but wouldn't that ruin gelcoat?

Saw an article in a Landrover mag about Dry ice blasting, and Soda blasting, have a google.

They say it can be used on fibreglass without harming the fibreglass, Hmmmmm, wonder how much, and will they guarantee it wont destroy the gel coat?????