RIB Antifoul & Copper Coat

[Steve_B]

Praise where praise is due.
Like most RIB owners I hate the thought of applying antifoul. Over the last two seasons in Poole, we found that on average we had to have her lifted and power washed (actually more like scrubbed by hand, as the power washers hardly touched it) every four weeks, otherwise fuel consumption went up significantly (10ltrs per trip). Over the course of a seven month season this amounted to costs in the £1000's (lift, wash & additional fuel burn).
Reluctantly, I went down the road of antifoul. After talking to a lot of the trade stands at the SBS, I finally went with Coppercoat. Not the cheapest option.
It was applied in March and results to date show a decrease in average fuel consumption of 15% and after a quick visual inspection this weekend, no and I mean NO growth on the hull at all, not even worth a quick once over. As reported else where, the WOT speed is also up by about 4+kts, not that we do this with clients aboard.
So the cost of materials was around £600 and application £400. We have already recouped this cost.
Our next RIB will have this applied prior to delivery (note to Andre)
Regards
Steve

[GJ0KYZ]

I had Coppercoat applied when I bought my rib four years ago. It cost about £900 all in. During that time there has been no significant fouling athough since I have a drying berth the build up of mud on the hull does encourage a little growth during the summer months; this is easily washed off at low tide. It's a good product that is as much a 'gel shield' as it is an antifoul. If you sand down the oxide every year or so it should last for ages. Highly recommended.

[chewy]

We've never bothered sanding ours and its performing fine, its sometimes has a little slime but that comes off when the boat is used.
Ours is an Aquabell so not overly quick and not used much but has been worth every penny!

[GJ0KYZ]

Originally Posted by chewy

We've never bothered sanding ours and its performing fine, its sometimes has a little slime but that comes off when the boat is used.
Ours is an Aquabell so not overly quick and not used much but has been worth every penny!

If your boat drys out between tides it will soon develop a layer of green copper oxide that will need sanding every once in a while (see photo). If your boat is permanently afloat this oxidation doesn't occur and the paint will go a dark brown instead.

[Andre]

Originally Posted by 250kts

Our next RIB will have this applied prior to delivery (note to Andre)
Regards
Steve

Hi Steve, Noted no problem here

This was done on a Parker 9 mtr Baltic Cabin rib which came to the UK earlier this year. see photo.