Cleaned the hull today .It looked in good condition,anti fouled by previous owner about 18 months ago.How often do owners apply another coat ?
Sat, 07/01/2023 - 5:57pm
#1
Anti foul schedule
Depends on what type of anti foule paint was used. Some last for a year some last longer. Check to see if there are any crustaceans below the water line, if there are, then you will definitely need to re coat. It also depends on if you are going to leave the boat for a long period of time in the water. If so then again I would re anti foule to be on the safe side. I'm looking at copper coating my boat so as not having to worry about re anti fouling for many years. Hopefully 🤔
It was all soft and easily removable so doing its job ?
I would then leave it until early spring 2024 to re anti foule . I like the idea of copper coat paint as this will give me many years free of having to rub & sand down the old fouling paint.
Hi Andrew. Where will you be getting your copper coat work done and what cost .I think materials would be around £700 + labour.
Perhaps as I am based on the Crouch it suffers less than somewhere else on the UK coastline.
I am thinking to Coppercoat my new Imexus. It's never had any Antifoul or epoxy coat . I've had a quote from a local firm in Southampton who want 3500 ! That includes materials and vat but not the cranage both ways ( since they insist on putting it up on chocks). Hence I am planning to do it myself having watched the video and chatted to the nice chap at Coppercoat. If you have Antifoul on already it will need a really good sand to get it back to gel coat. For me it makes sense since I would have to epoxy coat anyway. They reckon 4 to 5 coats or coppercoat thinly applied over one or 2 days but weather needs to be dry . They estimated about 7 to 800 pounds cost of the liquid.
Interested to hear others experience. Previously with my Mac I used to refresh it each year with eroding antifoul, International Micron 2 or cruiser Uno . A simple rub down with large scratchy plastic pad ( v messy contortionist job ) wash off then since coat with roller...all done in a day if lucky. Question is how to reach the interesting on the bunks? ....Any ideas?
Happy new year everyone!
As you know from my article I'm an advocate of the Ultrasonic antifouling system. Cost close to self applied coppercoat. ( which would was my preferred alternative, though there are paint systems that rely on the quality of the surface of the paint to stop bacteria sticking to it)
It works for me! No plant or crustacean growth only a very smooth fine layer of staining / mud in the muddy Severn Estuary easily washed off.
No known environmental issue unlike both coppercoat and degrading antifouling.
Very little maintenance cost.
Coppercoat and degrading antifouling both cease to work if the boat is out of the water for 2-3 months ( check manufacturer) necessitating abrading the surface before putting back in the water.
The previous principal owner of my boat relied on lifting out for the winter season and just annually cleaning the hull. When I got the boat it was still immaculate after 17 seasons!
Jonathan
Very comprehensive answers, Gary. As a Mac can power along at 15 - 20 mph, like a speedboat, I was recommended to use hard anti fouling. I re-coated every year. I wasn't allowed to use pressure washers at Bradwell so after experiencing the amount of work needed to clean the hull by hand, I commissioned the marina to do it for me as she was lifted out of the water at then end of the season. (me having to trailer).
Good Luck
Simon Armitage
I have Coppercoat on my Shrimper which was on when I bought her. I suspect this has been on since she was new in 2005 and is still in good condition.
There are many examples of problems with Coppercoat on the web.
I did some repairs to the gelcoat when I got her where she had had hit things. I touched up with Coppercoat and it was easy to apply. Given that it is basically a water based epoxy mixed with fine copper granules, I would suggest that normal epoxy rules apply:
1. Get everything scrupulously clean before applying.
2. Do a base coat with epoxy only and then start the 4-5 coats with copper added.
3. Apply only when temperature at least 10 degrees C and no moisture in air (ie you cannot see your breath)
4. Try to apply coats within 2-3 hours and never leave for more than 12 hours between coats.
The bond between coats is 50% physical and 50% chemical. If you leave more than 12 hours, then most of the chemical bond will not apply as the epoxy hardening process is pretty much complete. If doing outside to the whole boat, wait for some days of good weather and only work on one side at a time and complete that side before going to the next section.
The only downside is the cost! Whilst I only used 2 litres, it did not go as far as they said so be prepared to run out before the end. Even more reason to do one side and carefully monitor consumption.
4" rollers are the best and only go for rollers especially designed for epoxy. For epoxy sheathing I tried many types and never found one that was that good - they all tend to lose the surface from the drum due to the high 'sticktion'.
Regards Chris
The previous anti foul paint was a product called Seajet 33 .Applied in summer 2020 (first lockdown) by the previous owner.
I have seen info saying its good for two seasons but mine looks good to go for this year in my limited experience.
I dont mind buying 5 ltr @ £200 for diy as it can be applied on to the cleaned original coat its just the difficulty reaching the hull on such a low trailer.
Screenshot_20230109-080245
Gary, get a long handled paint roller. Makes anti fouling almost a pleasure, (of course I am probably teaching you to suck eggs)
Simon