Comments on: Coppercoat Antifouling On Test http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/ The cruising log of the good ship Mollymawk Tue, 17 Jan 2012 12:52:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Caesar http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-38661 Caesar Mon, 26 Dec 2011 17:42:37 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-38661 We'll be publishing another update soon, but in the meantime: No, I wouldn't say the performance has improved. We dried the boat out a couple of months ago, in Itaparica, to clean everything off and fix some damaged paint - and already, there is a considerable amount of growth; we have had to dive and clean the boat twice since then. That said, the fowling around here seems to be unusually bad. One interesting point, however, is that whilst the boat was dried out we re-abraded a couple of areas really well, using steel wool, and those areas have had hardly any growth. So if we could do that to the whole boat, it would certainly be an improvement - but it's a lot of work, and we'd have to dry our for at least 5 tides... so we haven't had the chance yet. We’ll be publishing another update soon, but in the meantime:
No, I wouldn’t say the performance has improved. We dried the boat out a couple of months ago, in Itaparica, to clean everything off and fix some damaged paint – and already, there is a considerable amount of growth; we have had to dive and clean the boat twice since then. That said, the fowling around here seems to be unusually bad.
One interesting point, however, is that whilst the boat was dried out we re-abraded a couple of areas really well, using steel wool, and those areas have had hardly any growth. So if we could do that to the whole boat, it would certainly be an improvement – but it’s a lot of work, and we’d have to dry our for at least 5 tides… so we haven’t had the chance yet.

]]> By: Helen http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-31434 Helen Wed, 09 Nov 2011 08:52:28 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-31434 It is a couple of years since you wrote this article, just wanting an update. Has Coppercoats promise of improvement over time shown any validity? It is a couple of years since you wrote this article, just wanting an update. Has Coppercoats promise of improvement over time shown any validity?

]]> By: John Letton http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-24004 John Letton Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:37:48 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-24004 Hi Ian, How did the test turn out? I'm just about to try some home brew on my cat (amaran)! thanks, John..... Lewes resident Hi Ian, How did the test turn out? I’m just about to try some home brew on my cat (amaran)! thanks, John….. Lewes resident

]]> By: Ian http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-20444 Ian Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:08:02 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-20444 just to add to my last comment. a 6kg pack of West Epoxy comes in at around £120 so two of those an the total cost of materials would be around £500. A saving of ABOUT 50% on coppercoat but does it represent peace of mind? just to add to my last comment. a 6kg pack of West Epoxy comes in at around £120 so two of those an the total cost of materials would be around £500. A saving of ABOUT 50% on coppercoat but does it represent peace of mind?

]]> By: Ian http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-20443 Ian Wed, 16 Feb 2011 08:05:28 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-20443 First off let me say that if I had a grand to blow i would coppercoat immediately. I'd but the materials from the company without hesitation or reserve. My boat currently drysails spending most of the year sitting in the sun in Greece. Coppercoat has got to be just about the ultimate for this type of application. traditional anti-fouls just won't survive this type of treatment. That having been said I am trialling my own 'home mix' coppercoat. Copper - I initially sourced two types of copper 'powder' after much research. both are very high purity 'pure copper' > 99% pure. One was - Copper powder - dendritic - Irregular Spherical. The other is Copper powered - coarse grade fine. The spherical powder is somewhat similar to microballoons or glass spheres used as a filler material. the initial packet I got is still pright copper coloured 6 months after I bought it, clearly not degrading at all, even in my garage. the other is talcum like, dull flat coloured copper. Subsequent comparison with 'genuine' coppercoat copper have proved it to be to all intents and purposes the same stuff. ( I subsequently supplied a sample of each to a metallurgist and he agreed ) the company that supplied the material was i think Ronald Britton http://www.colorlord.com/ronaldbritton. iirc I was quoted £220 for 25kg. ( I'll need about 20 kg for the bottom of Cariad ) I spoke to two companies that could supply in the UK so supply appears to not be a problem. On to the epoxy. I had a lot of dealing with a most engaging and interesting young lady who is the chief industrial chemist at a company in Uckfield, East Sussex ( I won't mention the name otherwise she may be flooded with more plees for help :) ) She was very helpful about explaining the nature of epoxy resins, examining a sample of coppercoat resin and supplying a few sample batches at no charge. The final conclusion was that there was not much in it and that any suitable matrix for the suspension of the copper would do with allowances made for the continuous immersion in seawater. The critical thing appeared to be the initial exposure of raw copper to the atmosphere / water. So as I type I have a test panel immersed off a finger jetty in Brighton marina. On one side there is a coating of 'genuine' coppercoat resin and my sourced copper powder. On the other my copper powder and stock standard west epoxy. The coppercoat side needed ( nor would it support ) much abrading, its adhesion was low but I gently exposed some copper. The west side was plainly more tough and needed a light sanding to expose copper. ( I must get a loupe or microsope to examine it a bit further ) I exposed copper across only 1/2 of the panel to see if copper was exposed straight after application. The panel has been in a week. Lets see what happens! First off let me say that if I had a grand to blow i would coppercoat immediately. I’d but the materials from the company without hesitation or reserve. My boat currently drysails spending most of the year sitting in the sun in Greece. Coppercoat has got to be just about the ultimate for this type of application. traditional anti-fouls just won’t survive this type of treatment.

That having been said I am trialling my own ‘home mix’ coppercoat.

Copper – I initially sourced two types of copper ‘powder’ after much research. both are very high purity ‘pure copper’ > 99% pure. One was – Copper powder – dendritic – Irregular Spherical. The other is Copper powered – coarse grade fine. The spherical powder is somewhat similar to microballoons or glass spheres used as a filler material. the initial packet I got is still pright copper coloured 6 months after I bought it, clearly not degrading at all, even in my garage. the other is talcum like, dull flat coloured copper. Subsequent comparison with ‘genuine’ coppercoat copper have proved it to be to all intents and purposes the same stuff. ( I subsequently supplied a sample of each to a metallurgist and he agreed ) the company that supplied the material was i think Ronald Britton http://www.colorlord.com/ronaldbritton. iirc I was quoted £220 for 25kg. ( I’ll need about 20 kg for the bottom of Cariad ) I spoke to two companies that could supply in the UK so supply appears to not be a problem.

On to the epoxy. I had a lot of dealing with a most engaging and interesting young lady who is the chief industrial chemist at a company in Uckfield, East Sussex ( I won’t mention the name otherwise she may be flooded with more plees for help :) ) She was very helpful about explaining the nature of epoxy resins, examining a sample of coppercoat resin and supplying a few sample batches at no charge.

The final conclusion was that there was not much in it and that any suitable matrix for the suspension of the copper would do with allowances made for the continuous immersion in seawater. The critical thing appeared to be the initial exposure of raw copper to the atmosphere / water.

So as I type I have a test panel immersed off a finger jetty in Brighton marina. On one side there is a coating of ‘genuine’ coppercoat resin and my sourced copper powder. On the other my copper powder and stock standard west epoxy. The coppercoat side needed ( nor would it support ) much abrading, its adhesion was low but I gently exposed some copper. The west side was plainly more tough and needed a light sanding to expose copper. ( I must get a loupe or microsope to examine it a bit further ) I exposed copper across only 1/2 of the panel to see if copper was exposed straight after application.

The panel has been in a week. Lets see what happens!

]]> By: Caesar http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-20313 Caesar Sun, 13 Feb 2011 12:32:26 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-20313 Hi Ian, We don't have the info about the copper dust we used to hand, I'm afraid. What I do know is that the dust was very fine, as is the coppercoat copper powder - it feels like talcum powder and makes a slight squeaking sound when you rub a pinch of the dust between your fingers. I'll let you know if we find more info. Hi Ian,
We don’t have the info about the copper dust we used to hand, I’m afraid.
What I do know is that the dust was very fine, as is the coppercoat copper powder – it feels like talcum powder and makes a slight squeaking sound when you rub a pinch of the dust between your fingers.
I’ll let you know if we find more info.

]]> By: Ian Smith http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-19929 Ian Smith Thu, 03 Feb 2011 19:13:04 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-19929 Hi there Am also about to mix my own home brew based on info obtained from locals at False Bay Yacht Club in Simonstown, but have stumbled across one problem, the particle size. Ths supplier of the copper dust has a whole range of sizes, but the guys at the club cannot remember what size they used (very sucessfully I might add). If you could recall it would help a lot. Thanks. Hi there

Am also about to mix my own home brew based on info obtained from locals at False Bay Yacht Club in Simonstown, but have stumbled across one problem, the particle size. Ths supplier of the copper dust has a whole range of sizes, but the guys at the club cannot remember what size they used (very sucessfully I might add). If you could recall it would help a lot. Thanks.

]]> By: Caesar http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-15093 Caesar Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:04:55 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-15093 It is true that epoxy degrades over time when exposed to UV light. However, our antifoul does extend a little above the water and we haven't had any problems with the paint breaking down with any of the copper/epoxy variants we've used. I wouldn't recommend using epoxy paint instead of straight epoxy. I don't see why it would be any less effective as an antifouling, but paint is far less durable than epoxy and so it would be liable to get damaged quicker than a hard epoxy coating. I don't know offhand what size copper granules we used or what size Coppercoat use. We might have the information somewhere - if we can find it I'll let you know. We applied our homebrew in much the same manner as Coppercoat - several thin coats. I don't recall the exact coverage but will try to find out. It is true that epoxy degrades over time when exposed to UV light. However, our antifoul does extend a little above the water and we haven’t had any problems with the paint breaking down with any of the copper/epoxy variants we’ve used.

I wouldn’t recommend using epoxy paint instead of straight epoxy. I don’t see why it would be any less effective as an antifouling, but paint is far less durable than epoxy and so it would be liable to get damaged quicker than a hard epoxy coating.

I don’t know offhand what size copper granules we used or what size Coppercoat use. We might have the information somewhere – if we can find it I’ll let you know.
We applied our homebrew in much the same manner as Coppercoat – several thin coats. I don’t recall the exact coverage but will try to find out.

]]> By: Ian http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-15031 Ian Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:41:53 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-15031 sorry, me again. How far would you guess 1 litre of expoxy + 2 kg copper would cover (sq meters). Coppercote suggest 4 coat, how many coats of your reciept would you suggest? cheers Ian sorry, me again. How far would you guess 1 litre of expoxy + 2 kg copper would cover (sq meters). Coppercote suggest 4 coat, how many coats of your reciept would you suggest? cheers Ian

]]> By: Ian http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2009/11/coppercoat/comment-page-1/#comment-15030 Ian Mon, 11 Oct 2010 09:37:19 +0000 http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/?p=872#comment-15030 Hi, Have been reseaching like all the others into coppercote and this seems to be the most imformative to date. Some questions. Was thinking of bringing the waterline up to include a bootstrap? AS expoxy breaks down in UV, would the expoxy breakdown above the waterline. Also read somewhere that someone used expoxy paint and not straight epxoy as the medium? What size granuals of copper or dust would you suggest? Hi, Have been reseaching like all the others into coppercote and this seems to be the most imformative to date. Some questions. Was thinking of bringing the waterline up to include a bootstrap? AS expoxy breaks down in UV, would the expoxy breakdown above the waterline. Also read somewhere that someone used expoxy paint and not straight epxoy as the medium? What size granuals of copper or dust would you suggest?

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