Coppercoat antifouling is a contentious issue among boaters. There is some misunderstanding as to what coppercoat is as well as what it really does. There’s also a disregard for the manufacturer’s recommended application technique. Basically, antifouling bottom paint works by preventing growth on the hull of a boat, just to make sure we’re all on the same page. This happens with the use of a biocide, which is a chemical that is poisonous to marine life. Generally, coppercoat epoxy antifoul provides a smooth surface that allows any boat to perform to its maximum capacity. Coppercoat preserves its impermeable and smooth surface, whereas standard anti-fouls absorb moisture and become rough over time. In this article, I’ll provide detailed information about coppercoat, its pros, and cons, and if it’s really suitable for antifouling. So, keep reading!

Antifouling Paints

Antifouling coatings are usually classified into two types: “hard” and “soft”. Ablative paints are soft bottom paints that slough off in small layers as the boat moves through the water, releasing more biocide. Hard paints do not ablate, but instead, feature a steady release of biocide that seeps out of the paint. Other types of bottom paints, such as foul-release paints, focus on anti-adhesion qualities, which means they’re both physically and molecularly “slippery,” making it difficult for sea life to stick to the hull.

Most metallic biocides currently used in antifouling paint are copper metal (Cu) and cuprous oxide (CuO). Both of these components are effective at preventing the growth of larvae, mollusks, and weeds. But, their capacity to stop the growth of some weeds and slime is dependent on their concentration within the coating. While CuO is a great antibacterial, it needs a high concentration so as to act successfully against marine fouling.

In order to combat slime and weed, paints with less copper metal or less strong chemicals like Copper Thiocyanate commonly include additional biocides like Zinc Pyrithione or organic algaecides. In addition to the copper metal itself, several environmental protection groups are concerned that these organic boosters pose a significant danger to the marine environment. As a result, there is a rise in search and demand for more environmentally acceptable fouling prevention solutions.

>>Also Read: Best Eco-friendly Antifouling Bottom Paint

Biocides in Antifouling Paints

Copper is suspended in a variety of mediums in today’s antifouling paints, ranging from a soft, “self-ablating” covering to a strong epoxy resin. Copper combines with oxygen in the air to form cupric ions. These are toxic to mollusks and a lot of organic weed growth, but not to all of it. To prevent certain types of weed from taking hold, some products include more powerful biocides.

Note that the amount of biocide in an antifouling paint isn’t the only aspect that determines how well it works. The substance that keeps the paint together is critical since it is the mechanism that controls the release rate of the biocides. In order for it to work, companies have to properly calibrate it so as to suit the type of copper and any other biocides. While the amount of copper and biocide in the paint may affect its lifespan, the resin paint system’s capacity to release them in the right proportion and at the right rate is just as crucial, if not more so.

Coppercoat Review

Coppercoat is an epoxy-based hard bottom coating that won’t peel off when the boat moves through the water. Although copper is utilized as a biocide, it’s not similar to other copper-based products. Unlike most hard copper-based paints that slowly leach copper into the water, coppercoat suspends a very fine copper powder in the epoxy. This is then exposed to the water after sanding. The main characteristics of coppercoat are:

• Because it’s a “hard” bottom coating system, you can (and should) sand it to an exceptionally smooth, almost polished finish once you apply it to a flat fair surface. As a result, this reduces surface resistance and drag dramatically.
• Coppercoat is more of an epoxy-based substance than a paint. As a result, it also serves as a secondary layer of barrier protection for your fiberglass hull. Coppercoat still recommends using a barrier coat, but normally the hull has at least 6 coatings of epoxy-based barrier protection.
• Coppercoat is an anti-fouling and non-leaching substance. Unlike most other copper-based bottom paints, coppercoat’s copper begins as a 99 percent pure copper powder that is blended into and suspended in the cured epoxy on the hull. When exposed by sanding and immersed in saltwater, the copper powder creates a cuprous oxide coating that acts as an antifouling agent. This prevents growth until the surface dissolves to cupric hydrochloride. This final copper form is extremely unstable, and washes away by the boat’s movement, clearing any accumulated silt or slime. This unveils a new copper-rich surface, allowing the process to begin again. With a typical corrosion rate of 1/4 mil per year and an average thickness of at least 12 mils of coppercoat placed in a treatment, it’s simple to see how this coating provides such long-lasting and effective protection.

Hard Antifouling Paint: Coppercoat

The copper product is suspended in a solid coating that progressively leaches off when exposed to seawater in contact leaching paint or hard antifouling. Extreme varieties of hard antifouling include high-copper content and resin-suspension treatments like Coppercoat. These can endure for up to ten years with only a few years of fine sanding. The main advantage of hard antifouling paints is that if you place them on a drying mooring they can withstand regular grounding. However, when the biocides are depleted, a coating of hard, inactive paint is left behind. Although you can apply the appropriate antifouling over it, you will eventually need to remove all of the old, flaking layers of ‘dead’ paint.

Why Copper-Based Coatings are Being Banned?

California and Washington, as well as numerous European countries, have recently expressed worry over copper compounds present in antifouling paints used in recreational vessels. As a result, there are restrictions and/or partial prohibitions on the use of copper-based antifouling paints. The California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CDPR) states that a significant portion of copper contamination in harbors and marinas is due to boat owners that clean their hulls with divers. And, the process of copper leaching is substantially accelerated if their hulls are coated with an ablative copper-based antifoul.

In light of this, it intends to allow copper antifoulings that leach no more than 9.5 g/cm2/day and to outlaw underwater hull cleaning totally. Antifouling containing more than 0.5 percent copper will be banned in Washington state beginning January 1, 2020, for recreational yachts (less than 65 feet/20 meters). In Europe, some countries ban the use of copper antifoulings along the Swedish Baltic coast and in specific rivers and waterways.

Despite this early intervention, many top environmental scientists continue to deny that copper has any negative effects on aquaculture. This is because copper exists naturally in water, according to industry experts, and there are many sources of copper in the environment as well. It also detoxifies swiftly by binding to organic debris in the water.

However, the European Union Standing Committee on Biocidal Products (EUSCBP) has made the regulating procedure for biocides much more difficult. So, it now takes a lot more time, study, and, as a result, money to get a new antifouling product through the lengthy approval process. While this may be useful for large supplies to commercial vessels, it will not be for the small quantities for the leisure craft sector.

What Costumers Say about Coppercoat

Coppercoat antifoul can last up to ten years if applied appropriately. Meaning that you don’t have to haul your boat out every year as well as don’t worry about the trouble or the cost. Before making your first touch-up, the average coppercoat customer gets about 10 years of protection. That isn’t to say that 10 years is a magic number after which you must touch up. If you live in a mildly fouling area, it could be 12 years or longer before you need to touch up. And if you’re in a high-fouling location and clean the waterline with an aggressive pad, it might be as little as 9 years.

There are many reviews online that state that coppercoat antifoul hasn’t given the results people expected. Copper was used to protecting ship bottoms from worms, barnacles, and other growth. Unfortunately, copper paint and antifouling paint, in general, have drawbacks. If it’s about a hard paint, it’ll ultimately flake off and you’ll have to remove it. If the application isn’t perfect, ablative (sloughing) paint might still flake. This will release enormous amounts of copper and other chemicals into the water. Moreover, copper bottom paints are subject to numerous national and municipal laws, and they are becoming increasingly expensive.

Review No.1

A regular off-shore sailor stated that he used to apply coppercoat for the last 3 years. It worked great for the first 6 months. But, then it began to get algae and barnacles which was difficult to remove. He sailed in the Caribbean and this was also a factor of the unsuccessful application. Coppercoat advised him to have the boat hauled out and perform some more sanding. The copper is suspended in epoxy and must be activated by sanding away the top layer of epoxy.

So, he did this though there were no successful results. He then repainted his boat and it looked great. The problem was that the original painters sanded the bottom too much by using a machine. It’s important to note that coppercoat is very particular in its application. You must use rollers for the painting and the activation by hand with fine sandpaper and Scotch Bright. Note that he added an ultrasonic anti-fouling system to make double sure that he won’t have to scrub the bottom.

Review No.2

Another coppercoat user stated that he had to clean the hull every month otherwise there was too much growth. But, if you do the procedure correctly the cleaning isn’t that hard because growth can easily come off. But, coral worms or other organisms are more difficult to remove. Basically, you needed to haul and sand them off.

Another user has sailed the Med and the Caribbean and has had his coppercoat for 8 years. The application and preservation of the hull are great so far. However, they need some maintenance (scrubbing or sanding) from time to time. It’s all about managing your expectations.

Review No.3

Other boat owners stated that after 3 years of applying coppercoat there were less than a dozen barnacles on their 40-46 foot sloops that were moored in east-central Florida waters. They said that the only maintenance was to remove the slime with a scrubby. However, note that this process is very labor-intensive. You have to remove all of the bottom paint down to the barrier coat. Keep in mind that the smoother the bottom, the better and easier the final result.

Then, some applied two coats of their #426 ceramic barrier coat. Note that you have to roll it out very thin and smooth. After 24 hrs, you can then apply 4 coats of coppercoat. It comes in a 1-liter kit with a 4.4# bag of copper powder to mix before application. Again, keeping it thin and smooth is the way to go. After the epoxy has hardened (typically within 24 hours), softly sand the surface with 320 grit paper to reveal the copper. Note that if you don’t properly sand the sections you won’t achieve the correct antifouling. Their boats now go faster and have a smoother bottom.

Review No.4

Antifouling that you apply once and then forget about for ten years or more sounds like the best solution. The cost is also affordable. Meaning that a liter of it costs around 100 Euros and 6 liters is plenty for a small boat of roughly 25 feet. It’s water-based, so it’s simple to clean. It’s made up of resin and a hardener that come in half-liter packs. They’re combined, then the pure copper powder is added to the concoction.

The Coppercoat is applied in layers until it is completely covered. For a good outcome, you’ll need around 5 or 6 coats. The end result is a gorgeous copper color that quickly turns green as the epoxy’s copper shows up. But, note that you’ll have to lift the boat twice to reach the sections where the boat sits on the cradle’s pads, which will add to the expense. You’ll have to wait a few days before launching, so plan on being ashore for a week.

There have been numerous reports of Coppercoat’s antifouling effectiveness, with it frequently outperforming the best ablative paints. It’s still operating on some boats after 14 years! It has been applied to over 30,000 vessels over the years, which is significant. The user gave it a try because it is better for the environment than paint and should, in theory, save money and effort in the long term.

However, the person didn’t get the results he wanted. He spoke with Coppercoat reps, but all they say is that there isn’t enough copper to expose and that he should sand it down. He applied coppercoat on several areas of the hull to see whether it makes a difference. It didn’t work.

He also tried waiting to see if the epoxy’s natural wear might reveal more copper over time. But, it has only worked well for one of them in the six years it has been on the boat. And, note that he uses the boat regularly and doesn’t have it permanently in a marina. It moves and sails for at least four months every year. But, even while he’s sailing, he has to dive down and scrub the hull to keep it clean. On the good side, he doesn’t have to repaint the boat every year, but the Coppercoat doesn’t hold up very well.

Following the Manufacturer’s Application Process

Coppercoat requires a specific application technique, which can make it a difficult DIY job. Over the course of 12 years of working with customers in the United States and the Caribbean, Coppercoat USA has compiled a comprehensive list of “Do’s and Don’ts” that makes the application more understandable. None of the other coppercoat wholesalers have these specific instructions, which has resulted in some customers having application troubles. So, it’s extremely crucial to pay attention to these guidelines.

Firstly, you have to pay attention to the mixing and foam roller specifications. In other words, the powdered copper has to be in suspension until you apply it. And, you have to apply the foam roller evenly and thinly. Moreover, you have to carefully control humidity and temperature. This is because coppercoat is a two-part water-base epoxy product. Lastly, you have to sand and burnish the finish in order to effectively expose it to the water.

However, for whatever reason, many users of coppercoat appear to disregard these guidelines and complain about coppercoat’s poor performance. Of course, every person’s situation, usage, and application is different. But, the failure to follow the instructions due to ignorance or carelessness with the procedure tends to create negative reviews for the product afterward. No matter how much experience someone has in terms of painting the bottom of a boat, using the typical processes to repaint it will provide sub-par results. And, this is because these are not the correct steps to effectively apply coppercoat as it isn’t a painting product.

Is Coppercoat Antifoul Paint Worth It?

Coppercoat has fundamental differences from most other copper-based antifouling systems like Copper Shield, Copperbot, Copper Bottom. There are also some high-profile DIY substances that you can find online–similar in nature to Coppercoat. All these copper-based antifouling systems are not really coppercoat. However, the name Coppercoat has become a generic descriptor for the entire ensemble.

Despite the fact that the antifouling system is about a different product, several of these rival products and DIY recipes failed to live up to Coppercoat’s reputation. And, there was a lot of bad press using the Coppercoat name. Firstly, according to Coppercoat USA, it is not a hazardous material and it is fine for usage in California. It also saves money on maintenance because it can last up to ten years before reapplication. Because you can sand it smoothly with 320 grit sandpaper after application, it saves money on fuel. Moreover, it is “non-leaching,” and it doesn’t harm the environment that much. And, it’s a two-part epoxy coating applied instead of paint, so it protects your hull from osmosis and blisters.

In addition, cleaning the hull is generally simpler and safer. This is because you can use an abrasive pad instead of a scraper. As a result, there will be no dangerous chemicals in the water. Despite these precise claims, there is a prevalent misconception that coppercoat can eliminate any type of growth on a boat’s hull without proper maintenance. This isn’t accurate, and the company doesn’t claim it to be. Anti-fouling bottom coatings will, in the best-case scenario, limit the pace of growth on your hull. However, after applying Coppercoat to their boats, several boat owners didn’t like the results. This happened when they noticed growth on their hulls, regardless of how long it has been since application or between cleanings.

Keep in mind that if a boat remains in nutrient-rich stagnant water for an extended length of time, life will find a way to exploit every nook and crevice it can discover. Coppercoat isn’t a magic potion. So, you’ll have to clean the bottom of your boat from time to time–especially if you don’t use it regularly.

After conducting my research, asking people around the marina and sifting through all of the online content from people saying about how well it works or doesn’t work, I came to the conclusion that the vast majority of complaints about coppercoat are the result of the reasons above. In the end, if you can avoid these problems listed, the long-term benefits of coppercoat over any other sort of antifouling bottom coating would far outweigh the short-term agony of removing the old bottom paint from the boat. Just keep in mind to perform the essential maintenance on your boat as well as strictly following the manufacturer’s instructions for application.