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High Performance 10+ Year Anti-Fouling System
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High Performance 10+ Year Anti-Fouling System
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The life of COPPERCOAT depends on a variety of factors that contribute to your cleaning routine, such as water temperature, salinity, local fouling, and boat usage. After 30 years of experience, we know that you can expect 10+ years before doing the first touch-up, generally around the water line where you have cleaned the most and either the keel or above the prop pocket on power boats where there is typically more friction. This has been the case from Northern Europe to the Caribbean, New Zealand to California, the far east to the middle east.
Many of the first boats treated in 1991 are still performing well after 29 years! With an average thickness of 12 mils of COPPERCOAT being applied in an application, and a typical erosion rate of less than ¼ mil per year, it is easy to appreciate how this coating offers such long lasting and effective protection.
COPPERCOAT is a very thin epoxy sold in 1.5 liter kits, applied in 4 thin coats, whereas traditional anti-fouling is very thick and sold in gallons, and usually applied over old anti-fouling in 2 or 3 thick coats, so it’s best to use the COPPERCOAT calculator and not try to relate it to gallons of traditional paint.
On the CoppercoatUSA.com website click on the tab for “quantity” at the top of the page. You will see a calculator where you can choose your hull type and enter your underwater dimensions. It will tell you the number of 1.5 liter kits you will need to coat your boats hull. There is also a large list of boats, arranged by length and manufacturer that we have quoted in the past, showing the number of kits required.
Coppercoat USA tries to keep the price of COPPERCOAT as reasonable as possible, however there is some fluctuation in the price from time to time due to the cost of copper, the value of the US dollar to the UK pound and increases in shipping and importing. The current price is on the website with the calculator.
COPPERCOAT is the most cost-effective way to protect your boat from hard marine growth, particularly when you look at the costs being spread over 10 years, during which most people would repaint their boat from 3-5 times.
To break it down, the cost of the COPPERCOAT is about the same as a good quality anti-fouling paint. It must be applied to a clean surface, meaning no existing anti-fouling, so there may be a cost involved in removing the old paint. And there is more effort involved in the application, which may also equal additional cost. Our customers who paid a yard to do the preparation and application tell us the cost to them was 2-3 times what they usually paid for their annual bottom job. But, they broke even when they didn’t need to do the next bottom job, and after that they are money ahead for many years. The touch up 10-12 years later is just a small cost to get another 10+ years; many boats are over 25 years with only a couple of touch ups.
Our customers who did the COPPERCOAT job themselves with a few friends report that the costs were not significantly different from using other products.
As an epoxy, COPPERCOAT has a “pot life” that is affected by the ambient air temperature of about 30 minutes, which is plenty of time for 2 people to roll 1.5 liters on the hull. A gallon container would require more people and different equipment to apply in that amount of time.
COPPERCOAT is packaged as 1.5 litre kit’s because it is made in the UK. The benefit is that you don’t need to buy a larger quantity than you actually need, so it saves you money and prevents waste.
COPPERCOAT is the combination of a specially developed two-part epoxy resin and 99% pure copper. Each 1½ liter kit of COPPERCOAT contains 4.4 lbs of ultra fine, very pure copper powder. The combination creates a layer of 83% copper on the surface.
Barnacles, mussels, oysters, and other crustaceans are collectively called “hard growth”, and they naturally don’t like copper. It’s that simple; crustaceans won’t attach to the exposed copper in a COPPERCOAT application, which is why COPPERCOAT is technically considered a deterrent.
This highly effective anti-fouling agent deters hard growth from attaching, rather than allowing it to attach and then killing it with nasty chemicals, as most anti-fouling paints do.
Yes. COPPERCOAT can be successfully applied to virtually all craft, irrespective of their size and usage. COPPERCOAT is ideal for both commercial and recreational vessels. Because COPPERCOAT is non-polluting it is also applied to underwater structures such as tide-powered turbines, seismic equipment and dock structures. COPPERCOAT can be applied to fiberglass, gel coat and epoxy surfaces as well as wood, steel, aluminum, and concrete over an appropriate barrier coating.
Designed to be user friendly, this solvent-free, non-toxic coating is easy to apply; but the application is different than other anti-fouling products.
COPPERCOAT is rolled on to a clean hull in four thin coats, all in one day.
For detailed instructions please see the Application Guide tab and review the “Application Instructions and Do’s and Don’ts” documents, which is organized as (1) an outline of the process, (2) the tools required and (3)the step-by-step instructions. This document is updated regularly as techniques are improved and customers provide suggestions.
Yes, BUT it’s usually not beneficial unless you are coating a very large boat, for example 100’ LOA. It requires specific spray and mixing equipment and more people. A certain amount of the COPPERCOAT will be lost in the spray hose and it takes some practice for even an experienced painter to spray thin and even enough to have a smooth finish.
Many COPPERCOAT applicators started out spraying, following our instructions, and have since returned to rolling COPPERCOAT with the appropriate rollers, finding it to be just as smooth, easier to do and more economical.
No. The epoxy completely encapsulates and insulates each copper sphere so the final coating is inert and non-conductive. A current cannot pass through COPPERCOAT and this coating does not cause or promote electrolysis or cathodic decay. Consequently, COPPERCOAT can be safely applied to metal structures such as iron keels and steel, to aluminum craft over an appropriate epoxy barrier coating, or on a properly prepared metal surface, as explained in the “Application Instructions and Do’s and Don’ts”.
The property of electrical non-conduction in metallic powders, including copper, was first discovered in 1890 by Eduard Branley and is known as the "Branley Effect". Sacrificial anodes should be fitted in the usual manner.
Freshly applied COPPERCOAT dries to a rich copper brown. After immersion in salt water for a few months COPPERCOAT oxidizes to a green color, depending on the salinity of the water. Boats kept in fresh water generally remain copper brown. Because of the high quantity of pure copper in COPPERCOAT, it’s not possible to produce the coating in any other color.
The inherent waterproofing qualities of the epoxy in COPPERCOAT will offer extra protection against osmosis in fiberglass craft and extra protection against corrosion in steel vessels. However, the COPPERCOAT application is so thin that it should not be relied upon as the only barrier coat if one is needed to protect the boat.
COPPERCOAT does not require a primer or barrier coat prior to application. However, if your hull needs a barrier coat for protection, this is the time to do it. COPPERCOAT is not thick enough to provide enough protection if there are blisters or the hull has been damaged. Most people who have boats made with Polyester resin find that a barrier coating is beneficial to prevent blisters.
Yes, COPPERCOAT can be applied over a 2-part epoxy, following our “Application Instructions and Do’s and Don’ts” to prepare the existing barrier coat to successfully accept new COPPERCOAT. This does not apply to single-part, aka “modified” epoxies.
The COPPERCOAT will pull the single part product off; never put a 2-part epoxy over a single-part epoxy or coating.
NO! Traditional anti-fouling paints are made to come off, that’s how they work. COPPERCOAT cannot be applied over existing bottom paints or it will peel off within a few months. If you have ablative bottom paint or hard bottom paint on your boat, it must be removed prior to the application of COPPERCOAT. After removing the existing bottom paint, the surface must be sanded in preparation for the application of COPPERCOAT. It is not necessary to strip your hull down to bare fiberglass! If you have epoxy primer, gelcoat or an epoxy barrier coating on your hull that is still in good condition, you can just remove the existing bottom paint down to that layer, sand the surface, and apply the COPPERCOAT following the Application Instructions.
COPPERCOAT is the toughest and most abrasion resistant anti-fouling coating available, and is extremely durable. However, in the event that the coating is damaged it can simply be touched-up in the damaged area, following the “Application Instructions and Do’s and Don’ts” for details and instructions for small batch partial mixing, and contact Coppercoat USA. A single 1.5 liter kit of COPPERCOAT will cover 42 square feet, in 4 coats.
COPPERCOAT needs to be applied in one day, with all four coats being applied one after the other, when the previous coat is cured enough to not come off on your finger or the roller. That’s called “wet on tacky’, but don’t too worried about what “tacky” is- just apply all four coats in the same day, even if it’s hours apart. Review the Application Instructions for more detail.
COPPERCOAT is easy to maintain, but not “zero maintenance”. Correctly applied COPPERCOAT, including adequate sanding, will continue to deter hard marine fouling for many years. The annual chore of repainting associated with conventional anti-fouling paints will no longer be necessary. However, if the boat sits for a prolonged time it may accumulate slime, particularly in warm waters. The slime should be wiped away with a towel or piece of old carpet as necessary to prevent a build-up. If the slime is allowed to accumulate in waters with a high rate of fouling, the boat may attract a layer of small hard growth which will come off completely with a pressure wash or scraping off with a putty spreader.
If the boat is out of the water, don’t hesitate to pressure wash the COPPERCOAT at 4000 psi to remove slime or grass that may be present, you won’t hurt the COPPERCOAT. Hint: A customer gave us this suggestion and it works great if you are cleaning your bottom in the water (i.e. you are in the water too) – use one of the small plastic “putty spreaders” to “shave” the slime from the waterline!
Or make a “mitt” out of a rectangle of indoor/outdoor carpet and put your hand inside to wash the COPPERCOAT. We personally use both of these methods.
Use this link to Download the Coppercoat Maintenance Guide.
No. Unlike most anti-fouling paints COPPERCOAT is a highly abrasion resistant coating and the lifting straps will not cause any damage to the coating. Likewise, trailered boats will not rub COPPERCOAT off on the trailer skids.
Many race boats have been COPPERCOATED over the years, in a wide range of classes, including the ‘Clipper Round the World Race’ boats. When COPPERCOAT is applied to a smooth hull in thin coats following the Application Instructions and then sanded at the end of the application to expose copper, it can be the equivalent of a dry-sailed boat. Most racers tend to scrub the hull prior to each race, which further smooths the hull without removing any quantity of COPPERCOAT. If you trailer your race boat between seasons it just lasts longer. Wash it well with water before relaunching to remove dust and other contaminants.
Yes. The smooth surface provided by COPPERCOAT epoxy anti-fouling helps any boat to perform to its full potential. While traditional anti-fouling paints absorb moisture and become rough and heavy over time, COPPERCOAT retains its impermeable and smooth surface. In fact, most owners experience an increase in speed after applying COPPERCOAT, both power and sail boats. In fact, powerboat customers report that they can reduce the rpms, saving fuel, and still maintain their normal speed.
The goal is to expose an adequate amount of copper in the COPPERCOAT to ensure it is effective as an anti-fouling coating. Look at the sanding example as a guide to how much to sand your new application of COPPERCOAT. If the COPPERCOAT is not sanded well enough, it will not deter hard growth- it will no be “anti-fouling”!
Yes. COPPERCOAT is an epoxy coating and unlike traditional anti-fouling paint it is not affected by drying out. In fact, time out of the water adds to the lifespan. COPPERCOAT is the perfect choice for dry storage and trailered boats as it is highly abrasion resistant and doesn’t come off on the skids.
Classified as non-leaching, this highly effective coating is considerably kinder to the environment than conventional ablative/self-eroding anti-fouling paints. It doesn’t drop chemicals into the water, or poison marine creatures since natural copper is a “deterrent”. Barnacles, oysters, mussels and other crustaceans don’t like copper, so they go somewhere else.
COPPERCOAT is water miscible, low-odor, non-toxic and non-hazardous and has zero Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s), so it isn’t polluting the environment or the applicator during the application process.
COPPERCOAT is US EPA and California Department of Pesticide Regulation (CA DPR Reg No 85396-1-AA) approved and has been tested and approved by the Health and Safety Executive, in compliance with UK and EU law (HSE Certificate 7532). COPPERCOAT is fully approved for use by both professional painters and the general public. COPPERCOAT is tin-free and fully complies with current (2001) International Maritime Organization (IMO) resolution MEPC.102(48).
Yes! California has established maximum leach rates which are far above COPPERCOAT’s erosion level of 25% of 1 mil per year. COPPERCOAT is approved for use in California by the California, Department of Pesticide Regulation (California DPR Reg. No. 85396-1-AA).
Launched 30 years ago, COPPERCOAT is the original long-life copper rich epoxy anti-fouling coating. As with most successful products, lesser imitations have appeared in the intervening period. In spite of bold claims, products such as Cupro FF, CopperGuard, Cu17, Halcyon 5000, Copperbot 2000, Cop-R-Poxy (to name a few) have all failed and been discontinued. COPPERCOAT is unique, having been continually available since 1991 and is the only coating to have a well proven (not theoretical!) lifespan of 10 years plus. This helps to explain why over 70,000 customers in more than 40 countries currently use COPPERCOAT.
To discuss COPPERCOAT or ask questions please call us at 321-514-9197, or send an email to info@coppercoatusa.com. To place an order, please complete the order form on the website. Payment can be made by credit/debit card, check or wire transfer; we generally ship within 1 business day of receiving your order and payment. Coppercoat USA usually ships by UPS ground in the US and does not mark up the shipping charges.
Some boatyards don’t want to change, and COPPERCOAT is different to apply. They know the products that they have used on their customers boats, year after year. They want to see that customer every year or two and think they might not, if they don’t need anti-fouling. Our customers tell us they spend their boat budget every year; if it's not on anti-fouling, it’s on something else. And the big marine paint companies do a lot to inspire loyalty with the yard Managers. Coppercoat is a small company with a long-lasting product that is just a thorn in their side… at the moment.
The first step for anyone should be to review the “Application Instructions and Do’s & Don’ts” and carefully watch the application video on the Coppercoat USA website. This will ensure that you understand the differences between applying COPPERCOAT and the anti-fouling products you have probably been applying for many years. This should help you to estimate the time and effort involved, allowing you to create an accurate quote for your customer. Unfortunately, we have talked with yards and applicators who did not do this and under quote the job, leaving them with little profit on the job. Obviously, this did not result in a happy experience for the yard. Use the list of “boats coated” or the online calculator to determine the number of kits of COPPERCOAT required to coat the boat you are quoting. After reviewing the information, please call or e-mail info@CoppercoatUSA with your specific questions.
While a new COPPERCOAT application on a boat with existing anti-fouling does require additional work and time to remove the old paint, apply 4 coats of COPPERCOAT and sand the hull a few days later vs rolling 2 coats of ablative over the top of whatever is already there, it shouldn’t be THAT much. Most customers that pay for a complete job tell us that it’s about twice what they generally pay for an anti-fouling job, every 1-2 years! By year 3 or 4 of not paying for anti-fouling, our customers consider it money well spent. Our DIY customers feel that applying COPPERCOAT is about the same cost as any good anti-fouling.
If your preferred boat yard is not familiar with applying COPPERCOAT, suggest that they review the Coppercoat USA website and video, and then speak with us to answer any questions. We are always looking for new yards to recommend. Unfortunately, some boat yards continue to resist applying COPPERCOAT because they want boat owners to come back every year or two.
However, the yards who have adopted COPPERCOAT as one of the options for their customers have found that it is profitable for them and makes the customer happy, at a reasonably cost, thereby giving the yard more referrals.
Because COPPERCOAT is non-toxic and rolls on with a paint roller it is easy to use for people who are accustomed to working with epoxies, which most DIY boaters are. And DIY’s are generally very cost conscious and drawn to products that work and last a long time, which COPPERCOAT does. The COPPERCOAT “early adopters” were mostly cruising sail boaters, because they didn’t want to worry about repainting their hull 5000 miles from home!
Our return policy is posted on the online order form; if your plans change and you need to return COPPERCOAT, contact us at CoppercoatUSA.com for an authorization. The product must be returned in the original packaging so it can be resold, and there is a 10% restocking fee.
All COPPERCOAT epoxy Anti-Fouling is manufactured by AMC in the UK by the same people who have made it since 1991. The differences are to do with the boat owners themselves. In areas where the water and air temperatures are warm, most people clean their hulls in the water with a piece of carpet, a squeegee or a plastic putty scraper.
In cold areas people usually lift their boats out at a club or boat yard and pressure wash the hull. COPPERCOAT can handle a strong pressure wash with no damage or deterioration of the COPPERCOAT.
At Coppercoat USA we have adopted small differences in the application to ensure success. We recommend customers in the US and Caribbean, or those who will be boating in these areas, follow the Application Instructions and "Do’s and Don’ts" on CoppercoatUSA.com.
It probably wouldn’t work; many people have tried it and made a real mess. It sounds simple, but COPPERCOAT is actually a very specific and special epoxy mixed with a very fine and pure grade of copper that results in a smooth surface. The smoothness is important in keeping hard growth off, and the precise formula prevents electrolysis, which is another problem knock offs have experienced.
Additionally, the EPA regulates copper as a pesticide, and requires anyone manufacturing or distributing it to have a pesticide license, with a $50,000. fine for not complying.
YES! If you keep your boat in a lake that is infested with the invasive mussels, COPPERCOAT is a great choice to keep them away from your hull and intakes without polluting the pristine waters. The mussels and their larvae cannot attach to copper!
Yes, including underwater cable housing, water turbines, autonomous vessels like wave gliders, floating boat docks and water pumps.
That’s a good question with several possible answers because there is no reason for a difference, regardless of water conditions or parts of the world. When we are contacted by people with a problem, we do what we can to help them, regardless of where they bought the COPPERCOAT. Unfortunately, we can’t solve a problem we don’t know about. Here are the problems we encounter and how we address them.
Another situation is when people think they have COPPERCOAT on their boat, but its actually a copycat product or a homemade concoction. One major clue is that COPPERCOAT has never been made in colors, because it has too much copper to color it. If its black or red, it’s not COPPERCOAT. We don’t know of any copies that worked like COPPERCOAT and those companies are no longer in business.
COPPERCOAT has only been sold in the US since 2009, but its been in the UK and other countries since 1991.
Or it might have been a post on the internet by a competitor or someone who thinks COPPERCOAT will hurt their business by lasting so long.
We do have some customers who stay in touch and offer to talk to potential customers, so contact us for names. However, many of our customers are cruisers, so they apply the COPPERCOAT in a boatyard where they are for a short time and then they are off exploring the world. We don’t hear from them again until they need a touch-up, which is generally 10-12 years later. Which by the way is how we hear the stories from people who have had COPPERCOAT for many years, or we meet them at boat shows. We post those stories on FACEBOOK when we hear them – check it out.
Start by reviewing the Application Instructions and Do’s and Don’ts. If the COPPERCOAT appears to be in good condition and there is no hard growth, just enjoy the boat. If there is hard growth, clean it off following the Maintenance Instructions. Those areas probably need to be sanded as it may not have been sanded enough during the application. If there are areas that need to be repaired, estimate the size of the area to know how much product you will need. If possible, take close up pictures of the problem area and e-mail them to Info@Coppercoatusa.com along with your concerns, and we will try to assist you.
Like any paint project, the time it takes is dependent on the number of painters (we recommend 3), the size of the boat and the painters experience. Generally, following our instructions, a kit of COPPERCOAT is applied in less than 30 minutes by 2 people, with a third person mixing and assisting. Allow for 30-40 minutes between coats, particularly if the weather is cool. Since all 4 coats need to be applied to a surface all in the same day, it’s usually best to start on one side of the boat, do all 4 coats and see where you stand. You can do the other side the next day if you want. For catamarans we suggest painting one hull at a time.
Coppercoat USA LLC