Epoxy / Copper Flake recipe

[joker64]

I've been reading information on applying a copper/epoxy coating instead of antifouling; a DIY 'copper-coat'.

Can someone help me to calculate how much copper flake and epoxy I will need to apply to a 44'. I have roughly calculated the square meters to be about 35-40.

Thanks,
Steven

[joker64]

No one?

[MalcolmP]

Steven

Following thread may help:

jeanneau.proboards.com/thread/2308/copper-anti-fouling

Also if you do a search when you are logged on for epoxy and copper you will find some other info

Sailbleu may also be able to help when he next logs in - or maybe send him a PM

Malcolm

[joker64]

Thanks M. I sent Seagem a PM, but no response yet. I hope cause he is out enjoying his boat.

[sailbleu]

Hi Joker,

the standaard ratio of DIY coppercoat is 2 to 1 ( weight that is ). Meaning 2 parts copper and 1 part epoxy mixture.
But are you sure you want to apply the homemade stuff ?
Would not recommend it , but of course maybe the flake thing works better than the powder , that I dont know.
What I do know is that you need waterbased epoxy to get the product to work , which unfortunately is not the case in my case

Good luck

[Seagem]

Hi Joker,
Sorry for the delay, I have been away on the boat and have not been on the site for a while. I have sent you a message in reply to your question.

I am lifting my boat out for the winter so will post some photos of the hull in due course to let everyone know how the epoxy/copper has worked. Due to circumstances outside my control, I was unable to abrade the hull to expose the copper flake before it went back in the water last year so it has not worked as effectively as it should have done. I have noticed some grassy type weed below the water line in the last couple of months but up to then it was clear of all fouling. Having said that, I had the same type of weed in the same place when I had conventional anti-fouling. The swans like eating it and do quite a good job of clearing it lol!

I put a clear coat of epoxy on as a base coat then 3 coats of epoxy/copper mix. In total I used about 4kg of copper flake and about 7.5 kg of epoxy to cover my SO42i.

[Seagem]

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Hi All, as promised I have a photo of my hull after a year in the water with the copper flake/epoxy recipe. I am some what disappointed but not suprised because as I said previously I was not able to abrade the hull to expose the copper flake prior to her being returned to the water. However, the growth scraped off very easily (took less than fifteen minutes to do the lot) and after jet washing she looks like she did 12 months ago before she was launched.
I have also attached a photo of my friends yacht who used exactly the same recipe, but he did manage to abrade the hull before relaunch. His yacht has been in the water for the summer season and as can be seen, there is no growth at all. His yacht has not even been jet washed, it is just as it came out.

[sailbleu]

Please have a look at the coppercoat topic.
@ Seagem , I used 7,5kg copper oxide for my 40 feet boat.
The more copper the better they say.

Unfortunatly !!

Regards