Antifouling

Hi Pat
There have been conflicting reports about coppercoat – some are very satisfied, others have had bad experiences. It depends where your boat is swimming, I think. I have come to the conclusion that it’s too much of an outlay to take a chance on. I guess you need to find another boat with coppercoat in your area and see what the owner thinks of it. In Plymouth I have tried several products over the years and now reckon Blake’s Tiger Extra is the best paint for Ronar’s environment. Trevor

Hi Pat,
Not having tried coppercoat I have no views on it either way, have read differing experiencesof use, but then that is the case with most products, can be very objective.

I came across a guy in Barcelona who claimed he had the cleanest bottom in the Med ( I thought for a moment he was a toilet tissue sailsman!) He had been using, to say the least, an unusual combination of cheap antifoul and the hottest chilli powder he could find. His philosophy was why spend lots of money to be washed away and encrusted with marine growth. I have since followed his advice, the last three antifouls have been done this way, the last one could have been left at least another year, and the growth was minimal. I purchased the hottest powder I could find from a local Indian food wholesaler, and mixed it in the cheapest paint I could find, was what the local fishermen use. The consistency was pretty thick, but still applicable with a roller, the finish is not as smooth as just paint as you can feel a little roughness which is the powder in the paint, but certainly smooth enough for cruising and no noticeable loss of speed through the water.
I am in a high foul area in Sardinia, a river runs into the port which is even warmer than the sea and subsequent marine growth. I am now only doing bi annual painting, with an annual lift and wash off of slime, and a quick look at everything else. The prop is protected with Prop Shield, which I find works very well, worth a look if you google it.
Have fun