Copper bottom

Windtherapy

Windtherapy

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Apr 25, 2015
282
Oday 26 Oscoda, MI
So I still have my 26' but bought an O'Day Daysailer a few weeks ago and have been having fun with that on the local lakes and figured it would be a great thing to learn and practice on. My question is this, the PO or the PO before him has painted the bottom with what appears to be copper. I mean it has the copper color and it's tarnishing green just like a non-cared for copper plate would.

Can somebody enlighten me on what this paint is? It's in great shape with no dings or scratches but the green bothers me.

TarnX maybe?
 

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rgranger

rgranger

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Jan 19, 2010
12,548
Hobie 16 & Rhodes 22 Skeeter Charleston
Copper oxide is toxic to marine life and helps keep the scum off of the bottom of your boat. It is fine as is...leave it alone... and if you are not leaving it in the water you probably don't need to worry about anyway.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,424
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
The green tarnish is the result of boat cleaners, especially ones with some sort of acid or bleach. Just wash it and run a green scrubby over the surface to clean it up. When it wears through, then add a coat. The easiest quickest bottom paint there is, but is does dump copper into the water.
 
Windtherapy

Windtherapy

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Apr 25, 2015
282
Oday 26 Oscoda, MI
I'll just make sure to sail it in a lake near Flint. Sorry, couldn't resist since I only live 45 minutes from there.

So no TarnX to make it shine? I wish I knew it was VC17. Didn't think it came in copper color though. Just black and blue I thought. Most all around here use VC17 but I have never seen this straight up copper color before---anywhere.
 
DaveJ

DaveJ

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Apr 2, 2013
472
Catalina 310 Niagara-on-the-Lake
I had a boat that had Interlux Bottom Kote Y999 Bronze. I thought it was VC17 but contacted the original owner to clarify. He had part of a can so I know this was it. You are not supposed to mix different types of bottom paint....is it possible to contact the PO and ask what was used on the bottom? You may be better sanding the existing paint off before applying new paint.
 
BlowMeAway

BlowMeAway

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Nov 30, 2015
1,340
Hunter 1978 H30 Cherubini, Treman Marina, Ithaca, NY
Yep VC17M, it makes your boat look like a giant copper kettle until the copper powder additive starts to oxidize in the water. This is referred to as an ablative anti-foul coating which minimizes the proliferation of algae and other water borne biologicals. It does wear down over a season or two, but once the boat is back on the hard, the paint job on our H30C hull takes less than 2 hours.

image.jpeg
 
CloudDiver

CloudDiver

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Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
There is a guy who did a restoration or a self-build wooden yacht... can't remember which but it was pretty, I'll try to remember to search for the link and add it here later.
Anyway, he purchased powdered copper and mixed it with epoxy. It sounded good in theory and sure looked pretty after he applied it but I haven't seen any long term results. Since epoxy is totally waterproof and very tough I don't see how new copper could be exposed to renew the effectiveness. (note to self, find link and email the guy)
On VC17 (offshore), I hear so many people swear by the stuff, but we can't use it here in California. From what I understand CA doesn't have a problem with the copper content (because other paints have it too), I hear its the VOC's that evaporate during application that CARB won't allow. (note to self, after applying fresh epoxy barrier coat, splash boat and immediately sail to Mexico to buy and apply VC17)
 
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CloudDiver

CloudDiver

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Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
Not the same link as I mentioned above (still looking for that one), but for your reading pleasure is another web-blog for Mollymawk; this is a three part story with the application of a home brew epoxy/powder copper bottom job, followed later by the use of Coppercoat, and then an update 3 years later with more research and info on enviromentlly friendly anti-foul alternatives;
http://www.yachtmollymawk.com/2008/12/adios-espana/
Make sure you see the links for the 2009 and later 2012 updates
 
DougM

DougM

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Jul 24, 2005
2,242
Beneteau 323 Manistee, MI
the paint job on our H30C hull takes less than 2 hours.

Sorry, I can't resist... If you used a roller, and didn't try to eat the paint, you should be able to paint an H30 in about 45 minutes, not counting the masking.
 
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BlowMeAway

BlowMeAway

.
Nov 30, 2015
1,340
Hunter 1978 H30 Cherubini, Treman Marina, Ithaca, NY
DougM said:
Sorry, I can't resist... If you used a roller, and didn't try to eat the paint, you should be able to paint an H30 in about 45 minutes, not counting the masking.
Click to expand
Yeah, I agree, but good help is hard to find. My Admiral and her brother are pictured. Between the smoke and adult beverage breaks, cleaning up the oops swaths above the masking tape, and tipping the over rolled and over cut-in areas, I was nothing more than a sweaty mess. Besides, I think the fumes from the VOC's are somewhat hallucinogenic. That paint dries and sets up really quickly, you gotta move fast...we didn't!
 
Windtherapy

Windtherapy

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Apr 25, 2015
282
Oday 26 Oscoda, MI
I wish the last PO did the
DaveJ said:
I had a boat that had Interlux Bottom Kote Y999 Bronze. I thought it was VC17 but contacted the original owner to clarify. He had part of a can so I know this was it. You are not supposed to mix different types of bottom paint....is it possible to contact the PO and ask what was used on the bottom? You may be better sanding the existing paint off before applying new paint.
Click to expand
I wish the PO knew what it was but he only owned it 3 years and it came with the copper bottom. I was reading the Copper Coat website info and it says all one has to to scrub it every so often to get the crud off and activate the copper again however, if it is something else, I know I will have to sand it all off and start anew. I wish there was a way to tell for I would love it if it was VC17.

Same thing happened with my 26', PO had no idea what HE used so I am thankful for now it looks pretty damn good. He was thinking he used a cement floor paint which from another thread of mine here, others have used as well. Who knows....I will just wash it and use a 3M Scotchbrite pad very gently in one area and see what happens.
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
12,424
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
Windtherapy said:
I'll just make sure to sail it in a lake near Flint. Sorry, couldn't resist since I only live 45 minutes from there.

So no TarnX to make it shine? I wish I knew it was VC17. Didn't think it came in copper color though. Just black and blue I thought. Most all around here use VC17 but I have never seen this straight up copper color before---anywhere.
Click to expand
The original VC17 did not come in colors. It went on copper colored and once in the water it turned a darker brownish color. Once it came out to the water and cleaning products got on it the paint would discolor. A very light sanding or burnishing would bring back the copper color.
 
agprice22

agprice22

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Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
VC17m. My boat looks like that every year after I paint it. It slowly wears off, and you can powerwash it off as well. Just recoat with a thin coat.
 
Windtherapy

Windtherapy

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Apr 25, 2015
282
Oday 26 Oscoda, MI
Can anybody tell me what the color is for the ORIGINAL VC17? When you look it up to buy, there are 3 choices. Black, blue and then it says ORIGINAL.
 
fstbttms

fstbttms

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Feb 26, 2011
1,437
Achilles SD-130 Alameda, CA
BlowMeAway said:
Yep VC17M, it makes your boat look like a giant copper kettle until the copper powder additive starts to oxidize in the water. This is referred to as an ablative anti-foul coating which minimizes the proliferation of algae and other water borne biologicals.
Click to expand
VC17 is not an ablative paint. It is a thin-film vinyl paint and is quite hard.
 
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