Why don't the boat builders make the below water lines part of the hull copper laden epoxy instead of gelcoat? It would be good for twenty years right from the start, most every boat needs bottom coating anyway, and it would be a simple (to me anyway) processs to do from the beginning. Years ago I remember cars having heaters as an option. Today they are standard on every car, but some college grad decised that one driver in Texas or Florida didn't need a heater, so they made them optional for everyone. Same with Radios, automatic transmissions, and a host of other things for cars. So if 90% or more us have to bottom coat our boats, and expoxy works well, if not the best, why not make it part of the hull at buildout time? That way all the little nooks and crannies would already be protected. Anyone aware of any copper foil you attach to the bottom of your hull in stead of paint or epoxy coating?
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wouldn't work
To be effective, the copper has to slough off as in ablative paint or be in direct contact with the creatures that foul the bottom. If the copper was encpsulated in the gelcoat it wouldn't slough off or be in a high enough concentration to work. Also, not every boater needs anti-fouling paint, it depends on how you use your boat and in what type of waters. Racers and trailers don't want or need it, for one. Many years ago copper plating was applied over the wooden hulls of ships as an anti-fouling measure. The plating was nailed directly to the hull with copper nails.
To be effective, the copper has to slough off as in ablative paint or be in direct contact with the creatures that foul the bottom. If the copper was encpsulated in the gelcoat it wouldn't slough off or be in a high enough concentration to work. Also, not every boater needs anti-fouling paint, it depends on how you use your boat and in what type of waters. Racers and trailers don't want or need it, for one. Many years ago copper plating was applied over the wooden hulls of ships as an anti-fouling measure. The plating was nailed directly to the hull with copper nails.
I believe copper plate on wood hulls was
protection against wood boring worms not as anti fouling other than easier to clean. I don't think it's the copper itself in the paint that acts against marine growth. I believe that it's chemical compounds like copper arsenics and sulphates not just the presence of copper.
protection against wood boring worms not as anti fouling other than easier to clean. I don't think it's the copper itself in the paint that acts against marine growth. I believe that it's chemical compounds like copper arsenics and sulphates not just the presence of copper.
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