FAQ's

The life of Coppercoat depends on a variety of factors such as water temperature and salinity. However, typically in Northern Europe one should expect effective performance for at least 10 years, whereas in the Caribbean, 8 to 10 years would be more normal. Many of the first boats treated in 1991 are still performing well after more than 20 years! With an average thickness of 250 microns of Coppercoat being applied in a treatment, and a typical corrosion rate of less than 5 microns per year, it is easy to appreciate how this coating offers such long lasting and effective protection.

No! Applying Coppercoat is possibly the most cost-effective way to protect a submersed surface from marine growth. Over the treatments typical life of 10 years, the cost in product terms alone, will commonly be only 15 to 30% of the product cost associated with conventional single-season anti-fouls (depending on which brand you use). This does not take into account additional items such as lift costs, storage fees, labour, inflation, etc. which make a Coppercoat treatment even more financially attractive (why pay to have your boat ashore every year if you don’t need to?). When compared to using a standard anti-foul paint, customers with a Coppercoat-treated boat will typically break even in year 2 and then enjoy many years of free anti-fouling protection.

Coppercoat is the combination of a specially developed two-pack epoxy resin and 99% pure copper. Each litre of Coppercoat contains 2kg of ultra fine copper powder, the maximum allowed by law. On immersion, sea water attacks the exposed pure copper, causing the formation of cuprous oxide. This highly effective anti-fouling agent deters growth until the surface degrades further to become cupric hydrochloride. This final copper form is highly unstable, and is washed away by the movement of the yacht, thereby removing any accumulating silt or slime. This automatically reveals a fresh copper-rich surface whereby the process recommences.

The following prices are intended as a guide only, to show just how cost-effective Coppercoat is. Please contact us for an accurate and personalized quote.

N.B. This chart shows the likely total product cost of a Coppercoat treatment, which typically lasts for 10 years. For example, a 35 foot yacht has an equivalent cost of just £60 per annum!

Prices quoted are in Pounds sterling and exclude VAT and delivery.

Yes. Coppercoat can be successfully applied to virtually all craft, irrespective of their size and usage, hence is sold to both the commercial and leisure sectors. Coppercoat is also supplied to underwater structures such as tide-powered turbines and effluent diffusers as well as bar screens in power stations.

A complete treatment is achieved in a minimum of 4 thin coats (ideally 5) which must be applied, wet-on-tacky, all in one day.

Specifically designed to be user friendly, this water based epoxy coating should be mixed thoroughly, one unit at a time, and simply applied to the prepared surface by roller or spray. For application by roller, short pile (simulated mohair) sleeves should be used, although some high quality foam rollers are also suitable. The recommended rollers are available from AMC Ltd.

For application by spray a conventional air-fed (not airless) system should be used. A complete treatment is usually achieved within four or five thin coats, which must be applied ‘wet on tacky’ all on the same day. For full details please visit the application section of the website.

No. With the resin carrier insulating each copper particle, the final coating is inert and non-conductive. A current can not 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 or aluminium craft (after the application of an appropriate epoxy primer). 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.

Yes. Applying Coppercoat to the hull of a boat will have no effect to an outboard motor or stern-drive. As mentioned in the answer to the previous question Coppercoat does not cause or promote galvanic corrosion.

Freshly applied Coppercoat dries to a rich copper brown. After immersion Coppercoat oxidises to a dark, verdigris green colour. This colour change commonly takes several months, depending on water conditions. Because of the sheer quantity of pure copper in Coppercoat, it is simply not possible to produce the coating in any other colours.

The inherent waterproofing qualities of the epoxy ensure that a treatment of Coppercoat will help prevent osmosis in GRP craft and offer extra protection against corrosion in steel vessels. However for an even greater degree of protection, additional anti-osmosis epoxy can be applied as an undercoat.

Yes. AMC Ltd stock and supply a full range of epoxy barrier coatings for a variety of substrates and circumstances. Coppercoat is also compatible with most other epoxy-based products commonly used for osmosis protection and corrosion prevention.

Coppercoat is the toughest and most abrasion resistant anti-foul available (as demonstrated by the TABAR abraser test) and therefore is extremely durable. However, in the event that the coating is damaged or scratched it can be simply touched-up by rubbing back the surrounding areas and applying a new full treatment of Coppercoat to these small patches.

Touch up kits are available from AMC Ltd so please contact us for further information.

A treatment of Coppercoat must be applied all on one day, with the multiple coats being applied wet on tacky.

Correctly applied Coppercoat will continue to deter marine fouling for many years. The annual chore of repainting associated with conventional antifouling is no longer necessary. If, over the months, a slight accumulation of slime does appear, this can be removed by pressure washing or brushing. An annual wash or brush is recommended. Eventually, usually after several years, the surface may benefit from being lightly abraded with a fine grade of 400/600 grit “wet and dry” paper or a burnishing pad to expose fresh copper.

No. Unlike most other anti-fouls Coppercoat is a permanent, highly abrasion resistant coating and therefore merely lifting will not cause any damage to the coating.

Yes. As Coppercoat is a blend of pure copper and two-pack epoxy resin, the coating is both strong and water-proof. After application the coating can be burnished to give a very smooth racing finish, which (as the coating is non-absorbent) is the equivalent of dry-sailing a boat but with the advantage of anti-fouling protection allowing the boat to be kept afloat.

Yes. The smooth surface provided by Coppercoat epoxy antifoul helps any boat to perform to its’ full potential. While traditional anti-fouls absorb moisture and become rough over time, Coppercoat retains its’ impermeable and smooth surface. In fact, many owners experience an increase in speed after applying Coppercoat.

Yes. Coppercoat is a permanent epoxy coating and therefore unlike traditional anti-fouls, is not affected by drying out. Coppercoat is the perfect choice for dry moorings and trailered boats as it is highly abrasion resistant.

Classified as non-leaching, this highly effective coating is considerably kinder to the environment than conventional self-eroding anti-fouls. The complete treatment has been tested and approved by the Health and Safety Executive, in compliance with UK and EU law. Holding HSE Certificate Number 7532 Coppercoat is fully approved for use by both professional tradesmen and the general public. Coppercoat is tin-free and fully complies with current (2001) International Maritime Organisation (IMO) resolution MEPC.102(48). Within the UK Coppercoat is used by the Environment Agency.

Checkout our Environmental Report  and our Environmental Report Page

Launched over 20 years ago, Coppercoat is the original long-life copper rich epoxy antifoul. 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 but 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 30,000 customers in more than 40 countries currently use Coppercoat.

Please check our "How to Order" page for the latest information of how to procure Coppercoat for your project.

When a treatment of Coppercoat finally comes to the end of its long life, there is no need to remove it. Simply apply a new treatment over the top, see our full application process page here.

To prepare the surface, abrade it thoroughly using 80 or 120 grade discs on a random orbital electric sander. Then wash off the resulting dust with copious amounts of fresh water (with no additional chemicals/fluids). This will properly clean the surface, remove the outermost face, and provide a good physical key for the new system to bond to.

To prime the surface, we recommend that one coat of plain resin be applied. This is then immediately followed by the Coppercoat. (The plain resin is the same resin used in Coppercoat, but without adding the copper powder). All these coats must be applied consecutively, all in one day, thereby ensuring good intercoat adhesion.