For centuries, copper has protected hulls from the bane of mariners: marine growth below the waterline, known as fouling. Wood sailing vessels were sheathed in copper, as the metal is an outstanding “biocide,” a mild toxin that deters the growth of algae, worms, mollusks, barnacles and other organisms.For the same reason, copper has long been a key ingredient in many anti-fouling paints. It effectively reduces fouling that can impair a boat’s speed and fuel efficiency due to excessive drag.Today, however, copper is getting a bad name. The qualities that make it a good anti-fouling agent also make it unhealthy for marine ecosystems, particularly as it dissolves and accumulates in relatively high levels in basins and marinas.In some harbors, water quality agencies have found copper levels exceeding the U.S. Environmental ...![bottom-paint-boat1]()
