Method of protecting the hulls of marine vessels from fouling

Abstract

The hull of a marine vessel is protected from fouling by marine growths by a foil of anti-fouling metal such as copper or a copper alloy adhesively bonded throughout its area to the hull below the water line. The foil is conveniently applied to the hull by pressure sensitive or heat sensitive adhesive.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A method of protecting the contoured hull of a marine vessel from marine growth which comprises providing a metal foil of anti-fouling metal in strip form and progressively rolling said foil strip into conforming pressure contact with said hull with a layer of adhesive between said foil strip and the hull surface to adhesively bond said foil throughout its area to the exterior surface of said contoured hull below the water line, said foil being sufficiently thin to be easily applied and sufficiently thick to provide protection against fouling for a period of from two to five years. 
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1, in which said foil is of copper or copper alloy. 
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 1, in which said foil has a thickness between 0.05 mm. and 2 mm. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 3, in which said foil has a thickness between 0.1 mm. and 0.5 mm. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1, in which the bonding of said foil to said hull comprises coating one face of said foil with pressure-sensitive adhesive and pressing said coated face of the foil onto said hull. 
     
     
       6. A method according to claim 5, further comprising coating the opposite face of said foil with an adhesion-resistant silicone compound. 
     
     
       7. A method according to claim 1, in which the bonding of said foil to said hull comprises coating said hull and one face of said foil with heat-sensitive adhesive and pressing the coated face of said foil onto said coated hull while applying heat to said foil. 
     
     
       8. A method according to claim 1, in which the bonding of said foil to said hull comprises coating said hull and one face of said foil with an elastomeric base adhesive and thereafter pressing the coated face of said foil onto said coated hull. 
     
     
       9. A method according to claim 1, in which said foil strip has a width of the order of 6 inches to 12 inches and is provided in the form of a roll, said foil strip being rolled from said roll onto said hull. 
     
     
       10. A method according to claim 1, in which said foil strip has a width of the order of one to three feet and is provided in the form of a roll, said foil strip being rolled from said roll onto said hull. 
     
     
       11. A method according to claim 1, in which said foil strips are applied to said hull transversely to the forward direction of travel of said vessel and are applied successively from the stern to the bow of said vessel with successive strips overlapping, whereby the rearward flow of water over the hull during forward movement of the vessel does not act to lift said foil from the surface of the hull. 
     
     
       12. A method according to claim 1, in which said adhesive is of a character that remains elastic and is of a thickness to form a cushion layer between the foil and said hull. .Iadd. 13. A method of protecting the contoured hull of a marine vessel from marine growths, which comprises providing a metal foil of anti-fouling metal and applying said foil by bringing it into conforming pressure contact with the exterior surface of said contoured hull below the water line, with a layer of water proof adhesive between said foil and said surface to adhesively bond said foil throughout its area to said surface, said foil being sufficiently thin to be easily applied and to conform to said contoured exterior surface and sufficiently thick to provide protection against fouling for a period of at least two years. .Iaddend..Iadd. 14. A method according to claim 13, in which said foil is of copper or copper alloy. .Iaddend..Iadd. 15. A method according to claim 13, in which said foil has a thickness between 0.05 mm and 2 mm. .Iaddend..Iadd. 16. A method according to claim 15, in which said foil has a thickness between 0.1 mm and 0.5 mm. .Iaddend..Iadd. 17. A method according to claim 13, in which said adhesive is pressure sensitive, said foil being bonded to said surface by the application of pressure. .Iaddend..Iadd. 18. A method according to claim 13, in which said adhesive is heat sensitive, said foil being bonded to said surface by the simultaneous application of heat and pressure. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 19. A marine vessel comprising a hull having below the waterline a contoured outer surface and means for protecting said surface from fouling by marine growths or organisms, said protecting means comprising a metal foil of anti-fouling metal covering said outer surfaces of said hull below the waterline and conforming to the contour of said surface and a layer of waterproof adhesive between said foil and said surface to adhesively bond said foil throughout its area to said surface. .Iadd. 20. A marine vessel according to claim 19, in which said foil is of copper or copper alloy..Iaddend..Iadd. 21. A marine vessel according to claim 19, in which said foil has a thickness between 0.05 mm and 2 mm..Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A marine vessel according to claim 21, in which said foil has a thickness between 0.1 mm mm and 0.5 mm. mm. .Iaddend.