Classic Boat Supplies stocks copper materials needed for sheathing wooden hulls to protect them from worms and marine growth. Copper sheathing is a technique developed by the Royal Navy in the 18th century which allowed ships to remain active, at sea, for greater lengths of time. Non-sheathed boats required more regular dry-docking for hull-scraping.
Sheathing involves cladding the below-the-waterline hull with overlapped sheets of copper and fastening them with flat head copper nails, or tacks. Normally the copper nails are smooth-shanked to allow the copper to be easily replaced when the time comes - normally every 15-20 years or so.
It's unusual for a new boat to require copper sheathing since the materials available today, such as fibreglass and epoxy resin, are superior and cheaper than copper sheets. However for a truely-authentic new build, or the faithful restoration of antique boats, copper sheathing is still practised.
If you don't see what you need please contact us - we can source a wide range of copper products at good prices. Also we are happy to quote on smaller or larger quantities of copper sheeting and nails to suit your particular project.
