Copper Sheathing - Civilian Use

Civilian Use

With its widespread adoption by the Royal Navy, many shipping owners employed the method on their merchant vessels. They were attracted by the savings made possible by copper sheathing, despite the initial outlay. As the coppering was expensive, only the better ship owners tended to invest in the method, and as a result the use of copper sheathing tended to indicate a well-found and maintained ship, which led to Lloyd's of London charging lower insurance premiums, as the vessels were better risks.

The term copper-bottomed continues to be used to describe a venture, plan or investment that is safe and is certain to be successful. The related copper-fastened (and verb form copperfasten) is used similarly, though with the nuance of “secured, unambiguous”, rather than “trustworthy, reliable”.