Hull

General Description

The hull of #262 is not perfectly fair. There are various bumps and hollows that either developed over the years or were there from the time the hull was popped from the mold. The hull consists of numerous layers of various materials.
The innermost layers are the original factory layup of roving, matting, and resin, mostly likely covered with a layer of gelcoat. That layer of gelcoat was either stripped or lost its coloration at some point, see photos from 2022-03-10 and 2022-03-11.
A layer of epoxy was applied to the hull from about an inch below the current waterline, as shown by the stripe of red bottom paint showing above the stripped hull, down to the base of the keel; the underside of the keel was not coated in epoxy. The top edge of the epxoy layer created a well defined ridge that runs right around the hull (see photos from 2022-01-12. At the top edge of this epoxy layer, blue painters tape was used. Unfortunately, not all the tape was removed. Some tape remains under the top edge of the epoxy and is exposed when the hull is sanded sufficiently. What tape was exposed in sanding and fairing the hull during the winter of 2021-2022 was removed and the resulting hollows filled (see example from 2022-04-05).

In summary, as of April 2022, the hull consists of:

Next Steps to Improve Racing Bottom

Next haulout, longboard hull with 120 grit till all lows are removed or Petit Protect is removed on all sides of a hollow. Fill such hollows with TotalFair . Longboard again with 120 grit till all of the area is evenly sanded and perfectly smooth. Apply new coats of Petit Protect and longboard till perfectly smooth. Apply new coats of Trinidad Pro and longboard till perfectly smooth.

Racing Bottom Preparation During the Winter of 2023-2024

Longboarded the hull beginning on 2024-02-08 and finishing on 2024-03-10. 18.5 hours of longboarding. Burnished hull by hand with Dura-Gold Roll Sandpaper 330grit to midpoint at deck and three-quarters of the way back at the bottom of the keel. 3.5 hours of burnishing.

Racing Bottom Preparation During the Winter of 2021-2022

Numerous hollows and low spots on the hull were filled with TotalFair and sanded down to increase the fairness of the hull. All thruhulls and rudder fastenings were faired into the hull and the protruding depthsounder and its fairing block were removed from 2022-03-14 to 2022-04-05.
Two layers or Petit Protect , first gray, then white, were applied and longboarded down to a smoother and fairer condition than was previously the case from 2022-04-06 to 2022-04-12. Perfection was not acheived. Needed more time and a thicker barrier coat to sand down to perfectly smooth.
Two coats of Trinidad Pro were applied from 2022-04-12 to 2022-04-15. On the day the boat was launched for the 2022 season 2022-04-20, these two coats were burnished with 320grit sandpaper. Perfection was not acheived. Needed more time and a smoother barrier coat layer beneath.
During the winter of 2021-2022, spent 60 hours sanding to remove bottom paint from the hull. 26 hours fairing and longboarding the fairing compound. 7 hours longboarding the barrier coat. 2 hours longboarding/burnishing the bottom paint. 95 hours of sanding, filling, fairing, and longboarding.

As a result of the bottom work, the new sails, relocated sail controls, and practice. Finished third in the 2022 Annapolis Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta despite two last place finishes on the first day. Very satisfied with the improved results in light air. Third place in the 2023 Annapolis Helly Hansen Sailing World Regatta despite two fifth places results out of six races. Two first place results as well. Two points behind first place in the regatta.

Specifications

Coatings

Products

Topsides

Below the Waterline

Chimney

Cockpit

Deck Measurements

Companionway

Deadlights

Hatches

Thickness

Thru Hulls

Diagrams