Nauticat 52 Refit

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Shaft log gets glassed, the same 3 plies of 10 oz. The original exterior layup was all matt laid right over the glossy gel. Surprisingly it was still adhered thirty years later! Of course the interior layup is massive.

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More shaft log.

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We begin to apply the second coat of Fast WEST. We put black pigment in this one to prevent holidays and aid in fairing. Doesn't take much.

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2nd coat going on.

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2nd coat applied. We wait about an hour to an hour and a half between coats, but ramp temps up to about 90 degrees or more while waiting. As soon as its tacky enough to lightly brush your bare finger across it without leaving a mark or getting epoxy on it, it's ready for the next coat. You have to move fast or lose the bond. Hence two rollers and one mixer, actually applying a coat takes less than an hour this way.

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We begin to trowel on the first slick. This stage requires five experienced men, two mixers and three trowel men. Each must know their part well. A full slick must be applied before the bond is lost. Any variation in temp will affect the viscosity of the mix. A really pro slick is not easily achieved.

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1st slick being applied. Note the guy with no suit has not a spot on him, while everyone else is fully suited and sticky. He is the master, probably slung more epoxy than everyone on the forum put together.

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See why it's called a slick? You mix it like mayonnaise, and it goes on smooth and actually flows out like paint. This requires a perfect mix, and every batch must be the same. Mixing is critical. The manufacturers will tell you to mix peanut butter consistency. While that does sand much easier, and give you more filler with less epoxy, it also gives you pinholes and a poor slick. I'm also convinced it provides a much poorer moisture barrier. If you mix it thick enough that its not glossy like this anymore, it's too thick.

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This is what a drip or run in the sealer coats should look like. Still soft enough when slicked that the knife flattened it a hair and it all flowed out. Gives an idea of the thickness of each pass as well.

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A little close up of what the first pass should look like. This one was done by the A-Team, the boss himself helped out. We haven't all been together on one bottom in a decade, usually we are running separate shows. It really showed, nicest slick I've seen in years.

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Totally proud of this. You guys probably think I'm a total boat nerd, LOL! This is second slick applied, once again about an hour after the first. Long day...

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The other side. Consistently awesome, two days in a row.

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Incredible!

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See the flow! It's awesome to see a trowel mark slowly mostly disappear.

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Now that two days of fun have been had under the boat, the long nightmare of the next stage begins. I faired the whole bottom entirely by myself, couldn't let anyone else touch it. I dare say its the fairest Nauticat bottom in existence, fully race worthy. It took me two weeks of straight twelve hour days, because I got totally carried away. First 36 grit soft pad, pictured here, after an alcohol wipe for amine blush of course. Then the long board came out. I boarded out the whole bottom, something we only do for serious race boats. Extra attention on keel, skeg, and rudder. But those pics are for another night, I'm bushed.