Hull, keel and rudder
Hull repairs and maintenance
Every boat has at least one hull, and when it needs attention, we’re here for you and your boat. We undertake all work, whether covered by insurance or privately funded, regardless of whether your hull is made from GRP, wood, aluminium, steel, or cement. If you’ve hit something or something has hit your yacht, we can repair the gelcoat or planking, rebuild severe damage, and more. We’ll remove unsightly cracks, gouges and scratches and finish with a complete hull polish to restore your yacht’s youthful looks.
Keel repairs and keel bolt inspection
We can repair keel and hull damage, repair and reinforce the keel structure, ensuring your keel is as good as the day it was attached, if not stronger.
No matter how your keel is attached, there may be occasions when it needs attention. Bolt-on fin keels should have their keel bolts periodically inspected –especially after any grounding, and even with an encapsulated keel, it’s prudent to be inspected after a heavy grounding.
Rudder bearing replacement
If your steering has become heavier or you’re hearing a graunching sound when the helm is turned, or perhaps you’ve noticed play in the rudder, it’s likely the rudder bearings need replacing. We’ll drop your yacht’s rudder to access the bearings and perform a full inspection of the rudder stock, regardless of your yacht’s age or whether it has a skeg, spade, or transom-hung rudder.
Rudder repairs
Your rudder is key to the manoeuvrability of your yacht, so whether there are signs of osmosis or the elevated moisture readings, minor faults can cause quick failures. We can remove, inspect, then repair or replace your rudder to ensure it is strong enough for the sailing you want to do.
Coppercoat application
Coppercoat has transformed pleasure craft antifouling. The days of annually scraping or sanding the hull, searching for the right antifoul in the right amount, and applying thick layers of paint are gone. Now, a single application can last many years – it’s common to get 8-10 years of use, meaning annual hull maintenance is reduced to a pressure wash and an anode replacement.
Before applying Coppercoat, the hull must be thoroughly prepared. We’ll remove any remaining antifoul – usually by grit blasting the old layers away –and ensure moisture levels in the hull are low enough. Once we’re satisfied, we’ll apply multiple coats of copper-infused resin necessary to keep marine growth at bay.
Cosmetic changes
If the sun has faded once colourful GRP, or you just fancy changing the appearance of your yacht, we can polish tired-looking hulls or transform them to any colour available with a full topside respray, giving you the appearance of a new yacht at a fraction of the cost. When your yacht leaves us, she’ll have an as-new mirror finish.
Hull lighting
Hull lighting can make your yacht stand out in the harbour, help identify your yacht in a crowded anchorage, attract marine life or just add a colourful dimension to your night boating. We can advise you on the systems available and install underwater hull lights on your yacht or motorboat.
Bow/stern thruster installation
Transform how your yacht handles in tight spaces with the addition of a bow and/or stern thruster. Whether you choose to have a bow thruster to coax a stubborn long-keeled yacht, for the reassurance of a ‘get out of trouble’ system or assistance when entering and leaving berths short-handed, we fit all styles of built in and retractable bow thrusters and we can advise you on the advantages on each system and help you choose what’s right for you.
Gone are the days when you had to have a permanent hole the size of a dinner plate in your forefoot. Retractable thruster systems mean they are fully protected when not in use, and deeper in the water when you do need them. Modern technology allows bow and stern thrusters to be operated remotely and achieve manoeuvres that would be impossible without them.
Seacocks and skin fittings
Faulty skin fittings and seacocks have sunk yachts. There has been a lot of coverage in the marine press about seacocks failing due to dezincification – where the zinc from brass fittings dissolves, leaving a weakened fitting. We can examine all your yacht’s skin fittings and seacocks, then replace them as required.
If your skin fittings are of unknown age and material, we can inspect your yacht and replace the skin fitting, seacock, and tail piece with suitable materials that fit your boat and budget. Whether your yacht uses classic Blakes seacocks or you want to move to corrosion-free composite solutions, we can discuss your needs and recommend the best solution for you and your yacht.
Osmosis treatment
The discovery of osmosis in your yacht’s hull is understandably worrying, but we’re here to help. Whether you’ve discovered elevated moisture levels or found a few pimples, blisters or a large soft patch in your yacht’s hull, we can recommend the most effective way to treat osmosis depending on the age of your yacht.
We undertake all stages of osmosis treatments, from peeling off the affected fibreglass to grit blasting the hull and thoroughly drying it out. Once the hull is dry to a level we are happy with, it will be primed, rebuilt, and filled, as necessary. The hull will then be sanded and primed with an epoxy primer before any finishing coatings like antifoul or copper coat are applied.
Antifoul removal and application
Whether your boat has a decade of rough antifoul, you want to rid yourself of this annual chore, or you’re looking to make the switch to a system like Coppercoat, we can help.
Antifoul is a necessary evil; not only can a fouled bottom decrease your speed, it can increase fuel consumption, and on sailing yachts, it can affect the yacht’s ability to point to windward. Choosing the right antifoul for your intended sailing or motoring can make a difference to your passage times as well as your pocket.
We apply ablative antifoul (self-polishing or erodible that wears off throughout a season, taking the fouling with it), hard antifoul (that’s best for motor boats and can be sanded to a smooth finish if you’re racing), as well as antifouling solutions like Coppercoat and ultrasonic antifoul systems. If you have a preferred brand, we can use that, you can supply your own, or we can source what you need and professionally apply it.
