Gemini 105M - Bottom Job and Wave Slap Fix
We have an earlier 105 and you can see the modifications I made to the hull so there wouldn't be as much noise at anchor.
| These pictures show my wave slap fix in progress. The original owner of hull 536 and I were very good friends and we took the factory modification on the horizontal section and applied fiberglass with West Epoxy to make it a permanent fix. While we were doing this, I told him that I thought he should take the slant up the front of the hull to reduce the wave slap while underway or when you are at anchor with large waves. He didn't have enough time since they were getting ready to head to Key West and on to the Bahamas. When I bought the boat from him, two projects needed to be completed on the hull. First it had to be shaved because of the large amount of blisters that we found were voids in the hull. This project I farmed out to the boat yard and they did excellent work shaving, filling, coating and applying an Interlux 2000 barrier coat. The second project was to install the rest of the slap fix that we previously discussed three years ago. Of course, I volunteered him to help with the project. (It's nice when you buy a boat from a friend and stay friends!) Rob Hoffman did a similar fix with a marine instafoam. I used a solid sheet urethane foam which I sawed and shaped to fit. The urethane foam gave a nice flat surface without as much sanding. We were able to take it to the stage you see above before I had to have rotator cuff surgery. I had the yard final sand and apply the gel coat. The result turned out as expected and when my friends sailed with us they immediately noticed the reduction in noise while under sail |
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This is typical of the numerous voids that were uncovered. |
One of the surprises was how quite the boat now is underway when you sit up front. I remember when the people we bought the boat from came over for a sail and they couldn't believe how much quieter the boat was. Overall, The wave slap fix was a great addition. However, the bottom wasn't as successful. There were so many voids that I still have to haul the boat and fill the hull. I think I will fill most of it and then put a layer of 10 ounce glass over the bottom before I final fill and then give it another coat of Interlux 2000. I'm still dreaming up the system to hold the sander up so I don't have to support the entire weight. If my design works as I intend, I will simply guide the sander. That will be another story.
Web Page by Jim Faughn
