Newsletter 13th August 2026

We have been focused on the bottom of the boat for a few days. It includes some very messy work so it has been good that it has been warm with high tide in the middle of the day. So after getting covered in fibreglass and resin dust I have been able to go for a quick swim.

Some of this is finishing work we started over 6 years ago. The boat originally had lots of holes in the bottom for sink drains, the toilets and so on. We had filled all these but now we have been finishing them properly.

There was some concern that the epoxy resin we used for the repairs might have suffered UV damage (despite being on the underside and so out of direct sunlight and also being in North Wales). So we used the grinder to go back a few layers to really good resin.

Then each of the 11 old holes got painted with epoxy resin, a little thickened resin was added to fill any unevenness, 3 extra layers of fibreglass saturated with epoxy resin.

Once that had cured the next step was to fill each of them with epoxy fairing (resin with tiny glass spheres added to make it gloopy). Then they all got sanded (very messy and tiring holding the orbital sander upside down up to the hull and varying heights).

Today we added a thin layer of more epoxy fairing (and touched up a few other dings).

One more sand, then we add an epoxy barrier coat (extra waterproofness to protect from Osmosis), final sand - then we are ready for the antifouling paint.

The antifouling paint is going to be 3 different layers and 5 or 6 coats in total (primer x 2 or 3; tie coat x 1; silicon x 2). They are quite fussy "paints", some tins have to be used within 1 hour and the over-coating times are strict (for some layers it has to be over-coated between 2 and 4 hours after application). Once this is on we have to launch within a month or add an extra layer of the silicon.

One of the old holes has had to have extra special "treatment" as it is where the speed and depth sensor (transducer) needs to go. So we need a new hole but the hull slopes at 26° and the sensor needs 20° or less. I've had to build a wedge, epoxy that on, cover it with fibreglass and filler and then drill the hole. I'm now within 12° which is great.

We have rain forecast tomorrow, if that stops work on the hull then it will be back to the bilge pump project 😄

Coastal path

On Monday we did a key section of the Anglesey Coastal path that is closed between September and March for bird nesting. Quite a long section by our standards (we did 13.4km). Now only one shorter section remains before we have completed the Anglesey Coastal path (excluding most of Holy Island).

A very beautiful bit of the coast (providing you ignore Wylfa Nuclear power station).

Thanks for all your support!

Love Dave and Jane