So you want to have the fairest, smoothest and fastest boat on the water?

Your first priority should be your blades. If your blades are working to their maximum capacity, they will have a much bigger impact on your speed than just having a good bottom.

Once the blades are finished pay more attention to the front half of the boats bottom. That’s where the water flow is still attached to the hull surface. Make sure the front sections are looking good then work aft.

You should use 300 sandpaper and finish with 600 or 800. New boats can start with 220. The finer you sand the hull the easier it is to keep clean and it won’t get so yellow.

Once you finish sanding you should polish the bottom with a fine rubbing compound. Applied by hand is still the best way. Once that is finished polish with Teflon or spray the bottom with a coating of McLube. Before you do this you must make sure every flake of compound is off your bottom and blades. Let it dry then polish. Note: do not use McLube and Teflon together; pick one or the other process.

Don’t forget the inside and outside of centerboard trunks. They tend to get dirty and could scratch up newly faired blades.

By Caleb Paine