Is Fairing of the Hull Permitted

published 09/13/2021

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Please also refer to IECA website, 04/11/2019: https://etchells.org/news/article/removing-gelcoat

• Is reducing the thickness of the moulded gelcoat over large areas of the boat by grinding, planing, sanding or fairing permitted?
  • C.7.1.(b) applies.
  • No, it is not permitted.
• Are highs and lows in the finish of a hull surface caused by resin shrinkage during curing “local imperfections”? If yes, then is it permitted that they be changed by grinding, planing, sanding, fairing and/or the application of putty fillers and coatings?
  • It is not possible to respond with certainty on “highs and lows in the finish of a hull surface” without dimensions. Members and licensed builders are advised to check with a measurer for guidance as to what constitutes local imperfections.
  • For local imperfections, yes it is permitted.
• Is the degree of fairness of a hull or a part of a hull that is inherited from its mould, “local imperfections”? If yes, then is it permitted that they be changed by grinding, planing, sanding, fairing and/or the application of putty fillers and coatings?
  • It is not possible to comment on the degree of fairness without dimensions. Members and licensed builders are advised to check with a measurer for guidance as to what constitutes local imperfections.
  • For local imperfections, yes it is permitted.
• Is removing any asymmetries in a hull inherited from its mould, by fairing, permitted?
  • C.7.1.(b) applies.
  • No, it is not permitted.
• Is removing any asymmetries in the skeg or rudder, by fairing, permitted?
  • C.7.1.(b) applies.
  • Members and licensed builders are advised to check with a measurer for guidance as to whether to asymmetries either (a) are local imperfections, or (b) render the skeg or rudder outside measurement tolerances. In these cases, yes it is permitted.
• Is “full hull fairing” permitted to a new hull prior to assembly with the deck?
  • C.7.1.(b) applies.
  • Not if the hull fairing changes the hull shape beyond local imperfections.
• Is “full hull fairing” permitted to a new or near new hull?
  • C.7.1.(b) applies.
  • Not if the hull fairing changes the hull shape beyond local imperfections.
• Is “full hull fairing” permitted to an aged hull?
  • C.7.1.(b) applies.
  • Not if the hull fairing changes the hull shape beyond local imperfections.
• Is “profile removal” permitted?
  • C.7.1.(b) applies.
  • Not if the profile removal changes the hull shape beyond local imperfections.

Submission from Swan River Fleet, April 26, 2021

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