Adriatic Sailboat Reborn

A client approached us with a request: he had recently purchased a sailing yacht in the Adriatic Sea and wanted the underwater hull inspected after hauling out — and if necessary, a complete restoration.
Since he intended to keep the yacht for many years, he was looking for a long-term solution, not a quick fix.

Knowing that workmanship in some Croatian marinas can be less than professional, we anticipated a real challenge.

After hauling out, we began with a thorough pressure wash (which the marina charged extra for). It quickly became evident that the underwater section had been neglected for years.
Multiple layers of old antifouling paint had built up over several seasons, creating visible craters and several millimeters of thickness, as none of the previous layers had been sanded back.

We started with manual sanding (raskettázás), followed by a full pass using a Mirka Deros sander with Mirka Abranet 80–120 grit sanding mesh.
At this point, the gelcoat layer showed mild spider cracking, so we decided to rework the entire underwater surface with Tikalflex Fast Patch, applied in two layers after proper cleaning and degreasing.

Once completely cured, the surface was sanded again to achieve an even texture, then primed with two coats of International Primocon primer.
Next came the antifouling. In consultation with the owner, we discussed how often he hauls the boat, how frequently he sails, and the depth and salinity of his mooring.
The chosen solution was the Marlin semi-hard matrix antifouling, applied in two coats.

To protect the underwater metals and the hull, we installed a new set of sacrificial anodes.
Since the yacht had previously been used for charter, the old Yanmar 4JHE engine was also replaced with a Craftsman Marine diesel engine.
The engine compartment was fully sanded, degreased, and repainted, followed by new acoustic insulation.
We also installed a new shaft bearing, new stuffing box (Stuffybox), and a three-blade Radice propeller.

And because a satisfied client is the best kind, we surprised him with a small gift — a bit of “night light” so our work could shine even after sunset.