Velvet Glove - April 08

The end is now in sight and the biggest job of all; repairing the hull below the waterline is nearly complete. It has been a busy month and the long process of re-coring, sealing, glassing, sanding and fairing the hull is finished.

One of the final touches was to create a unique 'eyebrow' in front of the bowthruster tube. The radius of the Sleipner Sidepower tube is larger than usual to reduce noise, so to negate its impact on hull speed the team shaped a hydro-dynamic blister that effectively deflects the water over the hole. The eyebrow is another example of Osmotech's ability to find solutions that allow advanced modifications to be seamlessly integrated and to improve the boat's all round performance.

One of the trickiest parts of the operation was to replace the horizontal spray rails that reduce spray and give the hull directional stability and precision at speed. The team had to build up the many layers of solid GRP by hand to precisely match the contours of the boat and to accurately follow the way the water flows round the bows as she cruises. This is an exceptionally technical and skilled job and the finished result is as much pleasing to the eye as it is testament to Osmotech's expert workmanship.

Once the rails were faired she received her final layers of paint and copper coat anti-foul. To provide long-lasting protection for the Velvet Glove, Osmotech's team have applied a high quality mixture of copper oxide and water-based epoxy resin that will keep it free of fouling barnacles, marine growth and weed for ten years – making her a bona fide copper-bottomed boat, which will not only keep her swift, but also will negate the need for annual anti-foul treatment until 2018!

Now that the dust has settled and most of the painting is finished, work on the topsides and interior is gathering pace. The headlinings and bathroom fittings are in and the chippies have started to glaze the main Saloon windows. The pair of gleaming white leather captain's chairs are fitted on the flybridge but will remain safely under wraps until the launch and the owner gets to take the helm.