This 55ft x 10ft wide beam had been built a fair few years previously but had never actually made it into the water. Despite this, signs of corrosion and some pitting were already evident on the hull.
Once the boat was shot blasted, another issue became apparent. When originally built, the rubbing strakes had not been fully welded underneath. This had allowed corrosion to develop behind and along the underside of the strakes – areas that cannot be properly accessed by shot blasting.
After discussing our findings with the new owner, it was decided that the best long-term solution was to fully weld underneath all of the rubbing strakes, sealing these vulnerable areas and helping to prevent further corrosion developing behind them in the future.
The complete exterior of the wide beam, including the base plate, was shot blasted back to clean steel, allowing the hull to be properly prepared and protected with a two-pack epoxy coating system.
This project is a great example of why shot blasting can be worthwhile even on a boat that has never been in the water. It allows us to see the true condition of the steel, identify potential problems that may otherwise remain hidden and rectify them before applying the protective coatings.
The result was a properly prepared and protected hull, giving the new owner peace of mind before the wide beam finally takes to the water.

Boat: Before You Launch !

55ft x 10ft Wide Beam – Protecting the Hull Before Launch