Videos & Slide Shows

Recent Press

Paradigm Shift
Why Are We Doing This?
Speed
360-Degree Views
A Different Perspective
Our Own Time Machine
Weathering the Storm

Heavy Wx Issues
Directional Control
Stability,Comfort, Capsize Resistance
Hull Shape & Pitching
Hull & Deck Structure
Painted or Bare Aluminum?
Hull Maintenance
Glazing
Comfort

FPB 64 Intro
2nd Series Changes & Options
On Deck
Awnings
Aft Deck
Interior
Storage
Hull Shape
Forepeak
Engine Room
Jury Rig
Systems
Tankage
Range
Structure
Factors of Safety
The Team
FAQs
The Next Step
Latest Progress
FPB 64 Notes

Flying Bridge
Tropical Considerations
Working on Deck
Jury Rig
Roll Control
Swim Step

Interior Layout
Galley
Saloon
Staterooms
Nav Station/Bridge
Ship's Office
Laundry Facilities

Drive Line
Electrical Systems
Refrigeration
Heating/Hot Water
Motion Control
Air Conditioning
Domestic Water

A Different Approach
Design Milestones
Details
Beowulf Series
Contact Us

We have been working through the paint or bare question with clients for twenty-plus years. There are many practical reasons for leaving the topside aluminum bare, but you also need to enjoy looking at the boat.

These first two photos are of Wind Horse during her first three months out of the build shed. She still has the super shiny new brushed aluminum look. It is very cool, and stands out well amongst rows of painted (or gelcoated) cruising yachts.

The photo above is at the end of the summer 2006. Wind Horse has now been out of the shed for seventeen months. Still pretty shiny.

Here she is in Greenland, forty months after hitting salt air. She has now traveled close to 40,000 miles, laid against fenders during in-the-water storage for half of this time, and looks, to our eye at least, pretty good.

Let's look at the advantages of bare aluminum:

But what happens if you fall in love with the new boat look and want to keep your FPB shiny? This is easily solved with some young muscle, a bit of scaffolding, and a lot Scotchbrite abrasive pads during haul out. And with the interest earned on the money saved by going bare you can more than pay the yard bill for polishing the topsides.