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HMS Fly

C

Capt Pugwash

Joined
Aug 15, 2026
Messages
2
Points
1
Hi All,
I am at a moment in my build of HMS Fly, when I need to decide about painting or not the bottom of the hull white.
Is there a consensus whether or not, it looks better painted or bare?
I cannot make my mind up.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Regards,
Graham.
 
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I have had the same debate with myself in the past. If fully framed I leave a dozen strakes of planking off below the main wales to show of the framing. If POB, paint is a good choice unless the planking is done correctly with tapering in breadth, spiling or pre-edge bending to avoid lifting. There has been recent discussion on where the bottom paint ends and luckily there is information on where the load water line is fore and aft so it is easier to get it in the right place, just a little above the load water line. Keep in mind the line is close to, but not parallel to the keel if you are a stickler. For Fly, afore it was likely about 12 feet 5 inches above the bottom line of the rabbet, (not the keel.) Abaft it was about 13 feet above the lower line of the rabbet. Not really much of a difference in the end at our most common scales.
Allan
 
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