S4#34. Yacht Certification - why you need it! AND Portofino 52 Update - Painting Starts!

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This week we meet up with the yacht certification experts and find out why you need yacht certification.... The benefits are more than peace of mind - there are insurance and registration advantages.... Also of the builders, there are benefits to improve the building and production processes, so it can be more streamlined and improve sales!
We also share the start of the Portofino 52 painting process that is now underway and discuss our choices and the reason behind them!
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[@davidmartin3947]

Plainly another great choice in having the boat painted. Looks better, and stays cooler.

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Thanks David, always some compromises or extra cost zo we are happy with our decision!

[@davidmartin3947]

@@barefootdoctorssailing8567 Apropos of our discussions on the Windelo forward cockpit, the folk at Sailing Second Star seem happy with the shelter and ease of sail handling it offers. What I like about them is that they don't set themselves up as something they are not, and in no way would their level of experience compare to yours. But they have crossed the Atlantic in fairly sporty conditions, and so their comments can't be dismissed. The build quality also appears to be good, with no exceptional faults that others have had. Of course none of that makes the Windelo's shallow draft and beacheable, or have the greater accommodation offered by flared hulls, so of course with your criteria your choice was the way to go. They do seem to be decent boats though, and the innovative forward cockpit seems to work well.

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

@ Hi David, yes the Windelo certainly had the best forward steering position I have seen in any cat so far.

[@PhillipHogg-n5h]

❤ good factfinder, cheers guys. 🎅👍😊🌏🐬

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Nice of you to comment again Phillip, thanks!

[@juergenzenner4219]

As usual a very interesting and informative episode!! Great job❤

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Glad you enjoyed it, Juergen!

[@mangowalter8239]

You had me going with that “green eggs and ham” boat color! 😮 I was running all these thoughts through my head how I was going to gently tell you that the color looked like something you would find in a baby’s diaper. 🫢 💩 lol 😂 I love the additional yacht certification you are getting on your catamaran. Their standards are high and their certification is another reason your Portofino will be the gold standard. Now, did I address that green egg color …. 😜🤪☺️

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Hi Mango, we did think of not telling folk till next week but that would just have been tooooo painful for everyone!!! Thanks for your comments and glad we got you going!

[@ahminmabed5166]

Cheers guys.

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Thanks Ahmin for your regular support!

[@dc1544]

Speaking of paint. make sure to get an extra quart of it. for any dings or scratches that happen and they will. also so you can color match it.

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Absolutely - will do!!! Thanks

[@StephenHung2274]

Pearl white with cyber cyan stripes could be both cool and sleek looking

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Sounds very nice!

[@jackwickman2403]

What is the fairing/filler material? Epoxy? Polyester? How is the aluminum surface prepared? Sandblasting? Chemical solvent wash? Acid etch? Is a primer sprayed on before the filler is applied?

[@skeetamacgyver1821]

Great questions- Aluminium can be very difficult to paint properly. There is a 90foot monohull at my Marina that has been repainted twice and it is already peeling away.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

​@@skeetamacgyver1821 Degrease and tack cloth wipe , then special Al etch primer, then high quality UV stablised two pack paint..

[@skeetamacgyver1821]

@ expoxy or polyurethane 2 pack paint?

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Hi Jack, I will share what I understand and get the rest of the info for you later. The raw aluminium is sanded (ground) to get rid of the oxide layer and create the grip, then the primer paint is applied, the filler - but I will have to find out what product they are using. On my 42 footer, I used West Systems epoxy with "balls" to create the softer sandable filler.

[@julesmoto9022]

Do you know the total weight that the filler and paint adds? I must say the finnish looks stunning.

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

At this stage we don;t know because they put stuff on then sand most of it off again - we expect about 100kg (maybe less, maybe more,,,) but they will weigh the boat after the filler to know what it added.

[@kirkb3473]

I really like the gray color of the smaller portofino, but anything you choose will look great. I’d just keep it a lighter shade so it’s easier to maintain and still look nice even when it’s a bit dirty. Robin Egg Blue is my vote ❤

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Thanks Kirk!!

[@BostonClipper]

Have you ever considered Hull Shield?

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Thanks for that clarification, Tomas! We will see how the P52 sails when she is launched and yes, many people have different understandings of what performance means and they are definitely using it comparatively to other lesser performing boats.

[@BostonClipper]

@@barefootdoctorssailing8567 Reply to the wrong comment? Happy Holidays!

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

@@BostonClipper Yes it clearly ended up under the wrong comment!!!

[@BostonClipper]

@@barefootdoctorssailing8567 I wanted to let you know that you may want to resend it to Tomas. What are your thoughts on the Hull Shield HD Series?

[@wrobelda]

18:30 Italians investigating Italians in Dubai might be a slight conflict of interest for Portofino, I am afraid.

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

I believe that RINA Is above any bias as they have to certify all the boats in Italy too so can hardly drop their standards for partisan reasons or they will lose their licence

[@skeetamacgyver1821]

Certifiers are like Rating Agencies. They start off with their beat people doing a thorough job but over time they become a rubber stamp. Good to have when selling but nothing replaces your own due diligence.

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

It seems like these guys at RINA never let anything through without very detailed checks - even years down the track they are in there and confirming the quality remains and the function of the boat is up to standard....

[@davidperham897]

Certified for Safety ! And also to quality for Insurance (and they are very expensive and Fussy)

[@johndewaard8032]

Have u guys had any warranty issues with your boat

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

None of significance - only water pump pressure sensor, one leaking window and door latch replacement kind of stuff. All fixed by Leopard without any issue.

[@NikolaiandMariaRomanov]

❤❤❤

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Hi Guys and we hope all is well you both!

[@bryanboldt887]

Video does not wield an entirely accurate story regarding welds. Portofino has a cost cutting implementation that adds weight from excess weld material and the need to apply filler material and paint the entire exterior. The alternative channel welding, involves more time and cost to grind out V shapes in the join areas, then grind out the excess that needlessly sits above the panels, leaving a clean, smooth hull shape that is lighter weight and does not require filler or paint (optional). Your welds are not stronger, just less cost and results in a heavier build.

[@barefootdoctorssailing8567]

Hi Bryan, I don;t remember any implication that our welds are "stronger" than anyone else's so we're not sure what makes you make that comment. The process is in place to ensure the strongest join possible (and I don;t believe we ever compared others in this regards - the only question was about the grinding off of the bulge.) I am not an engineer but the welds done on the PF have the requirements for certification of doing them with V shape and two layer of welds on the V side and a third on the other side. This will be exactly what all the other good welders will do as it is standard practice. The weight of the bulge on the weld is not significant compared to the rest of the build and grinding off the bulges has to be done skilfully as it can weaken the weld. Portofino offers polished aluminium finish, paint, wrap or gel coat but we don;t want the boat to look too industrial and we have seen some very unattractive raw aluminium boats so CHOSE painting to have it look nice. Of course the filler will add some weight but only a 100kg or so. We know that the quality of the welds is excellent and been tested with three different processes (at signficant cost I expect by PF) - pressure testing to 3 bar, ultrsonics and penetrant testing. This is a very example to show that the implication that PF is trying to icost cut is incorrect. We have the certification that the welding is done to the proper standards and there are no defects which is reassuring to us. What others do is their call but the all competent and experienced welders should do it right anyway! Hope that clarifies some of the info for you.