It's haul out time My Time II a 2004 331 for a bottom paint and some go faster bottom work for cruiser class racing. MY Time II's home is Marina Del Rey, CA. Winds typically 7-15 km. Sails are stock furling main and jib. Her use is short crusing and first year cruising class racing 1. What is the suggested feathering props to use since a folding prop doesn't fit a 331? This is because the rudder is too close to the prop for a folding prop. 2. What are the pros and cons of the feathering props? (speed gain, cost, ease of use, reliability etc.) ? 3. How hard is it to lock / set the prop to feather position given that prop shaft access is under the aft birth cushions? Pain to get to, like the house battery. 4. Any thoughts on smoothing out the aft rubber molding's drag on the wetted areas. That totals about 6+ feet from tack to tack. I had planned to use a flexible filler material to bevel the rubber trim to the hull. I plan to NOT bond it to the rubber trim just because Murphy's Law is always aboard a boat. 5. A fellow racer suggested changing the through hulls to a flush moount type to reduce drag. What type would you suggest? How hard are they to install for a do it yourself captain? Is the potential speed gain worth the trouble? 6. What bottom paint would you suggest (for California's EPA laws). 7. How to best smooth the finish assuming we are not allowed to spray bottom paint in California? 8. How to go down wind faster with a stock roller main and jib? PS I love the boat and I enjoy reading the many topics this site covers.
