Interesting tidbit

[Scott in MN]

A short while ago I was running for some top end numbers and thinking about my setup. I remembered at the beginning of the season when I was making some slight changes to my CLE that there was about 4 layers of paint (4 separate paint jobs) on it. I brought a DA and sponge block from work and removed most of the paint and straightened any remaining uneveness with the block. The next testing session I gained 2.5 MPH....Kind of suprised me the amount of speed gained. Scott

[vector mike]

Did you leave the paint rough or take it all off? It is always said that a rough paint finish is faster than a smooth one. That is why I sanded the bottom of my boat and have my lower painted in primer. When Titus does the lowers he's offers them to be painted half and half. Rough paint on the bottom. ;)

[RB in NM]

Scott,
I took my stock Sporty , lined sanded the bullet from front to rear, removed all of the ripples and High / Low spots ( surprised mow much there is in stock form..) Touched up the water inlets a bit, blunted the nose a tad, left the texture with a rough Scotch Bite pad finish, from front to rear.

I picked up a little speed, but the handling was far better.


Mike, the 200 Titus case I have was left primered all the way. Titus will paint the whole thing or as you mentioned, all but the half way down on the bullet.

Russ

[Scott in MN]

Mike, the lower unit was already sanded with 320 by me. I took the paint off to aluminum/Epoxy. The only paint left was in "low" areas. I finished it by sanding with 320 again. The speed increase was due to the removal of the thick paint film and I removed a little epoxy where I felt it was too thick at the cone.
Russ, this unit always drove nice but I am starting to wonder at what speed I have to worry about blow out with a Bob's cone and no blow-out ring.