Bottom maintenance advice

Hello all, I a little behind on prep for the upcoming season.  The bottom of my 16'x48 needs a little help.  Not sure if I should consider repairs, Ptex, epoxy etc., or replace the UHMW(?) plastic sheet. Any thoughts are appreciated.

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Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on March 27, 2015 at 5:15pm

Step one: remove all the screws holding the UHMW sheet on.

Step two: Remove the damaged chine cap

Step three: remove all the screws that broke off

Step four: inspect the plywood bottom, the interior frames, the inner chine and any wood you can see touch or poke with a small sharp obect. You are looking for soft wood, discolored wood, rot, evidence of leaks, holes, etc.

Step five: post pictures and tell us about what you found

Anything on a drift boat can be restored or replaced. It just depends on how much time, money and effort you want to expend. There are several examples of the work you are about to undertake previously posted on the site, use the search function to look for. If you break off screws or end up with big holes where screws once were they can be repaired. I have added information on how to post pictures. Good luck!

To post a picture I first locate the file so you could find it on your computer.  Click on the small icon above the box where I am currently typing. It is just to the right of the small icon that says "LINK". That will open a box that reads: "ADD IMAGE". You can choose from FROM MY COMPUTER or FROM A URL. If you choose computer, then a double click will start the process of copying the picture so it can be posted on the website server.

When your picture will be posted it will be full sized and there will be no clear margin around it unless you select "padding."  Selecting 1 means you will have 1 pixel, or very small space around the outside of your picture. Unless you are trying to place several pictures tightly together you can ignore padding.

You can chose to post the picture to the left right or centered on the page. You can also make a picture larger or smaller based on the width in pixels that you select.

Click okay and the picture will be copied to the post you are working on. Hope that helps. Let me know if you have any questions.

Rick Newman

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bird on March 28, 2015 at 5:52am

Rick, thanks for the detailed reply.  Were you able to see the pics I posted of the floor?  Do you know of a good source for UHMW sheeting? 

Kevin

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on March 28, 2015 at 6:25am

I saw the pics. I don't know of a good source.

Rick N

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bird on March 28, 2015 at 4:27pm

Thanks Rick.  Has anyone ever used or heard of anyone putting lineX or similar products on the bottom of a Drift?  I know they can do a smooth finish.

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on March 28, 2015 at 5:26pm

Kevin, there is quite a bit of discussion both on here and on montana-riverboats.com, I'll let you sort out the differing opinions and see what makes sense to you.

Rick N

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bird on March 28, 2015 at 7:29pm

Cheers

Permalink Reply by Bob bryan on March 29, 2015 at 9:00pm
I know there are many who do not like UHMW because of the expansion problems but I replaced my UHMW with epoxy/glass/graphite and have regretted it ever since. There are maintenance issues , somewhere down the road you might have to refill some screw or bolt holes but overall the performance of UHMW is so much better than anything else the downside is worth it. Nothing....nothing slides over skinny water like UHMW. As to buying new sheets just look online for the nearest plastics retailer , like Tap plastics, so you don't have to drive any farther then needed. Keep in mind this is simply my opinion on UHMW and many feel trading the slick properties of UHMW for the lower upkeep of other methods a better choice. Of course the next time they take the wrong fork and have to push the boat over a couple hundred feet of almost dry rocks they might reconsider.
Permalink Reply by Kevin Bird on March 30, 2015 at 6:29pm

Bob, thanks for the reply.  Initially I'm going to look for replacement UHMW sheeting and price it.  I guess I will decide from there. I have been reading up on lots of thoughts on the subject here.  I better make something happen before the season is upon me :)

Thanks, Kevin

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bird on March 31, 2015 at 12:49pm

Hi Steve. That is awesome.  I'll take it.  Lived in Salida, JV, BV for many years. I will contact you and make arrangements to catch up.  Maybe you could convince me to move along to glass as well.

Cheers Kevin

719-250-0344

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on March 31, 2015 at 1:17pm

Kevin, how often do you find yourself stranded with no water? Do the rivers drop so fast that you can't predict which channels will be dry? Have you removed the UHMW yet?

Rick N

Permalink Reply by Kevin Bird on March 31, 2015 at 7:17pm

Hi Rick.  Never.... always water in the rivers I run. Always water in one channel or another. My last couple trips down the Arkansas at 400 cfs last Oct. beat the bottom up a bit.  I have not removed it yet.  What are your thoughts?

Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on March 31, 2015 at 7:58pm

Let's see what the bottom of your boat looks like. I am interested to see what the movement of the UHMW has done to screw holes and if any moisture entered the plywood.

Rick

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