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Permalink Reply by AJ DeRosa on February 10, 2009 at 6:35am

Truck bed liner has been the rage for the stitch and glue builders for the past ten years or so. It works well for them, especially at the chine, since they don't have a sacraficial chine cap to absorb the hits. Not as slick as glass/resin/graphite, could be better than uhmw if applied only to the bottom and not up and over the chine as in stitch and glue. Personally I would not use it on a framed boat because once it's on it would be impossible to remove. The thing I like about framed boats is that you can keep them alive for generations by replacing chine caps and bottoms every 50 years or so. I know there are some stitch and glue guys lurking out there and they could add much to this thread. Sandy and Jason, what do you guys think.

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Permalink Reply by Kenny Kent on February 10, 2009 at 9:28pm

Does the spray on slide over rocks? On the south coast the rivers often are low and rapids are sometimes very shallow causing the bottom to drag. My UHMW slides over very nicely without marks or grabs. I know the bedliner in my truck tends to stop things from sliding around in the bed.

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Permalink Reply by Randy Dersham on February 11, 2009 at 5:06pm

If you are having it put on by professionals you can ask for as smooth a finish as they can do. Many installers add the texture with a spraying technique. Linex is the spray on that claims to be "self healing" and seems the most popular.

None of the spray on polys are as slick as UHMW; it is so slick that it can't be glued. I agree with A.J. that a fiberglass/resin/bottom with graphite additive and then lightly sanded is slicker than bed liner although it's not as slick as UHMW.

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Permalink Reply by Mike Buck on February 11, 2009 at 9:22pm

I've talked to some of the folks with metal boats and they like the spray on. Their only comment is the added weight over say gluvit. And yes once it is on it is on for good/bad.

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Permalink Reply by Jesse Ronnow on February 11, 2009 at 10:18pm

I have a spray on liner on the bottom of my boat and it is a frame boat, not a stitch and glue. I did some research on what the added weight would be and if applied professionally and done correctly it weigh's .7 pounds per sq foot. I have not noticed any "slowing". As was mentioned by Randy a smooth finish is a must. The standard "tacky" finish which on my boat comes up over the chines a bit is very "graby". I have the smooth finish on the bottom and have been able to slide over the rocks I have encountered with ease. In all fairness I spend the vast majority of my time on the South Fork of the Snake and therefore do not encounter all that many big rocks, just lots of gravel bars and rocky banks. This winter I took a close look and the bottom and it looks great. I hope this helps.

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