Now what

Wondering what to do with the bottom of my boat. Finally got the interior all fixed up and painted. Now, noticed the bottom has split in several areas...looks like where the wood has simply flexed from movement over time. Plan is to epoxy over those areas and then sand it down. Question is, what paint do is use over that? Is there a special paint, anti-fouling paint, or other type to use across the entire bottom? Thanks in advance.

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Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on June 1, 2012 at 8:49pm

Thomas,

If your going to epoxy the bottom you might add a layer or two of 10 Oz. F'glass.  I'd add West
System's graphite to the final two coats.  That will give you a black color and more abrasion resistance .  Prior to that I'd fill the cracks with thickened epoxy and fair the hull prior to glassing.  As far as painting over the epoxy there are several paints to color it.  Several coats of a two part Polyurethane I think would work well.  An anti-fouling paint isn't necessary unless you'll be leaving the boat in the water all the time. 

If your just wanting to add an Epoxy coating, look at West's G-Flex.  It has the ability to make structural bonds that absorb the stress of expansion, contraction, shock and vibration.

G'Luck

phil w.

Permalink Reply by thomas schumacher on June 1, 2012 at 9:05pm
Thanks Phil, great feedback.
Permalink Reply by Rick Newman on June 2, 2012 at 12:10pm

Thomas, I second Phil's suggestions for the treatment of your boat. However I always want to know why something like the cracks in the wood formed. Was it weather, poor storage conditions, rot, etc? If you can post pictures of both the inside and outside of the boat where the cracks are it could prove helpful.

Good luck;

Rick Newman

Permalink Reply by Terry E Walsh on June 3, 2012 at 12:05pm
Fiberglass and west systems epoxy. Simple as that .......and it will look great and be very durable, did it to mine and it was built early 1960.
Permalink Reply by thomas schumacher on June 5, 2012 at 7:45pm
Thanks terry, appreciate all the experienced advice I can get.
Permalink Reply by Brant Jaouen on June 4, 2012 at 9:23am

Tom,

I wouldn't bother painting the bottom. I think the advice of putting on at least a layer of fiberglass then adding graphite to the last two coats is a good idea. If you have any left, I would fill the bottom cracks with System Three  EZFillet. I have found it to be very durable in that kind of application. If you don't feel like adding a layer of glass to the whole thing, you might just get a few yards of 10 oz fiberglass tape (biaxial preferred). Fill the crack then glass tape over it with several coats of epoxy.

Permalink Reply by thomas schumacher on June 5, 2012 at 5:48pm
Thanks brant, I don't plan on glassing the whole thing and I like the idea of a few yards of the biaxal tape. do you like the system three EZFillet more than the quick fair product for going over those cracks. Also, there are several products of epoxy to use as a final coat. What do you recommend?
Permalink Reply by Brant Jaouen on June 5, 2012 at 6:45pm

I think either System Three or West for the final coat is fine. I have used SilverTip or the cheaper System Three product and I've also used Gel Magic (not easy) to wet epoxy. You want to use EZFillet because I think it is the more structural of the two products.

Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on June 5, 2012 at 8:35pm

Thomas,

If your just going to reinforce the crack areas with Biaxial tape and epoxy coat the rest of the bottom it's like putting a bandaid on the boat (Just my opinion).  You'll be back doing more of the same in short order.  If you plan on keeeping the boat in working order for use or selling it you'd be better off fixing the cracks and glassing the whole bottom with minimum of one coat of 10 Oz. Glass w/ the graphite in the last two coats.

G'Luck

phil w.

Permalink Reply by Phillip Westendorf on June 5, 2012 at 10:05pm

Thomas,

There is a whole discussion on this subject (11 pages) In wooden Boat Forum, December 2010.  I have a hard copy of it (with pics) and can send it to you .  I copied the text into Microsoft Word and maybe can change it to a PDF File.  If your interested let me know and I can send it to you in a PM.

phil w.

Permalink Reply by thomas schumacher on June 6, 2012 at 6:58pm
Thanks Phil, that sounds awesome! I'll take it. My email is tschumacher10@hotmail.com. Appreciate it man.
Permalink Reply by Terry E Walsh on June 6, 2012 at 7:20pm
Tom, Phil is right on, You need to glass the whole thing and you really need to go with 20oz glass and graphite mixed in with the last coat. If you really don't want to spend the monie on the graphite you can skip that but you have gone this far and you will be happy you used the glass. All the builders are starting to go this route. You don't have to worry much when you go this way about the impact with the riverbed and dragging your boat over the rocks.

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