New sneak boat update

Howard,
Boat looks awesome. Do you mix the graphite in with the epoxy? Is that your own plans? Keep the pics coming as you have more time to work on it. Good luck
 
We got to watch 3 eagles giving the coots hell at our complex this last winter, it was quite a site. I understand why the seagulls are nervous!
 
Howard,
Boat looks awesome. Do you mix the graphite in with the epoxy? Is that your own plans? Keep the pics coming as you have more time to work on it. Good luck
Click to expand...


The graphite powder is available from RAKA. I mix it about 1 OZ to 20 OZ mixed epoxy and roll it on. Use 2 coats then lightly sand it. It gives a super hard surface and it is really slick.

The boat and building technique are both my version of the ZT Widgeon but with a planning hull. It ought to be scary fast.
 
Howard,
nice work. Glad you have time to check in.

A person of importance at the banding day I just went to said that our population of White Headed Vultures was growing.
I wasnt sure what bird was being discussed. They asked if I had ever seen what they eat?
 
We are seeing lots of eagles in northern va too. All winter long we saw them hunting, they were nesting nearby.... like 3 or 4 pr apparently. Lately there are a pr that have been hunting over a pond near work. They appear to have decimated the goslings. A month ago, there were close to a hundred of them, and now I don't see any.
 
Howard,
Boat looks awesome. Do you mix the graphite in with the epoxy? Is that your own plans? Keep the pics coming as you have more time to work on it. Good luck
Click to expand...


The graphite powder is available from RAKA. I mix it about 1 OZ to 20 OZ mixed epoxy and roll it on. Use 2 coats then lightly sand it. It gives a super hard surface and it is really slick.

The boat and building technique are both my version of the ZT Widgeon but with a planning hull. It ought to be scary fast.
Click to expand...

looks good! do you use this as your outside coat? I have always found that epoxy itself doesn't weather good in the sun. does the graphite help with deterioration on the hull surface? or do you have to recoat with something else
 
Tom, I only use the graphite on the bottom of the hull. I try to not store in direct sun light. I've been using it for about 5 years without a problem.
 
Looks good! I was looking a useing a bed liner on the bottom of my boat at least, another member told me about this product called frog skin as well as others. Would you say the graphite would be the better way to go?
 
Tyler, the graphite gives it a really hard and slick surface, the boat just slides off the trailer and it is alot more abrasion resistant in sand or any other type of botton. Slids over rocks easier too. It's supper cheap and Bob's yer Uncle.
 
Bed liner adds unnecessary weight and drag and it sometimes doesn't hold up on keels, skegs and chines. I would consider using it on the interior, but only in taped off sections of the high traffic areas. If you use it, use as little as possible.

Graphite is cheap and can be mixed with epoxy resin, which is very user friendly. The Frog Spit product (I am not familiar with Frog Skin) is polyester resin based, so it is used like gel coat. It stinks like styrene, but it is marketed as being user friendly. I don't trust it because I hated my experience with polyester resin.

Some guys swear by aluminum powder instead of graphite for abrasion resistance. I asked about it on Bateau and they dismissed aluminum powder as second rate although they didn't offer any data to support the statement. No one seems to have done a side by side comparison. I trust Bateau, so I'll follow their recommendations, proof or not. I think I'll do a side to side comparison once I get an opportunity.

My two cents.

Nate
 
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