I see a lot out there that may work very well. Thoughts?
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Aberdeen, Washington State
1990 NACRA 5.8
2017 Hobie Getaway
Memento Mori...
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Bottom Protection…Anyone use UHMW tape on their bottoms?
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Posted: Jun 08, 2021 - 05:02 PM
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Posted: Jun 08, 2021 - 06:40 PM
Post a link perhaps.
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'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
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Posted: Jun 09, 2021 - 12:18 PM
Ultra high molecular tape would seem to be a good solution for a wear surface that can be replaced on beach cats. I'm not aware of anyone using it, but it seems logical enough, especially for skeg hulls.
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Tom
NACRA 5.7 (1984 Sail 181)
Pennsylvania
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Posted: Jun 09, 2021 - 01:34 PM
I looked at the various options, since where I beach at, there's tons of shells and rocks embedded in the sand, etc. and already fixed some divets. Found the stuff tailor made for hull protection, but it's pretty dang expensive, IIRC. Couldn't find "just UHMW Tape", though I'm sure it exists. Out of frustration and time, I ended up taping off my hulls and adding a wear strip of UV-resistant epoxy with black tint to help in UV resistance. Figured it would be very easy to repair; just sand an paint more on like gel coat, only tougher and easier to deal with; it can be thickened also, so easy to do on the trailer.
Don't know how it'll work...been a slow start to the season, to say the least.
Edited by charlescarlis on Jun 09, 2021 - 03:20 PM.
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Chuck C.
H21SE 408
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Posted: Jun 09, 2021 - 02:54 PM
Whatever you tried to link to your post didn't take.
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'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
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Posted: Jun 09, 2021 - 02:55 PM
I never heard of people using tape but sounds possible
We have several g-cats that had put metal rub rails burried in gelcoat for Hobie landings up the beach - not the fastest option
I always thought about burying a strip of kevlar cloth under some gelcoat but .....
I do use this stuff when i make repairs these days
423 Graphite Powder
423 Graphite Powder is a fine black powder that can be mixed with epoxy to produce a low-friction exterior coating with increased scuff resistance and durability. Epoxy/graphite is commonly used as a low-load, low-speed bearing surface, as a coating on rudders and centerboards, or on the bottoms of racing craft that are dry sailed.
https://www.westsystem.com/423-graphite-powder-2/
https://www.westsystem.co…2-barrier-coat-additive/
422 Barrier Coat Additive
While WEST SYSTEM Epoxy creates an excellent moisture barrier by itself, 422 Barrier Coat Additive is a proprietary blend designed to further improve cured epoxy’s moisture exclusion effectiveness. 422 is used as a barrier coating additive to help prevent gelcoat blistering in polyester fiberglass boats. 422 also increases the epoxy’s abrasion resistance. Cures to a light gray color.
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Posted: Jun 09, 2021 - 03:10 PM
https://www.3m.com/3M/en_…apes/slick-surface/uhmw/
I could find nothing here that was rated as waterproof.
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'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
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Posted: Jun 09, 2021 - 03:26 PM
Fixed images above - I wanted to do the UHMW stuff, but at $200-$300, it sounded too iffy. I think "Keel Shield" was the closest option, but still as bad in price.
So, when you look at the graphite additive, it actually softens the finished layup; that's why I skipped it. I did add some colloidal silica into the epoxy to thicken it to something thicker than latex paint to get the wear layer depth I wanted, and then of course tinted it to look better. Came out tougher than the original fiberglass, but still the jury's out until I can hard test it. I've seen this done before somewhere on a catamaran, so someone's figured this business out I'm sure. Might explain the plain-old "bottom job" threads...old fashioned fixes for a reason; they likely "just work". No free lunch.
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Chuck C.
H21SE 408
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Posted: Jun 09, 2021 - 05:04 PM
https://www.gator-guards.…ts/keelshield-keel-guard
This does not look like something I want on my cat. Looks like a great deal of drag.
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'82 Super Cat 15
Hull #315
Virginia
Previously owned: '70 H14, '79 H16, '68 Sailmaster 26, '85 H14T
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Posted: Jun 10, 2021 - 09:49 AM
We have had 3M tape on the Tornado for years. Works great. Its pricey but worth it. Available from McMaster
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John
Nacra 5.0
CT
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Posted: Jun 10, 2021 - 10:39 AM
Guessing you're talking about the masking/protecting tape that they use on car rocker panels?
Like:
https://www.mcmaster.com/tape/masking-and-protecting-tape/heavy-duty-surface-protection-tape/
The 4" tape looks like the "good compromise", and being able to get a strip down the entire hull.
That may also have application at high-wear points like where rollers or bunks contact the hulls, but then again - are we going too far at that point? Probably not - be easier to remove, clean and slap a new sticker on than do bottom jobs..
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Chuck C.
H21SE 408
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Posted: Jun 10, 2021 - 04:43 PM
Quick amazon search found this https://www.amazon.com/dp…Y5P7?_encoding=UTF8&th=1. you'd need 2, so about $45
I'm redoing the gelcoat this year and certainly will consider adding this - sand abrasion is pretty harsh, and I figure that even if I have to reapply every year it will be significantly easier then new gelcoat.
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Chris Lewis
Wilmette, IL
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Posted: Jun 12, 2021 - 01:03 PM
I found this in google, seems like a good solution.
https://crownplastics.com…tics.com/markets/marine/
But the adhesive tape is easier and I guess much cheaper, if it can stand at least a year of use in the sand I would use it.
