How’s your graphite bottom?

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jbo_c
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How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by jbo_c »

Those of you that have done graphite bottoms on your boats and used them a few years - are you happy with the performance? Is it still as you expected?

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cape man
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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by cape man »

11 years on Clara and I'm happy.
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VT_Jeff
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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by VT_Jeff »

2 pretty hard seasons and super happy, redoing my driftboat with epoxy/graphite soon, was painted.
There are only two seasons in Vermont: boating season, and boat-building season.

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jbo_c
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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by jbo_c »

Thanks for the validation, gents.

If we manage to have warm(ish) weather here through Thanksgiving, I may be able to get the graphite on the bottom of my boat before the project is done for the winter.

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BarraMan
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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by BarraMan »

On the other hand, I have a graphite bottom on my boat (6 yrs) - but wouldn't bother doing again. 8O Can't convince myself that its worth the trouble! :doh:

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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by VT_Jeff »

BarraMan wrote: Wed Nov 02, 2022 7:09 pm On the other hand, I have a graphite bottom on my boat (6 yrs) - but wouldn't bother doing again. 8O Can't convince myself that its worth the trouble! :doh:
Interesting. One thing I like about it is the lack of trouble. You can do multiple coats, wet on wet, no sanding in between, no 7 days drying in between. I found it much easier and quicker than the painted areas on my boat.
There are only two seasons in Vermont: boating season, and boat-building season.

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Completed Jacques Mertens FS14LS + 10%, Build Thread
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jbo_c
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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by jbo_c »

This is what I like: “One thing I like about it is the lack of trouble. You can do multiple coats, wet on wet, no sanding in between, no 7 days drying in between.”

I figure if I’m going to have to coat it with something anyway and this isn’t problematic for some reason, it’s an easy call.

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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by Jaysen »

I’m “hard” on the boat bottom as I have to launch/retrieve by dragging it up a concrete ramp. No matter which method I use it isn’t lasting more than two trips. Graphite is an easy touch up compared to paint.

Disclaimer: displacement hull doesn’t care it the touch up is perfect. Planing hull cares a lot more about the touch up smoothness.
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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by 94'325is »

I've done graphite on several boats and on my primary skiff it's been great for ~6 years so far. A few touch ups here and there but mostly because I was doing the bottom on another boat and had some leftover. I'm a big fan of how it wears when beaching and being drug; I'd do it again without hesitation. I also did 3 layers when it was new and seems to have not really worn much at all.

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Re: How’s your graphite bottom?

Post by OneWayTraffic »

Jaysen wrote: Thu Nov 03, 2022 10:41 am I’m “hard” on the boat bottom as I have to launch/retrieve by dragging it up a concrete ramp. No matter which method I use it isn’t lasting more than two trips. Graphite is an easy touch up compared to paint.

Disclaimer: displacement hull doesn’t care it the touch up is perfect. Planing hull cares a lot more about the touch up smoothness.
I’d be investing in a pair of dinghy wheels on swing down brackets.

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