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?
Jbo
How’s your graphite bottom?
- cape man
- * Bateau Builder - Expert *
- Posts: 8282
- Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2008 12:02 pm
- Location: Lithia, Florida
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
11 years on Clara and I'm happy.
The world always seems brighter when you've just made something that wasn't there before - Neil Gaiman
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
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.
Completed Paul Butler 14' Clark Fork Drifter
Completed Jacques Mertens FS14LS + 10%, Build Thread
Started Iain Oughtred Tammie Norrie
Completed Paul Butler 14' Clark Fork Drifter
Completed Jacques Mertens FS14LS + 10%, Build Thread
Started Iain Oughtred Tammie Norrie
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
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.
Jbo
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.
Jbo
- BarraMan
- * Bateau Builder - Expert *
- Posts: 2165
- Joined: Tue Dec 11, 2012 3:44 pm
- Location: Australia
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
On the other hand, I have a graphite bottom on my boat (6 yrs) - but wouldn't bother doing again. Can't convince myself that its worth the trouble!
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
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.
Completed Paul Butler 14' Clark Fork Drifter
Completed Jacques Mertens FS14LS + 10%, Build Thread
Started Iain Oughtred Tammie Norrie
Completed Paul Butler 14' Clark Fork Drifter
Completed Jacques Mertens FS14LS + 10%, Build Thread
Started Iain Oughtred Tammie Norrie
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
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.
Jbo
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.
Jbo
- Jaysen
- * Bateau Builder *
- Posts: 6520
- Joined: Wed Aug 05, 2015 7:59 am
- Location: St Helena Island, SC
- Contact:
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
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.
Disclaimer: displacement hull doesn’t care it the touch up is perfect. Planing hull cares a lot more about the touch up smoothness.
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
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.
-
- * Bateau Builder *
- Posts: 1663
- Joined: Sat Jan 10, 2015 7:13 pm
- Location: New Zealand
Re: How’s your graphite bottom?
I’d be investing in a pair of dinghy wheels on swing down brackets.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.
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests