New Posts New Posts RSS Feed: Dinghy hull coatings
  FAQ FAQ  Forum Search   Register Register  Login Login

Dinghy hull coatings

 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 7>
Author
getafix View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 28 Mar 06
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2143
Post Options Post Options   Quote getafix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Dinghy hull coatings
    Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 1:30pm
As our miss-guided brethren have their floating caravans once more lifted out of the marinas and stuck on chocks, Chandlers begin to rub their hands in glee at the annual anit-fouling bonanza.  Reading some of the marketing stuff that comes with this anit-marine-life unpleasantness, it occurred to me that perhaps there is a market out there, Muck-off like, for super slippery, bound to make you faster round the cans dinghy racing products.

As someone who has occassionally ventured forth with a bit of t-cut and an old rag, I will admit to not having the most sophisticated boat prep routine... what are the winners doing? what about the rest of you? What's the most slippery hull (and or foil) prep routine going?

Are there any UK dinghy classes where we can cross the line between harmless 'fairing' and down right banditry of the underwater shape I also wonder?  Has anyone been caught, SJ Winter Series like, in the act in the past?
Back to Top
sandgrounder View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work


Joined: 01 Apr 11
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 220
Post Options Post Options   Quote sandgrounder Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 2:10pm
T-Cut on a polyester gelcoat surface - OUCH !
 
Best finish on gelcoat - Farecla G3 applied with plenty of water and a foam compunding head attached to a variable speed electric polisher at ~1200 RPM.
Back to Top
Dougal View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 23 Sep 09
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 556
Post Options Post Options   Quote Dougal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 4:53pm
Just stick £5 notes all over it.... It'll be cheaper and no less effective!



What could possibly go wrong?
Back to Top
Presuming Ed View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 26 Feb 05
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 641
Post Options Post Options   Quote Presuming Ed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 5:55pm
??
Back to Top
didlydon View Drop Down
Far too distracted from work
Far too distracted from work
Avatar

Joined: 15 Oct 08
Location: Margate England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 280
Post Options Post Options   Quote didlydon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 9:09pm
What's wrong with tcut? Isn't it just a fairly weak cutting compound? How does it compare with Farecla? I've used a bit of tcut on my bottom - oooer missus - till I got bored...... Seemed to do bugger all to the few scratches I tried it on
Vareo 365

Back to Top
getafix View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 28 Mar 06
Location: United Kingdom
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2143
Post Options Post Options   Quote getafix Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 10:13pm
Originally posted by didlydon

What's wrong with tcut? Isn't it just a fairly weak cutting compound? How does it compare with Farecla? I've used a bit of tcut on my bottom - oooer missus - till I got bored...... Seemed to do bugger all to the few scratches I tried it on


OK, so I've actually removed (or at least think I have) a few scratches with the redoutable t-cut, but now I'm wondering if its a case of more harm than good, what's this Farecla stuff?
Back to Top
Cameron Winton View Drop Down
Groupie
Groupie


Joined: 08 Nov 11
Location: Prestwick
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 41
Post Options Post Options   Quote Cameron Winton Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 10:24pm
T-cut is fairly abrasive and will blend a scratch. Never very sure about using it on gel coat but think it will give a 1600+ finish. I always thought a super polished surface was more draggy due surface tension effects?
Back to Top
Dougal View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more
Avatar

Joined: 23 Sep 09
Location: England
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 556
Post Options Post Options   Quote Dougal Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 10:28pm
I remember the Americas cup boats years back, possibly still in the days of 12m, using a grooved pattern on the hull to create some stickiness to encourage laminar flow.  Apologise for the lack of technical explanation, if I can find anything tomorrow when sober I will post it.
What could possibly go wrong?
Back to Top
Rupert View Drop Down
Really should get out more
Really should get out more


Joined: 11 Aug 04
Location: Whitefriars sc
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 8956
Post Options Post Options   Quote Rupert Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 10:29pm
I've T cut many boats, with mixed results (sometimes an old hull will never come up shiny), but never destroyed any gelcoat. The rubbing compounds from Farecla, which I've used on moulds, have a huge choice of grades.
Firefly 2324, Puffin 229, Minisail 3446 Mirror 70686
Back to Top
Ian99 View Drop Down
Posting king
Posting king


Joined: 07 Apr 05
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 138
Post Options Post Options   Quote Ian99 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Dec 13 at 11:04pm
Morrisons Value Cream Cleaner is a surprisingly good alternative to many of the abrasive boat cleaners, and at 79p for a large bottle certainly beats anything branded as "marine" for price! It's particularly good on the textured part of Laser decks.

Other than that, I tend to stick with decent quality automotive products for the polishing department. Auto Glym Super Resin Polish seems to work well on gelcoat, and also is much better than many of the others in low temperatures.
Back to Top
 Post Reply Post Reply Page  123 7>

Forum Jump Forum Permissions View Drop Down

Bulletin Board Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 9.665y
Copyright ©2001-2010 Web Wiz
Change your personal settings, or read our privacy policy