Bow stop wearing down fiberglass
- Thread starter rooftop
- Start date
Sorry not to answer your question directly, but my buddy's drift boat was bouncing around quite a bit on the trailer. I suggested he move the strap aft a bit. The revised geometry reduced the on-trailer bouncing significantly, which I have to imagine helps save wear and tear on the bow where it meets the bow stop. Good luck with your potential repair/maintenance!
Re-applying gel coat isn't particularly difficult. One of the many things most can learn through YouTube. I've done it many times.
Just takes some sanding and other prep work, then not much different than applying thick paint. Sand that down paint if you want to and you're set.
Just takes some sanding and other prep work, then not much different than applying thick paint. Sand that down paint if you want to and you're set.
Mine was doing that as well. When I had the gel coat redone on the boat I stopped by Clackacraft and they suggested that I change the strap so that it pulls down on the bow eye so that the front of the boat wasn’t bouncing as much. Added a bolt across the bracket that holds the winch to lower the pulling point. I also place a folded microfiber cloth between the stop and the boat. That has reduced the wear.
Depends on the boat. I think most small boats/drift boats use epoxy resins. My big ocean boat is all polyester resin. You just want to stick with whatever is already there if you can identify it.
Huh! To the original poster, I stand corrected.
Fourbtgait
Life of the Party
Typically epoxy bonds readily to polyester resins. I had to recore an older sailboat deck built from polyester utilizing epoxy for all bonding applications. In lieu of gel coat I utilized a high grade marine paint.
Fourbtgait
Life of the Party
Most manufacturers still utilize polyester due to cost of materials in such vast quantities. Ship yards building one off construction with various cores utilize epoxy due to it’s versatility of bonding various materials readily available.
Like Even B says, contact the manufacturer for suggestions, though I wouldn’t hesitate to use epoxy if the cloth itself is exposed.
Like Even B says, contact the manufacturer for suggestions, though I wouldn’t hesitate to use epoxy if the cloth itself is exposed.
I see you're in Portland. I have lots of fiberglass and resins if you ever want to swing by for me to look at it. My guess is that the glass is fine, though. More than likely, this is just a gelcoat issue. We're doing a lot of speculating without having seen a photo currently.
rooftop
Steelhead
Thanks. Pure speculation has created some great discussion though.
my Clack Magnum had been a duck hunting boat, had the hell beat out of it, gouges into the outer cloth...what the bottom looked like using the method I offered..
Found out about Tuff Stuff from a seasonable guide in Alaska a couple of decades ago, told me the lodge fleet of riveted jon boats (need them light for manhandling) that they ran hard on the river began leaking through the rivets after a few seasons of hard beatings, so they would roll on a couple of coats, which applies at 8-10 mils per, sealing hulls for seasons to come. Tuff Stuff is commonly used on all kinds of boats up there. I've used it on a friend's leaking Smokercraft, which is still leak free a decade later, and on several glass boats with great results.That almost looks like Wetlander. I used that on my Alumaweld and loved it. Only had the boat slip off the bank and try to float away once.
Rainforest Gump
Life of the Party
One of these might work for you. I made one out of some stainless steel that I had kicking around. Works well, no more wear.
