• If you log in, the ads disappear in the forum and gallery. If you need help logging in or getting registered, send request to: webmaster@southernairboat.com

Poly Source and best poly??

R

rost495

Well-known member
Sorry its cut and paste from my repair thread, but wanted to make sure I got some input.

Thanks, Jeff

Thanks for the info. Was not aware that poly could become brittle.

Next -- was pointed to McMaster Carr for small stuff.....

I need to know whats best, what is the best thickness, IE I think I have 1/4 but 3/8 or 1/2 would be better but heavier and I couldn't use the old bolts etc... would the weight negate the thickness RE running dry....

I see there is reference to black/white/red etc.....

I have NO clue at all, other than installation doesn't look that tough, take the motor/seats off and roll the boat over, remove bolts, replace poly....

Cutting the angles up front seems like it could be fun....but I'd have the old one to pattern off of..

Also any "adhesive" ??? I doubt it but unfortunately I'm stupid on this one....

ALL help appreciated.

Thanks, Jeff
 
There is a thread on here by a guy who works in the poly industry explaining all the differences in the MANY different types, custom formulations and so on. It should be about a year old maybe a bit more. Use the search feature and narrow down the search as yo go.

Scotty :wink:
 
I try search first always... it just sits and spins when I search for poly, "ll have to try again

Thanks!

Jeff
 
Hoffman used to sell this black poly that was super wide and it came in a roll. He would just cut off as much as you needed. I used it on several boats and really liked it.. Any idea who might have it now that he is gone :( I looked on TSE-OK and it looks like 80" is as wide as it comes?? Any thoughts??
 
Smugglers Blues

That was part of the discussion here on this site over a year ago. It is available but ya gotta find the old posts.

Scotty :wink:
 
We have 3/8 UHMW Diamondslide Polymer in 100'ft rolls. We can cut off what you need. The Poly is a little more exspensive but you get what you pay for in polymer.
This is high quality polymer.
1-800-241-6390.

I think the boat you bought was a fiberglass boat. You might want to special order some 1/4 poly just because it would be easier to manipulate around your hull. If I'm wrong and your running aluminum go with 3/8 poly.

Give me a call if I can help.
1-800-241-6390 office
409-920-0716 Cell
 
Can I put 3/8 inch on a hoffman glass hull or will it drive me nuts? I'm not one for doing things twice and 3/8 would be better.... but if it'll be a nightmare I'll go back to 1/4 when I get that far.

Thanks, Jeff
 
When putting on poly, the sun is your friend. Let the sun warm it and it will lay right to the hull. Yeh you can put 3/8" on a glass hull. If its a light weight hull, though go with the 1/4".

Scotty :wink:
 
How do I define lightweight hull? Hoffman and sons 94, 15'7" on the title?

I apologize, I just don't know....

Thanks, Jeff
 
A 16 foot boat isn't a lightweight by any means. Get the 3/8"

I havent seen any 16' sheets, if you use the folks I pointed out they will have it on a large roll and cut it to your needs. It is available in several widths as well.

You need to talk to them, tell them what you have, what you want the poly to do and they will recommend the best for your use.

I don't work for them and of course you can buy from anyone you chose. Be careful there is lots of cheep poly thst isn't what the high priced spread is. Its kinda ya get what ya pay for.

Good luck.

Scotty
 
Have an email into TSE at the moment.
I am not quibbling over a few hundred bucks vs quality, its worth the money for better quality.

I am looking at 80 inch rolls so I put this on in one piece.

I have considered taking the back 3 feet off and patching a piece in beveled under at an angle, but all things told, to take the motor/cage all off, just do the whole thing at that point seems like.

Man I feel stupid about not having a clue to all this...

Jeff
 
Jeff

Thats what this forum is all about. Airboaters helping out other airboaters. no need to feel stupid. All this expertise has come over a lot of years and a lot of people have shed blood $weat and tear$ learning it the hard way.

Never worry about asking a question here. Most folks here bouts are more than willing to share their knowledge. Keep in mind not everyone has the same experience with the same products however. Sometimes its difficult to find why one was positive and one was negative. It takes those hard questions to figure it out.

Never think your stupid, just use the help then you help the next guy with what you learn. The knowledge will never die that way and the sport only gets better over time.

Scotty
 
Thanks,

I paid it forward after I started to learn Highpower shooting years back. I managed good help and to beat the national champion once... and do well along the way... I paid it forward there,

I will do the same here!

Jeff
 
Jeff,

If you look on the TSE website they have or recently had 6 sheets of 3/8" black
80" X 80" in their monthly special section for $160 per sheet. I know because I bought 3 sheets. They should be here today. I am in Baytown, TX and the shipping was $155. I would have liked to have a single sheet but for the price I settled for the center splice. Let me know if you need any help finding hardware, that is also a fairly significant expense.

Thanks,
Jason
 
Keep in mind that with today availability of different size and type of poly. I would most definitely get a sheet of poly that would fit on the hull with out any splices. Just one sheet would be much safer and slicker with out splicing. I your wanting to get more of an inventory of poly to look at. Just put a search on yahoo for dump truck liners. Here is one of them.


http://www.superslide.com/redhot
 
Whitebear yesterday i ran searches for close to a hour but could not find any posts that said how wide that poly was.. I don't remember maybe it was only 80"?? I just remember when doing the River Master hulls it was wide enough to go all the way across and you still had to cut a couple inches off each side. My cousin still has a River Master hull so I guess I will just catch up with him this weekend and measure it..

Airboatcapt2 how wide is your poly? The only problem is shipping.. I bet that would cost a bunch from TX to Central FL?

rost495 I have put 3/8 on quite a few 15' River Masters and it's not that bad.. Like others have said the sun is your friend. The rear sides and the bow where the hardest parts as the 3/8 doesn't like to follow the curves in the hull and is not as flexible as the 1/4 is. On those areas I would cheat and use a heat gun of if I couldn't find that.. the wife's blow drier not to get it super hot just to give me a little advantage over the strait sun. Another trick I haven't seen mentioned on here is putting the counter sink bit into a router. I used the cheap router I think they call it a plunge router anyway you can adjust then lock the base so it only lets the counter sink go in so far and it keeps it square with the bottom. In my experience the counter sink with the stop on it that fits on the drill is harder to keep square so you end up with angled counter sinks, the stop either moves up the bit and ends up cutting it to deep or actually cuts a ring in the poly if your not paying close attention or if your helpers are not paying attention. As far as cutting the angles I used a battery powered skill saw one of those 3 1/2" or 4" ones just set the depth for the thickness of the poly and you can round out the front fairly easy. If it doesn't cut all the way threw in some spots you can use a razor knife to finish the cut. Personally I didn't cut it until it was almost completely installed that way if it walked a little during the install I could cut to make up for the walk. IMO the real key to a good poly job is TAKE YOUR TIME it will come out fine if you pay attention and take your time. I am sure there are lots of people have lots of different tricks so don't take mine as the gospel these are just ones that work for me. :wink:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top