Polymer question

[Anonymous]

my boat is a hurricane 14' fiberglass hull the bottom is not flat it basiclly is like a catamarn with pontoons on each side of the bottom. now for the question

1) can I add a sheet of poly down the center flat area and then add two smaller strips that I could heat and bend over the pontoons as they will be the ones that wear out regularly :?:

2) How do I attach Poly to a fiberglass hull :?:

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[cntry141iq]

Well this is a tough one for sure. they use 1/4" countersunk screws sometimes and they use 1/4" countersunk machine screws with lock nuts & wsashers sometimes. Kinda is up to you the screws are easier but the machine screws and nuts hold better. whichever one you use be sure to drill straight and steady dont let it wobble around and be sure the hole is just a little smaller than the screws whicheverones you use so you have to screw them in if they fall in the hole it is too big and that aint good. Some people use silicone on each screw to help with the leaking. make sure you countersink properly and again dont let it wobble around and be square to the hole.

I had an aircat once which was like what you describe. I believe you could do it like you are thinking. I got driving lessons and advice from Mr. Combee and it came in handy. That darn hull was a trip it would screw right down in the water in a hard turn but if you gave it opposite rudder and stood on the throttle it would pop up and leap ahead. It sure was hard on the passengers hearts though scared the crap outta them. It didn't run dry very well at all. It was designed for the military I believe because we had them in vietnam. GOOD LUCK I believe I would get another hull if it was me but that is just my opinion seems like a lot of work for no gain.

 

[Anonymous]

Regardless of how you attach the poly to your boat, bolts or screws (perferably bolts), you are adding weight and when you attach ploy to your boat you are going to be putting approximately 500 holes in your hull. It is up to you to weigh . . . no pun intended . . . the advantages and disadvantages of adding poly . . engine size, hp, weight and a wet boat vs dry boat.

Now, if you are not running a lot of dry ground, over oyster shells, rocks or stumps then I would suggest that you go with steel flex, "gator snot" or my least favorite, "frog spit."

Best of luck.
Water Lizard 8)

my boat is a hurricane 14' fiberglass hull the bottom is not flat it basiclly is like a catamarn with pontoons on each side of the bottom. now for the question

1) can I add a sheet of poly down the center flat area and then add two smaller strips that I could heat and bend over the pontoons as they will be the ones that wear out regularly :?:

2) How do I attach Poly to a fiberglass hull :?:

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Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2004 8:24 pm Post subject: Poly

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Well this is a tough one for sure. they use 1/4" countersunk screws sometimes and they use 1/4" countersunk machine screws with lock nuts & wsashers sometimes. Kinda is up to you the screws are easier but the machine screws and nuts hold better. whichever one you use be sure to drill straight and steady dont let it wobble around and be sure the hole is just a little smaller than the screws whicheverones you use so you have to screw them in if they fall in the hole it is too big and that aint good. Some people use silicone on each screw to help with the leaking. make sure you countersink properly and again dont let it wobble around and be square to the hole.

I had an aircat once which was like what you describe. I believe you could do it like you are thinking. I got driving lessons and advice from Mr. Combee and it came in handy.

Cntry14liq,

You know Jim? Maybe we should talk

I have to agree . . . Get another hull!

Water Lizard 8)

 

[Anonymous]

Honestly I don't plan to run dry that much but I do need to climb small dikes maybe 30' of sloop on each side and run the marsh . My main idea wanting the poly was to protect the hull form the marsh and dikes also the logs &and stumps that I normal hop with my other boat now

Bolts and screws are the only way to attach poly????................Humm don't like that part . Has anyone used resien or something like that? :?:

 

[Anonymous]

Wow! I thought I was the only person with one of these Hurricanes because out of all of the pictured I've seen, none have a hull like ours. I'm thinking it might be a really bad hull as I flipped mine with no trouble and I drove it up on a beach and thought I would never get it back to the water. I also wanted to put on Poly but didn't know what to do about the strange hull shape. I'm in California so don't see hardly any airboats. Mine was set up single driver in front and two in back but I didn't like it so after the flip, I changed it to just two next to each other in back. I just got it back together and haven't even tried it out yet, but I will this weekend. I'll send a picture if you'd like. Does your's have a Lycoming?

 

[Anonymous]

Mongo,
No I could only wish for a lycoming engine (that is way out of my budget) I have talked to others who had or have seen these hulls but this is the only one I have seen personally. I believe the catarmarn typ ehull design adds to top speed but limits your turns and dry running. I used to race hydroplanes when I was even younger and some of those had this catarmarn type hull they require alittle different handling then a flat bottom boat I believe these are made mainly for open shollaw water my main propose is to go duck hunting with my kids and I figure anywhere I can run a small outboard boat I could run this easier (dike, logs, sandbars, marsh)
I see alot of guys around here with fiberglass hulls just as heavy but with flat bottoms course they like running dry allot I also really like the idea of the splash plate under the engine and prop to prevent backwash that you always here poeple saying they sunk there boat when the wash came over the transom