I am not a airboater but I got a ton of information on epoxy from here so I wanted to share this with you guys. I am a bowfisherman and just recently picked up my new hull. A 1766 F and F. I had her made as a smooth bottom as I wanted to apply the Steelflex to it as polymer was more than I wanted to deal with. I am putting a 31 hp Briggs fan motor with a 50" Powerfin on this rig for trolling. The slick bottom really helps in not getting stuck and stupms and in sliding over grass and mud flats. I applied the Steelflex today here is a little write up on it. I want to thank everyone here that gave me info on this stuff. I really think it is going to be the cats butt for what I do.
First thing I had to do was get her upside down and inside the carport. Took six guys to accomplish this. Next was to scuff the bottom for the epoxy. To do this I used a 24 grit sanding disc on a angle grinder. Worked like a champ. I then took spray foam and filled the invertd keel, had to wait a couple of hours and then took a knife and cut the foam off flat and sanded it flush. Then everything had to be taped and the bottom wiped down with acetone. The epoxy was very messy but super easy to work with and only took maybe 45 minutes from start to finish. It is very thick and only runs when there is a big glob of it. I can't wait to see how it performs. It hardens in 6 hours and cures in 48 hours. So tuesday she will be ready to go back on the trailer and off to get the outboard mounted. More to come.
Go here for pics................http://www.bowfishusa.com/community/index.php?topic=6415.0
First thing I had to do was get her upside down and inside the carport. Took six guys to accomplish this. Next was to scuff the bottom for the epoxy. To do this I used a 24 grit sanding disc on a angle grinder. Worked like a champ. I then took spray foam and filled the invertd keel, had to wait a couple of hours and then took a knife and cut the foam off flat and sanded it flush. Then everything had to be taped and the bottom wiped down with acetone. The epoxy was very messy but super easy to work with and only took maybe 45 minutes from start to finish. It is very thick and only runs when there is a big glob of it. I can't wait to see how it performs. It hardens in 6 hours and cures in 48 hours. So tuesday she will be ready to go back on the trailer and off to get the outboard mounted. More to come.
Go here for pics................http://www.bowfishusa.com/community/index.php?topic=6415.0