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STEELFLEX for smooth bottom jon

N

NocEm

Active member
Hi all,

I am a bowfisherman that is trying build a flat bottom jon boat that performs like a airboat aside from running dry ground(and a few other things of course). Here is what I am building.

1766 smooth flat bottom(no keels)
Nothing but a 60 inch front deck level w/ gunnels and a center console and floor in the boat to cut weight.
31 HP Briggs Big block w/ 2-1.55 reduction w/ a 44' four blade power fin


Here is where I get into my delimma. I had originally planned to polymer this boat to slide across mud flats and tree stumps with the pusher fan. I am dieing thinking about drilling 300 holes in a brand new hull. I am prepared but not to tickled about it.

This brings me to the STEEL FLEX SUPER SLICK. Since I will never be running dry ground and the only abrasion will be the odd stump and submerged mud or gravel, will this be a viable alternative? How long do you think it would last. I really don't want to have to break my rig down every year or so to re-apply.

All opinions and help are appreciated in advance.
 
Me and a buddy of mine built a John boat to fish the flats in the Indian River. It was powered by a 3 cylinder Jet Ski motor man that thing was insane what a blast to drive. Anyway we put slick bottom on it for speed and it lasted forever because you can’t drive on the hill like an airboat and that’s what wears down the slick bottom. The next one were going to make a step John boat to see if we can go any faster the killer thing was how shallow the boat would run.
 
I rember some talk a while back about glue on polymer or self adhesive polymer it is supposed to be some thing new it might be worth looking in to I would probably still run a few rivets or screws on the leading edge though.
 
How thick is the bottom of your hull?

We install polymer as long as it is 1/8 or thicker. We also use 1/4 or 5/16" alum rivits instead of screws or nuts and bolts. We have found that they seem to work the best and hold up longer. (not to mention the rivits are lighter. I have also heard that the spray on works fairly well as a second choice.
Good Luck,
Faron
 
The boat will be 100 gauge. I apologize guys I should of said that this boat is going to have a outboard for regular running. The 31 Briggs will be strictly for trolling purposes. MPH will be 12 -15 max I would think with the fan but 90% of the time it will be running close to idle. Like I said before there will be no dry ground running and the only chance of abrasion to the bottom will be supmerged stumps or floating log and mud in shallow water. I can't help thinking that the slick epoxy will be all that I need as long as I don't have to worry about replacing every few years. Is it right that the epoxy is just as slick as polymer? Keep opinions coming all I really apreciate it.
 
I would not put polymer on the 1oo thous. It is too thin for poly. The spray on or roll on would be great for your boat and would not add too much weight. Good Luck,
Faron
 
Does any one have any other info on the epoxy? What about application tips? I spoke with the man at Fasco Enterprises and got alot of good information. More help is greatly appreciated.
 
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