Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 12-10-2019, 04:57   #1
Registered User
 
CaptTom's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Southern Maine
Boat: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Posts: 3,090
Dinghy Wear Bars?

I don't know what else to call them...

My fiberglass RIB has been dragged up and down beaches too often, and it's starting to wear at the low points in the hull; the keel and two "strakes" (molded in to the hull.)

I was thinking of putting on some sort of wear bar, for lack of a better term. But I'm not sure what material to use, or how to secure it to the hull.

Suggestions?
CaptTom is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 05:37   #2
Registered User
 
Bill O's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2015
Boat: Bruce Bingham Christina 49
Posts: 3,328
Re: Dinghy Wear Bars?

On the "strakes", add SS rub rail pieces. Do not have any pics of our dinghy, but did this a few years back and been working great.
Could also use a sacrificial plastic, but like the SS rub rail, may need fasteners since many plastics do not glue up that well to gel coat.


Bill O.
__________________
Bill O.
KB3YMH
https://phoenixketch.blogspot.com/
Bill O is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 06:24   #3
Registered User
 
Nicholson58's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Caribbean live aboard
Boat: Camper & Nicholson58 Ketch - ROXY Traverse City, Michigan No.668283
Posts: 6,356
Images: 84
Re: Dinghy Wear Bars?

There is a product or two for this. You can apply an epoxy bead about 10 mm diameter along the surface. There is a durable stick on tape strip made for this.

Google search images. tape strip boat bottom protection. I got these images. We$t marine and others carry this but you may do better on Amazon.

I fill bottom flaws with white MarineTex, We$t Marine.
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	5BC3E257-6C47-4EB6-8F67-3018ABE3793A.jpg
Views:	105
Size:	444.3 KB
ID:	201385  
Nicholson58 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 06:36   #4
Registered User
 
Group9's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,909
Images: 10
Re: Dinghy Wear Bars?

We now have a Del Quay 13.5 for our dinghy. It is kind of a Boston Whaler knockoff, but one of the different features, are bronze strips that protect the tri-hull keels from damage. They seem to work, (and, I often had to do epoxy repair on our Boston Whaler 11 tender from dragging it over iron shore beaches down in the Bahamas).

It seems like it would be easy to reproduce that, with stainless steel rub rail and epoxy.
__________________
Founding member of the controversial Calypso rock band, Guns & Anchors!
Group9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 06:56   #5
Registered User
 
Bill O's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2015
Boat: Bruce Bingham Christina 49
Posts: 3,328
Re: Dinghy Wear Bars?

The solid SS rub rail was fairly easy to bend/fit, but used urethane adhesive (instead of epoxy) and used a fastener on each end in case it was hit so it wouldn't pop off.
While the metal strip is very robust for dragging on the beach, rock, etc., care must be taken on deck to not scratch the finish. This is where the plastic stick on strips could be a better alternative.


Bill O.
__________________
Bill O.
KB3YMH
https://phoenixketch.blogspot.com/
Bill O is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 07:03   #6
Registered User
 
Nicholson58's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Caribbean live aboard
Boat: Camper & Nicholson58 Ketch - ROXY Traverse City, Michigan No.668283
Posts: 6,356
Images: 84
Re: Dinghy Wear Bars?

I’m not fond of holes in the bottom or adding the weight. Plastic strip is light, easily applied and the extra width is more protection.

BTW, use two long skinny boat bumpers to roll the dinghy up a beach. It’s easier and you keep it off the stone.
Nicholson58 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-10-2019, 08:55   #7
Registered User
 
CaptTom's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Southern Maine
Boat: Prairie 36 Coastal Cruiser
Posts: 3,090
Re: Dinghy Wear Bars?

Thanks everyone! I'm liking the sound of flexible adhesive strips. I was thinking SS would be ideal, but adhering it seems like I'd either be making holes in the hull, or trusting an adhesive and risking having them pulled off if they caught on a rock.

There were some REALLY pricey solutions, which look great. But frankly I don't drag it along a beach very often; mostly the wear is from the PO. So anything over $100 is pretty much out of the running.

For a mere $12 (including shipping) I ordered just a couple of feet of "KeelEazy" 2-inch tape. I really only need maybe a foot, but hey, at that price I might as well splurge!

I'll try to remember to post back here when I've had a chance to apply it. Feel free to remind me if I don't!
CaptTom is online now   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
dinghy

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Best Cruiser Bars Around the World ? Wahoo Fishing, Recreation & Fun 91 15-04-2012 12:54
Granny Bars El Vagabundo Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting 6 14-10-2009 10:07
Y S Steering Pedistal bars wightknight Construction, Maintenance & Refit 3 03-10-2008 02:14
targa bars northerncat Multihull Sailboats 28 05-01-2007 14:34
"Sissy Bars" snakebird Construction, Maintenance & Refit 3 06-03-2005 13:35

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 14:27.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.