Best way to seal wooden hull

Discussion in 'Wooden Boat Building and Restoration' started by bubblehead620, Jul 1, 2014.

  1. sdowney717
    Joined: Nov 2010
    Posts: 1,175
    Likes: 85, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 274
    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    The black PL is very abrasion resistant. My finger pier has a nut and bolt that sticks out too far. I finally made a 2x4 to cover it up. But when storms would come through, the hull side would sometimes meet that bolt and all it did was scrape the paint. The black polyurethane underneath was still intact. I hated to see it ruin my paint job.
    Here is a video showing closeup of the paint damage, the intact black PL, and that bolt!
    My adding fenders did not help at all. But adding that 2x4 has solved the problem.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/lDDpfufOD9MxV3ys2
    When it comes up, click on it and you can see it full screen.

    20170611_185930.jpg 20180525_152556.jpg 20180525_152613.jpg
     
  2. sdowney717
    Joined: Nov 2010
    Posts: 1,175
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    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    One thing though, I painted some Rustoleum Topside white oil based enamel paint on some black PL, and it looked fine. But over the winter, the paint surface crack in places like a sheet of glass breaks.
    So the paint cured so hard and the underlying surface being rubber can move, and oil based paints shrink when curing hard, so that shattered the paint.
    However if the paint film is an acrylic latex, which has more flex, then no problems anywhere, which I almost always use acrylic latex paints anyway. I have no experience with any other kind of paint, just that Rustoleum Topside enamel oil.

    I suppose if the paint you use remains flexible, has some yield to it instead of turning rock, then it would be ok on black PL polyurethane.
     
  3. Westcoaster2
    Joined: Mar 2018
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    Location: Prince Rupert BC

    Westcoaster2 New Member

    Hi Scott Downey, can you tell me how many tubes you used on the hull sealing?
     
  4. sdowney717
    Joined: Nov 2010
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    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    About 100 .updating so far black Pl has stayed on the wood. Over 4 years and has survived me scraping barnacles. I really recommend mixing with milled fibers if used on the bottom. And could work in a cloth material around the waterline. Next haul may do that. I have wondered about using Kevlar for hull ptotection .
     
  5. sdowney717
    Joined: Nov 2010
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    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    Boat is still in good shape. The black PL and PL premium bottom have stayed together with no leaks now for many years. I did rebuild the teak underdeck, it's plywood was completely rotted, only the teak was holding it together. I removed the Teak overlay and wont be reinstalling it. I used PT plywood and boards to reconstruct all the framing. I then sealed the plywood with fiberglass wall board tape and PL Premium, then some primer paint and it has been solid and good, no peeling off, buckling, just real solid repair. Many layers of white primer makes for a flat finish, so I should put some real paint over it. My rebuilding effort is actually stronger and tougher than the OEM construction.

    here is a photo album, the PL adhesives make a waterproof barrier.
    https://photos.app.goo.gl/ePYqVq5nobr2VNcg1
     
  6. gonzo
    Joined: Aug 2002
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    Location: Milwaukee, WI

    gonzo Senior Member

    I take it this is a liveaboard?
     

  7. sdowney717
    Joined: Nov 2010
    Posts: 1,175
    Likes: 85, Points: 58, Legacy Rep: 274
    Location: Newport News VA

    sdowney717 Senior Member

    Hi, no but it could be one. I have a 5 bedroom home I live in in the suburbs, the boat is about 10 miles away on Chisman Creek, Seaford VA in a slip.
     
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