2 replies to this topic

[mfrankel]

I launched my Dave Gentry designed "Ruth" rowing wherry yesterday. Compared to kayaking and canoeing, at my decidedly novice skill level, I found it satisfying to able to stretch out and use any number of muscle groups to power the stroke. And unlike the heavy weathered rowboats that you typically see around boathouses, all of that effort results in real movement. Unfortunately, these are only fleeting first impressions because after 20 minutes, there was a sizable puddle in the boat.

When I got home I put the boat upside down on sawhorses and could see no pinholes. So I flipped it over and filled it with a couple of inches of water with a garden hose. There was very noticeable seepage along the keel and lower stringers. I could see no areas wear the finish had rubbed off however.

The skin is 8oz polyester finished with 3 fairly thin coats of dura-tuff applied with a foam roller. I let the finish cure for a week. The only thing I can think of that could have cause a problem is that quite often I popped the skin away from the stingers. I thought this would create more flexibility, but it could also have broken the seal of the finish and left pin holes between the skin and the stringers. Either that or I messed up with the Dura-Tuff.

I am thinking of either (a) applying a couple more coats Dura-Tuff to the bottom of the hull, or ( switching to spar varnish or paint for those coats.

The issues in my mind are (a) whether I created the problem by popping the skin in which case the solution is more Dura tuff, ( whether the problem is the Dura-Tuff in which case the solution is spar varnish or paint, or © whether I am totally missing the real problem and the real solution.

Any advice would be appreciated.

[Kudzu]

(a) whether I created the problem by popping the skin in which case the solution is more Dura tuff,

Possibly but I doubt it.

I am thinking of either (a) applying a couple more coats Dura-Tuff to the bottom of the hull, or ( switching to spar varnish or paint for those coats.

That is what I would do.

The problem with Dura-tuff, being clear, is that you can not see what you have done. I am sure you can't see the pin holes but I would bet they are there. So just apply a few more coats. And I wouldn't get overly concerned if it seeps a little bit. It's very hard to fill every little hole and they will usual stop leaking after a while.

[Kudzu]

BTW, I just got in some new items and one of them is SeaLect Designs pump. I bought two my last order, gave one to a buddy to try and kept one. We like it a lot, seems to be a good quality so they will be in the store shortly.

I will not go into details and side track this, but we were swimming/practicing entries and neither of us had a pump. Well Phil had one but it had locked up and he didn't know it. Had he not be there to do a T rescue I am not sure I could gave got back in the boat. I have done this many times but this time it got more water than normal inside and I would have been in bad spot.