P Doug (WA) Posted April 14, 2012 Posted April 14, 2012 I've started to make a skid strip for the bottom of my boat. I'm doing the unthinkable, and using wood! Is cypress any good for this? I have a piece of cypress, but I have never worked with it before. Don't know much about it. Also do you think 3/16 would be thick enough? That is about as thin as I can go and be able to countersink the screws. Quote
Hirilonde Posted April 15, 2012 Posted April 15, 2012 I made one out of Honduras Mahogany and it broke tightening the screws. The problem is that the screw holes weaken such a thin piece of wood so much that any strain breaks it. I don't think it would hold up even if you got it made and secured intact. Maybe if it were made of Ipe. So far I like brass best. If you have the means to shape it well I bet UHMW plastic would work well too. Quote
Kudzu Posted April 15, 2012 Posted April 15, 2012 It is a replaceable item, so when it gets damage, just put on a new one. I have used whatever wood I had around before. I have been using plastic cutting boards (cheap) lately. Easy to work with and shape, ugly but very effective. Quote
Gzwilling Posted April 16, 2012 Posted April 16, 2012 I am have been making my floor boads out of cypress and it is quite soft. It probably would not last too long as a rub strip. Quote
paxtonm Posted April 16, 2012 Posted April 16, 2012 Woodman, I am curious about your advice on screws. Won't the slots rub off and make replacement a huge pain? Quote
P Doug (WA) Posted April 16, 2012 Author Posted April 16, 2012 I am have been making my floor boads out of cypress and it is quite soft. It probably would not last too long as a rub strip. You are correct it is much softer than I would have thought. Guess I will go back to my wood pile and see what else I have. Quote
Gzwilling Posted April 16, 2012 Posted April 16, 2012 I have been thinkig about the protective strips for a while and also thinking about how I get in and out of the boat I use now. I tend to back up to the shore if I can't get sideways to it. So I am going to put strips on both the bow and the stern. I have not yet decided what to use for strips. Quote
Kudzu Posted April 16, 2012 Posted April 16, 2012 If you back in by all means add a rear strip. What ever material you use you want it on the area of the boat rubs the most. I tend to nose mine in so I just put one on the bow. Shad has never gotten a rub strip so I pull parallel to bank and don't nose up on the bottom. Most any wood will work, softwoods will just need to be replaced more often but they work. Quote
P Doug (WA) Posted April 16, 2012 Author Posted April 16, 2012 I just finished making a new strip, out of maple this time. It seems to be mush harder than the cypress. It's all stained, waiting to dry so I can varnish it. Quote
paxtonm Posted April 16, 2012 Posted April 16, 2012 If any of you are inclined to go in a different direction, Jamestown Distributors has brass half round, and the 3/8ths size comes in at about $2 a foot. I'm probably going to try that myself. Quote
P Doug (WA) Posted April 16, 2012 Author Posted April 16, 2012 I don't get it. 3/8" x 6' is $13.77, not bad, but I would think 1/2" would be better, but holy molly it jumps to $41.96!! That is $7. per foot. That is without shipping!. I can see why you would go with the 3/8"! It would look nice and work well also, I would think. Quote
Ward Posted April 16, 2012 Posted April 16, 2012 Nice piece of poplar would work well and finish up nicely. Quote
Hirilonde Posted April 17, 2012 Posted April 17, 2012 The problem with hollow half round is that it kinks when you bend it to go around the curve in the bow. Solid half oval would be ideal, but not sure you can get it small enough. Quote
P Doug (WA) Posted April 18, 2012 Author Posted April 18, 2012 If any of you are inclined to go in a different direction, Jamestown Distributors has brass half round, and the 3/8ths size comes in at about $2 a foot. I'm probably going to try that myself. The problem with hollow half round is that it kinks when you bend it to go around the curve in the bow. Solid half oval would be ideal, but not sure you can get it small enough. This 1/2 round looks like it is solid. It say the 3/8" and the 1/2' can be coiled to ship so it must bend pretty easily. Quote
Hirilonde Posted April 18, 2012 Posted April 18, 2012 I didn't realize they carried it so small. It must be new. In the past solid half round and half oval have been 3/4" and bronze or stainless. Jamestown Distributors was located right across the street from the office I worked out of. Now it is almost an hour away Quote
P Doug (WA) Posted April 18, 2012 Author Posted April 18, 2012 Jamestown Distributors was located right across the street from the office I worked out of. Now it is almost an hour away I know where I would have been spending my lunch time! Would have cost me a fortune!! Quote
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