Dulling my boats bottoms up help needed

[SweetZ28]

Hi Guy's can anyone tell me exactly what grit and brand scuff pad everyone uses to dull up there boat bottoms?
I used very fine wet sand paper on one but i think the flexable pad would be better to use.
THANKS

[Mich. Maniac]

yes, use a red 3m scuff pad. equal to about 600 grit. I do mine in V shape just my opinion

[eclipse]

why would you sand the bottom sorry im new

[ReddyWatts]

Good question, this is the way I understand it.

When it is slick, water surface tension will slow down the hull, when it is scuffed it is supposed to help it ride on a cushion of air.

Has anyone tried it both ways to see how much speed difference or percentage it actually helps on different types of hulls?

[Xzessperated]

why would you sand the bottom sorry im new

Hey we were all new once so do not be sorry.

I think the theory goes that is you scuff the bottom of the hull up it helps to get more air under the boat and thus create less friction with the water. A boat moves through air faster than through water. As for the V shape that sounds about right. You would only do it to the wetted part of the bottom surface.
I am not here to say if it really works or not but many do scuff the bottom up.

ReddyWatts post above is technically more correct than my answer but I hope between the two answers it gives you the reason why some do it. When it is your turn to help a newbie tell them what ReddyWatts said.

[SweetZ28]

I thought you did not scuu (make the bottom rough) but you sanded it with fine sand paper to make the bottom smooth but dull ...and what i heard it does is because the bottom is dull a sheet of water sticks to it and water on water is slippery..than when water beads up on the bottom like from waxing..... After sanding one of my boats i poured water on the bottom and it now mostly coats the surface with a thin layer of water no beading spots no more.....
who's correct? because I don't think a ruff bottom on a boat is good...

[eclipse]

ok.

[Xzessperated]

I thought you did not scuu (make the bottom rough) but you sanded it with fine sand paper to make the bottom smooth but dull ...and what i heard it does is because the bottom is dull a sheet of water sticks to it and water on water is slippery..than when water beads up on the bottom like from waxing..... After sanding one of my boats i poured water on the bottom and it now mostly coats the surface with a thin layer of water no beading spots no more.....
who's correct? because I don't think a ruff bottom on a boat is good...

There is some good reading on this link about the subject but most people are saying scuff...

http://www.rumrunnerracing.com/feforums/showthread.php?t=25797&highlight=scuff+bottom

[SweetZ28]

THANKS
After reading i guess you want as flat as smooth bottom as possible...

[Xzessperated]

THANKS
After reading i guess you want as flat as smooth bottom as possible...

Yes it seems flat is very important but as to scuffed or sanded it is your decision. To tell you the truth I came away from that read on RRR not really knowing if scuffing or a light sand is the best thing. I know one thing and that is Jay Turner is a man to listen to.

[Mich. Maniac]

Reddy, I have tried both ways with my SV. I did not gps my runs but on completely smooth water each way the scuff job seemed faster. Same setup both times it seemed to ride a little more loose not in turns but long straights. I have the strut about 0 degree and use my trim tabs to keep it from flipping. I definately see advantage of the scuff. I had just painted the hull with automotive paint when it was not scuffed so it was a really smoothe surface. I also only scuffed about 6" up from transom going outward from the keel back. After running the boat and handling it I scuff it up about once a month just to keep some sharp edges in there.

[robby76]

"less friction with the water"

i use rain X on all of the hull. repels water. easy clean up afterwards.

[ReddyWatts]

Thanks MM

I thought this was an interesting article.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m...02/ai_n9477872

[SweetZ28]

Funny thing i just looked at my proboat apache that i had put aside for a long time and proboat made the hull on the bottom and sides of this boat a matt dull finish not the shiny plastic look like most all boats have?

[Doozie870]

Tried ever way possible, with no change in gps. Keep in mind Im talking below 40mph. Some are spraying wd40 on the bottom, in my mind oil on water is slicker than water on water.