I've been getting a little 14' Aluminum Ouachita V-bottom sea-worthy again, after I purchased it from a Scrapyard. I had to patch a stump-hole and a couple cracks, but it's starting to look like it'll hold water.
Anyway, I was wondering about the affect a textured surface has on the boat's hydrodynamics. The reason being because I have pondered the idea of coating the bottom of the boat (the inside has stringers that would prevent good surface prep) with flex-seal or a rubberized undercoating to ensure a 100% good seal. I am very confident in my repairs, however being an old boat I'm sure it will have leaky rivets here and there.
What I am worried about is the textured surface creating excess drag on the boat. It's no speed machine, but I will be powering it with a 5.5hp Evinrude so I will take all the help I can get to make it move faster. I would find a bigger motor, but I already have this one and a good title for it, so I want to use it. Plus it runs good. I don't have a big distance to cover, but at the same time I would like to be able to move from spot to spot somewhat efficiently. This is a light rig, the boat weighs probably 150, the motor around 60-70, fuel and gear maybe another 100. With me (260lbs) for sure and maybe another passenger. On rare occasions I may have 3 people with me, but I have a bigger boat for that.
Thanks
Anyway, I was wondering about the affect a textured surface has on the boat's hydrodynamics. The reason being because I have pondered the idea of coating the bottom of the boat (the inside has stringers that would prevent good surface prep) with flex-seal or a rubberized undercoating to ensure a 100% good seal. I am very confident in my repairs, however being an old boat I'm sure it will have leaky rivets here and there.
What I am worried about is the textured surface creating excess drag on the boat. It's no speed machine, but I will be powering it with a 5.5hp Evinrude so I will take all the help I can get to make it move faster. I would find a bigger motor, but I already have this one and a good title for it, so I want to use it. Plus it runs good. I don't have a big distance to cover, but at the same time I would like to be able to move from spot to spot somewhat efficiently. This is a light rig, the boat weighs probably 150, the motor around 60-70, fuel and gear maybe another 100. With me (260lbs) for sure and maybe another passenger. On rare occasions I may have 3 people with me, but I have a bigger boat for that.
Thanks