Durabak liner in a john boat

[jupiter934]

I'm thinking of coating my entire john boat with tan roll on Durabak. This is the stuff most commonly used as truck bed liner. The boat is just a little old junker I picked up for cheap($25) and have been fixing up. So far I have replaced the wood reinforcement in the transom, JB welded a few small cracks(holding up good), added four scotty's rod holders, and began sanding the many layers of old paint off. I still plan on paint and plywood forward and aft platforms. I have a few leaky rivets so I was thinking that the waterproof Durabak would serve four purposes:
1) waterproof all the little leaks
2) make the boat look nice
3) non-skid the decks
4) deaden the noise a aluminum boat produces for example dropping a lead sinker on deck makes a lot of noise underwater

My main concern is the ruff texture of the stuff causing too much drag on the bottom
The boat plains off with me (220lbs) with my 3hp Evinrude now
anyone ever use this stuff on a john boat?

 

[sutor623]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

I'm thinking of coating my entire john boat with tan roll on Durabak. This is the stuff most commonly used as truck bed liner. The boat is just a little old junker I picked up for cheap($25) and have been fixing up. So far I have replaced the wood reinforcement in the transom, JB welded a few small cracks(holding up good), added four scotty's rod holders, and began sanding the many layers of old paint off. I still plan on paint and plywood forward and aft platforms. I have a few leaky rivets so I was thinking that the waterproof Durabak would serve four purposes:
1) waterproof all the little leaks
2) make the boat look nice
3) non-skid the decks
4) deaden the noise a aluminum boat produces for example dropping a lead sinker on deck makes a lot of noise underwater

My main concern is the ruff texture of the stuff causing too much drag on the bottom
The boat plains off with me (220lbs) with my 3hp Evinrude now
anyone ever use this stuff on a john boat?

It will create drag, but how fast do you want to go? If you are planning on putting on a 9.9 or something like that it shouldnt make that big of a difference. I am looking into this stuff called gluvit that is a sealer for boats and stays smooth.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

Sorry missed the part about the 3hp. Do you plane well, or are you just about breaking plane?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

Not advisable to use the bedliner stuff....... it could create future problems.

To seal the boat you really are better off use a 1 QT size can of gluvit and then just use a coat of cheap rustoleum paint.

There have been too many reports of bedliner separating and it creates nightmares for future repairs....... not to mention it is heavy as compared to other coatings.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

Wouldn't hurt anything to apply it inside the boat, but I wouldn't put it on the outside. Won't help with the leaks, and as Bob says is could cause you some headaches down the road in addition to creating drag and maybe even causing a slightly wetter ride. Several duck boat manufacturers are offering it (not sure what brand, probably not Durabak) as a factory option and it's pretty popular, but again, they only apply it to the inside. My uncle has it in his bad*** duck boat that cost more than my party barge and I think it's the cats. It does provide some traction, which is nice when I get in and out of it in my waders (I'm in charge of the grunt work since I'm a youngster and he takes me with him) It also looks cool, but I wouldn't count on it to have any signficant impact on noise.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

There have been too many reports of bedliner separating

Good to know!

 

[jupiter934]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

All good info guys I think that I may just do the inside. Then gluvit the outside where is the cheapest place to order gluvit? After I gluvit the outside I might camo it with a rustoleum paint.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

Actually the cheapest gluvit is found local in your area since it ships hazmat. Since you are in Jax there are many marina's in your area........ shop by phone first

Keep in mind when an OEM installs a bedliner they are putting it on fresh clean aluminum. That is the primary reason it fails in the aftermarket arena.

 

[jupiter934]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

FYI one gallon of Durabak=10pounds

 

[jasoutside]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

Be sure to price out that Durabak, big money for a "$25 junker jon boat."

 

[scrit9mm]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

I dealt with a similar issue with my 14' DuraCraft. I got it free and it was leaking a little. With several coats of primer and 3 finish coats inside and outside with rustoleum it does not leak at all. I will coat the inside with some type of bedliner material (perhaps grey) next year. I am leaning toward a professional line-x spray with a warranty, since I will prob never get rid of it.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

I've never used it, but cabelas sells a product called Tuff Coat, specifically for what you want. Might be a cheaper/better alternative to durabak. As other's have said, the key is going to be in the prep for what ever you use.

 

[jupiter934]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

I'll get some pictures up of the progress soon as I figure out how to post them to this forum as I am fairly new. Went to go look at a trailer for the boat this afternoon as i am getting sick of pulling it in and out of the bed of my truck.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Durabak liner in a john boat

If you have leaking rivets rebuck them, rivets are fasteners that hold things together, if they are lose they need to be tightened just like a bolt, all yu need is 2 steel hammers and a buddy, Have you buddy hold one against the rivet outside the boat and you whack the inside once or twice and no more leaky rivet.