Question:
I recently overheard someone telling someone they shouldn’t wax the bottom of their boat, but didn’t hear a reason. Is this valid advice and what is the logic? Thanks Bob S.
Response:
Possibly a speed thing? Some racers are experimenting with a rough finnish on the hulls because it creates air bubbles in the water which the boat rides over rather like riding on ball bearings. A perfectly waxed hull will have more resistance at speed. Or so the theory goes – I’d be interested to hear if it actually makes much difference… I recently overheard someone telling someone they shouldn’t wax the bottom of their boat, but didn’t hear a reason. Is this valid advice and what is the logic? Thanks Bob S.
– Nick
Response:
The only problem that I could think of would be if you were going to paint the bottom the paint would not adhere properly. I have waxed the bottom of my Laser and several canoes before using them. Jeremiah Weed
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -I recently overheard someone telling someone they shouldn’t wax the bottom of their boat, but didn’t hear a reason. Is this valid advice and what is the logic? Thanks Bob S.
Response:
When I raced Hobie Cats, we used to not wax the bottom of the hulls. The thought was that the wax interfered with the laminar flow of the water. Tom Stanzione
Response:
When I raced Hobie Cats, we used to not wax the bottom of the hulls. The thought was that the wax interfered with the laminar flow of the water. Tom Stanzione
The boundary layer (the water next to the boat) is stationary, even if you have laminar flow. Some top racers I know wax the bottom, to try and keep it smooth and clean and prevent picking up oil (deposited on the surface by two strokes…), minimize slime, and make it more difficult for little animals to find a new home. Others solvent-wipe the hull before put-in to get everything off. Shows to go ya….
Response:
Not much logic. Go fast boats may benifet from the bottom be waxed. only You may have a hard time getting bottom paint to adhere if you where to change your mind.
Response:
I’ve always wondered about this. I think it was Bernoulli who said that a smooth surface actually provides more flow resistance than one with slight irregularities. Counter-intuitive I know. But this is also why golf balls have the dimples in them. So this would imply that smoothing the bottom of the boat would increase drag. Any thoughts on this? Bill Smith
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -Not much logic. Go fast boats may benifet from the bottom be waxed. only You may have a hard time getting bottom paint to adhere if you where to change your mind.
Response:
Go fast boats (planing hull) are never waxed on the hull. Again this is due to surface adhesion which causes drag and therefore slows the boat. Turbulance of the water means air and therefore less water. However, on a sail boat (displacement hull), the hull is waxed. At very low speeds it actually helps by reducing the turbulance around the boat which causes drag. Tony
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve always wondered about this. I think it was Bernoulli who said that a smooth surface actually provides more flow resistance than one with slight irregularities. Counter-intuitive I know. But this is also why golf balls have the dimples in them. So this would imply that smoothing the bottom of the boat would increase drag. Any thoughts on this? Bill Smith Not much logic. Go fast boats may benifet from the bottom be waxed. only You may have a hard time getting bottom paint to adhere if you where to change your mind.
Response:
I’ve always wondered about this. I think it was Bernoulli who said that a smooth surface actually provides more flow resistance than one with slight irregularities. Counter-intuitive I know. But this is also why golf balls have the dimples in them.
Golf balls have dimples to cause *more* turbulence, so that the air circulation caused by the ball’s backspin gives the ball lift. If you took away the backspin or the dimples, the ball wouldn’t fly as far.
Response:
Not much logic. Go fast boats may benifet from the bottom be waxed. only You may have a hard time getting bottom paint to adhere if you where to change your mind.
No wax, the bottoms are wet sanded. Garry Heon http://home.att.net/~firststepp
Response:
Not much logic. Go fast boats may benifet from the bottom be waxed. only You may have a hard time getting bottom paint to adhere if you where to change your mind.
No wax, the bottoms are wet sanded. True go-fasts would NEVER paint the bottom of their boats. Garry Heon http://home.att.net/~firststepp
Response:
Yeah I heard someone saying before that is you don’t wax the bottom of the boat you will actually go faster…….lets see if I can remember this right…….because the air bubbles will collect under the boat and cause Aggie engineer to think of something like that. :-)
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I recently overheard someone telling someone they shouldn’t wax the bottom of their boat, but didn’t hear a reason. Is this valid advice and what is the logic? Thanks Bob S.
Response:
How can you compare Golf balls to the bottom of boats? Golf balls go through the air. Your boat rides on top of water. Air and water are different. Their characteristics are not the same at all. I don’t see the comparison. A smoother surface will allow you to go faster.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I’ve always wondered about this. I think it was Bernoulli who said that a smooth surface actually provides more flow resistance than one with slight irregularities. Counter-intuitive I know. But this is also why golf balls have the dimples in them. So this would imply that smoothing the bottom of the boat would increase drag. Any thoughts on this? Bill Smith Not much logic. Go fast boats may benifet from the bottom be waxed. only You may have a hard time getting bottom paint to adhere if you where to change your mind.
Response:
They are both fluid movements…a slight rough surface at high speeds are better and a smooth surface at slower speeds is better. So, unless you are racing your boat at 100+MPH, don’t worry about it. You would probably be ok to wax the bottom MrFixit Money can’t buy happiness, but, it can buy the misery you prefer.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – How can you compare Golf balls to the bottom of boats? Golf balls go through the air. Your boat rides on top of water. Air and water are different. Their characteristics are not the same at all. I don’t see the comparison. A smoother surface will allow you to go faster. I’ve always wondered about this. I think it was Bernoulli who said that a smooth surface actually provides more flow resistance than one with slight irregularities. Counter-intuitive I know. But this is also why golf balls have the dimples in them. So this would imply that smoothing the bottom of the boat would increase drag. Any thoughts on this? Bill Smith Not much logic. Go fast boats may benifet from the bottom be waxed. only You may have a hard time getting bottom paint to adhere if you where to change your mind.