Lubricate moving parts such as swivel seat bases to prevent rust and maintain ease of use .
Simple Steps to Re-Coating the Bottom of your Drift Boat
HAVING OWNED A DRIFT BOAT for more than a decade now I am just as pleased with my boat as the first day I bought it . They can sit outside and endure the weather and it won ’ t affect their function . No worry about motor maintenance and a good washing each summer and the boat is almost ready to go . But once a year there are some things that you need to pay a little extra attention to so your day on the river is more enjoyable . Here are five things that I do prior to the season ahead .
1 . New Rope : Replace the anchor rope each year . A good polypropylene rope can withstand being soaked and dried repeatedly but UV rays from the sun can cause some damage . The rope can get frayed from its constant pulling and dropping , especially around wear points such as at the anchor or where it is crimped in the anchor release .
2 . Lube Your Anchor System : Lubricate each pulley , wheel , and lock . WD40 is a great lubricant and it now comes in a spray gel that sticks a bit better and lasts longer . After a day of fishing a quick squirt on each of the rope pulleys , and wheels , as well as on the oar locks and anchor release , will help keep things from sticking . jason brooks photo
Aluminum has a habit of sticking to river rocks at the most inconvenient times . Which is why I recommend applying a new coat of Coat-It every year , or every other year . By applying a waterproof epoxy sealer your boat will slide over rocks and shallow riffles much easier . Be sure to use the right products for the job and allow for ample curing and drying time . I prefer to use Coat-It , manufactured by Tap Plastics . It is a two-part binary product that takes a while to cure but is super slick once it ’ s applied . Coat-It is easy to use and a little bit goes a long way . Here are the steps of the process .
Gather your materials so you don ’ t have to stop in the middle of the process to run to the hardware store . This is especially important once you mix the two-part coating .
Step 1 : The first step is to take your drift boat off of its trailer and flip it over . Be sure to shore up the boat with blocks so it won ’ t rock back and forth . Once the boat is stable it is time to get to work . Scrape off the old coating using a metal scraper . If it is not Coat-It it might have air pockets or becoming separated from the aluminum which will cause wear spots . Once the old coating is removed , or if you have used Coat-It in the past , then sand the surface . The idea here is to rough up the aluminum so the product “ sticks ” to it better . Since Coat-It can be applied in several coats you can just scuff up the older Coat-It and reapply over it . Once you have your boat down to bare metal this is a good time to look for any cracks or splits in the aluminum which is a soft metal that is prone to tearing . If you find any cracks or splits be sure to have them professionally fixed .
Step 2 : Once the bottom is scuffed up then tape along the chines to keep the product from dripping down the edge of
EQUIPMENT LIST
1 Quart Coat-It Acetone Metal Scrapers Rubber Gloves Blue painter ’ s tape Orbiting Sander 50 Grit Sandpaper Face Mask Paint Brush Safety Glasses
your boat and making a mess . Remember the bottom of a drift boat is not flat and Coat-It is a liquid until it dries . Mix the binary components of Coat-It together per the instructions and begin to apply it . I found using a paint scraper easier to use as the Coat It is a thick product much like a frosting a cake that is sixteen feet long and five feet wide . Try to leave more of the product in the middle of the boat as this is the area that is more likely to hit rocks when running thin rapids .
Step 3 : Let the boat cure and dry for a few days , flip it back over and put it back onto the trailer . Once your fishing season is over it is a good idea to check the wear on the bottom and do some touchups . Coat-It also comes in a quart size can which is usually more than enough to make repairs after a season of use . JASON BROOKS
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