Reducing drag!

When I did that it cost me an engine rebuild! When I got my boat it was in bad shape,but I got it running and used it for one summer.On that summers Labor day I decided to clean the bottom.I had waterpump trouble,if you drove off it was fine once it warmed up,but if you idled off it would over heat.Well after I cleaned it,I idled off not thinking,went about 1 mile,looked back and saw steam coming from the exhausts.Shut it off and luckily it was so hot it would not turn over,if I had gotten it started I'd have cracked something for sure.So now it's on a lift to keep it clean,I don't want to jinx myself by going under it again.

I buffed out the bottom of mine. took it out today for the first time this year. I think you may be right, I did see an improvement.

Gary, What do you use to polish the fins and rudder?

A low drag bottom will make a difference. Think about sail boats and the work the pros put into their bottoms to gain speed. Of coarse on a sail boat, a small % makes a big difference.

81,If you are speaking of the America's Cup,yea they spend mega bucks looking for that .25 knot increase in speed. Only downwind can these boats outrun their own wake,the catamarans ,Hobie & Nacra, are a different animal. Planing hulls means less boat is in the water.Waxing a Hobie is a sure way to slow it down,shaping the rudders,and boards and cleaning up nicks and scratches,Do..........boat dr .
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Doc, You have a very good point regarding the planing hulls. I read someplace that someone was experimenting with a golf ball like surface on a boat. My understanding it worked because it trapped air under it reducing the surface tension to the water. Now all we need is to train the barnicles to grow on the bottom in a pattern like a golf ball!!

In sailboat racing the hot surface is usually a non waxed but wetsanded about 600 grit boat. There are a couple wax type substances from sailing that claim to be as good or better than a freshly wetsanded boat. A lot easier to wax than to keep it perfectly smooth if your not racing boats where a 1/4 knot makes a difference. I don't race sailboats as much as I used to, but if any of y'all ever want to feel what its like doing 25 knots through 3 foot waves on a 17 foot catamaran just look me up on a windy day.

I new you had a sensitive side doc, being a blow boater and all. lol eric

Randy- since I have an old boat it does not have fins.The rudder I had out because I had to get a replacement so I used a DA sander then buffed it.But now I have the original rudder on,the PO had found it and I didn't bother to do anything with it.

Ski Bum, the product is called;Miracle Micro Balloons,and has been banned in most one design sail boat classes.
It works by trapping water in those "dimples"
water sliding over water,same as a golf ball.The surface looks simular to "orange peel" but much more uniform.....boat dr

Dont forget waxed hulls slide off trailer very easily if they are not hooked to the trailer. especially on a steep ramp.