Posted by Ray Frechette Jr on 11/29/2007, 18:08:32, in reply to "Re: Paint for below the waterline"
Now that is a trick isn't it. How do you get a nice level straight line ona compound curving hull when there is none to follow???
Laser line levels are a boatbuilders best friend. Or at least one of his best friends.
Level the boat fore and aft, and side to side, and then jack up the back end of the boat an inch. This will make the bottom paint line higher in the front than at the back. This is usefull becuase teh pointy end of the boat has less bearing under it and hence finds itself bobbing under the water a bit more frequently than the transom area.
Also of interest is determining where on earth the waterline really is.
If you put the boat inthe water outfitted with all you will carry, the waterline is at the area where the water is. Neat Huh? use a grease pencil to mark some reference points on the hull for you to hit your lazer line level on it.
As a general rule you want to paint the waterline an inch or inch and a half above the waterline. And, generally speaking, I paint hte topsides down to the true waterline and lap the bottom paint over it.
Now back to the set up boat where you have reference points etc. Set up your laser line to be over the points, on one side of the boat and then run your tape up to the line. Sight down the tape line too in order to assure you don't have waviness in the tape line.
Once that is done reset your line level across the transom level with one edge of the laser line touching the tape and the other esxtending level. repeat with the tape. Finally, set the laser line level on the other side of the boat and adjust so it hits the transom tape and bow point tape etc.
Some people set up cantenary curve waterlines instead of flat ones. The low point is generally about 2/3rds the way back on the boat with it going about 3/4 of an inch higher than level aft, and about 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 higher at the bow.
This accentuates the shear line on the boat. It is also more involved in the layout of the line than I care to type at right now as it is late. Maybe Sunday if there is a burning desire to do so.
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