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Boating/Questions Answered by Expert Harvey Chichester
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Boating | 4/10/2012 |
| Q: Why for rowing boats is a 6 foot beam recommended for the sea and 4 foot 6 inches beam recommended ... A: I have not heard this recommendation before but your top speed with out plaining will be between ... | |
| Questions re Bottom Paint | 3/17/2012 |
| Q: You sent me a quote #1120451. What will the colour be of the copper non-stick antifouling? Who ... A: The product is copper color as the grains of copper protrude though the Teflon to keep growth away. ... | |
| Bottom painting license | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if someone needed a boating license or a bottom boat painting license or any ... A: If you are using antifouling paint some states consider that a pesticide and have licensing ... | |
| Rolloing of boat. | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: i have a 16 foot Naverone boat with 2 40HP Mariner engines. Whilst driving in a straight line the ... A: Just a guess. It is likely that you have a trim problem that is allowing more weight to the low ... | |
| boat stains | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: I keep getting black lines running down the side of my boat from the snaps for the mooring cover, ... A: You could seal the snaps of your cover so they will not bleed. I would clean them with a phosphoric ... | |
| max. moisture content of boat hull | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: a 28 year old beneteau first 25. what is the max moisture content of the hull that is acceptable. ... A: I would not worry about moisture content for your hull if you are not experiencing any deformation. ... | |
| paint on rubber rollers | 6/5/2010 |
| Q: I took my boat trailer to get it painted. My trailer doesn't have bunks but hard rubber rollers for ... A: The rollers flex and if you take something and push in and out the coating may just flake off. ... | |
| Painting a restored Sunfish sailboat | 5/14/2010 |
| Q: I am at the primer stage of sanding a very aged boat using auto primer. I think I want to spray an ... A: Using an epoxy primer and a two part epoxy boat paint will work the best for water applications. ... | |
| Boat Paint | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1996 Searay signature series ski boat that i have put a wakeboard tower and accessories on. ... A: I am not familiar with awlgrip. It is usually best to sand your bottom with 80 to 120 grit paper ... | |
| Boat Paint | 3/22/2010 |
| Q: I have a 1996 Searay signature series ski boat that i have put a wakeboard tower and accessories on. ... A: If you go to www.boat-bottom-paint.com you can get a quote for your boat bottom. They also have ... | |
| weight and motor capacity (CONFUSED) | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I HAVE A 1987 13 FT 6 INCH LONG AND 46 INCH BEAM SEARS GAMEFISHER ALUMINUM FLATBOTTOM JON BOAT! THE ... A: Your weight capacity is length time width divided by 15 or 3.6 passengers. You should stick with a ... | |
| bottom scrape | 2/17/2010 |
| Q: accidentally dropped my boat off the trailer and scraped a 18inch by 10inch area at the keel by the ... A: You can re-gel coat but this is a skill job. A second option would be to sand the area with an 80 ... | |
| Gel coat or paint | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a 23ft ski boat that i take to the lake alot,when i bring it to shore the front V rubs ... A: You could put a fiberglass cloth overlay for the ware area for extra strength but it would look like ... | |
| flooring | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: I just purchased a 1973 tolleycraft cuddy cruiser, I want to take out the carpet, and want to know ... A: I would recommend using 100% epoxy with quartz. Some people put in rubber powder, aluminum oxide, ... | |
| deteriorating boat vinyl after 3 years? | 9/25/2009 |
| Q: We bought our boat new 3 years ago. After about 1 1/2 yrs, we noticed some orange/red spots ... A: Sounds like mold. You can spray the cushions with a sanitizer to help hold it back. If you can ... | |
| White Strip on Boat | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a Bayliner. The boat is white and blue. In the middle of these two colors there is a sticky ... A: Linda, The tape is a 3M type striping and may come off with a petroleum solvent like mineral ... | |
| KMV boats | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I have not previously owned a boat and am looking at a 1987 kmv 1700. I like the idea of a hardtop ... A: Most boat problems relate to the motor. If it starts easily and runs smoothly you are half way ... | |
| 40 hp Johnson | 8/23/2009 |
| Q: My dad got a 1965 flat bottom boat which was one of the old river boats from my grandpa. The motor ... A: Ronald, Those motors last a long time and it is probable still vary serviceable. I would put new ... | |
| 25 hp outbord | 8/22/2009 |
| Q: Engin moves left to rite or twists on the vertical acsess looks like the rubber mounts are bad but I ... A: The prop will make the motor want to twist handle left to back right if the mountying shaft does not ... | |
| boat paint | 8/21/2009 |
| Q: I have an old fiberglass boat and plan to paint it with Rustoleum . Your thlughts on that would be ... A: You should use a two part epoxy coating. This type of coating is not carried by water or solvent, ... | |
| Wet hull | 8/16/2009 |
| Q: We bought our Doral Cavalier 4 yrs. ago from a dealer. We were new boaters and our insurance co. ... A: I would use 100% solid epoxy with some silica flower to make it thicker and putty it into your crack ... | |
| Marine Engine | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: I rebuilt my Mercruiser 350 engine a year ago, to be safe, I brought it to a local marina to check ... A: Sorry for your problems. I would squirt some light oil into each spark plug hole to lube the ... | |
| old fiber glass dolphin boat 1955 | 8/9/2009 |
| Q: Hi i have an old dolphin boat not sure of the year or what it is worth its 18 4seater black it says ... A: Gord, Dolphin boats are at http://www.dolphinboats.com I don,t know if they are the same company ... | |
| Stored Boat | 8/4/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2000 Baylinner 5.0 Merc IO and it has been stored for the past 4 years I am about to ... A: I would put in some new gas with a can of Sea Foam in it to help clean off the parts when you first ... | |
| my boat bottom | 7/31/2009 |
| Q: I was curious if it was ok to use my aluminum boat in brackish or salt water? If it is ok what ... A: A beer can will dissolve in salt water with in months. I would suggest coating the hull with a ... | |
| Evinrude moter won't start | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: .. We have an Evinrude 40 2 stroke motor (older), first you can't choke the motor to start it but ... A: Joan, If a renter put gas without oil the engine might be ceasing up. Two stroke engines need ... | |
| 1991 25 hp johnson | 7/28/2009 |
| Q: i have this motor on a 20 ft. pontoon when you turn to the right sharp the motor revs up (at full ... A: You will probable find that your throttle cable is binding when you turn. Loosen the cable holding ... | |
| Sunfish Hull refinish | 7/6/2009 |
| Q: I have an old (pre-1970) sunfish that someone used bottom paint on the hull. How do I go about ... A: You may not have to take all the bottom paint of your sunfish. If you wet sand with an 80 to 100 ... | |
| Aluminium boats moored on salt water | 6/14/2009 |
| Q: I am considering buying a 16ft alum bowrider(new). During the summer months I am considering leaving ... A: An aluminum can will dissolve in sea water in a mater of weeks. A good zinc chromate primer with ... | |
| Glasspar Tadpole | 6/4/2009 |
| Q: Harvey, I have an opportunity to get this boat for free. It has set for atleast 25 years. All I have ... A: Robert, Your boat sounds like a great opportunity. I would plan about 50 to 100 hours to restore ... | |
| pontoon boat | 5/28/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2005 bennington with a 115hp merc. when i took it out today the depth finder started to ... A: Dee, There is probable some dirt on your sensor. Follow the wire down from your depth finder to ... | |
| boar stringers | 4/26/2009 |
| Q: The plywood stringers on my boat rotted out. the fiberglass tabs that attach to the hull are ... A: It is hard to get that wood out of the pockets and you may need to cut the length of the pocket to ... | |
| Hydraulic Steering, stiff to port | 4/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2001 Maxum bowrider with a 125 hp Mercury 2-stroke outboard. The hydraulic steering ... A: If your rod is bent it will appear short to port as it will not go into the cylinder fully. If it ... | |
| 4.3L mercruiser burning oil | 4/23/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a boat with a 4.3L w/ 40hrs on it. It smokes upon start up and burns oil throughout ... A: My expertise is limited on internal motor problems but is sounds like rings to me. I don't think ... | |
| Hydraulic Steering, stiff to port | 4/22/2009 |
| Q: I have a 2001 Maxum bowrider with a 125 hp Mercury 2-stroke outboard. The hydraulic steering ... A: It is hard to say what your problem is but I would check the rod on the ram. If the rod that goes ... | |
| No Start 1984 Sea Ray | 4/9/2009 |
| Q: I have an '84 Sea Ray 18' with a 3.0L inline 4 cyl, 140hp motor. I last used the boat in 2006 and ... A: I would first pull the plugs and spray or pour in some WD 40 or similar to help if there is some ... | |
| drain boat gas tank | 4/4/2009 |
| Q: I have bayliner 192 and I need to drain gas tank in it. How can I do it? I was trying to use a hose ... A: You can pre fill your siphon hose before you put the end in your tank. Make sure the hose is long ... | |
| Paint vs. gel coat | 4/2/2009 |
| Q: Would it be possible to sand down the gel coat on an entire boat and reapply gel coat,or would it be ... A: New Gel coat makes a great bottom repair but is a skill job. It is best applied by spray and the ... | |
| Yamaha 90hp outboard | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: The speed/mile p/hour indicator on the instruments panel of my boat has suddenly stopped working. At ... A: Your speed sensor is on the bottom of your hull. Look for a paddle or a tub on the bottom that may ... | |
| Pontoon boat repair - is it worth it? | 3/28/2009 |
| Q: I've been looking at a pontoon type paddle boat on Craig's list for $195. The style of the boat is ... A: The boat you want appears to need some fiberglass work. You can purchase a fiberglass kit with both ... | |
| 40 HP Johnson Motor & Boat | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: In 1989 my wife's father past away after just buying a new Johnson outboard motor. He put it on the ... A: A rule of thumb for boat motors is $200 if it runs plus $100 per horsepower. Your motor is not a ... | |
| boat will not start | 3/20/2009 |
| Q: I have an 1982 astro glass mercury, boat it will not start it wants to. A: Of course many things can be wrong to cause a boat not to start but if it is a 2-cycle motor I would ... | |
| 1980 Evinrude Outboard Motor | 3/18/2009 |
| Q: I just bought this boat and I am having troubles with the control box. When I put it in forward, it ... A: Powerboats are not my expertise but I think you have a cable adjustment problem. I would start with ... | |
Harvey Chichester
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can not answer questions on motors, or mechanical problems. I have expertise in marine paints and coatings including Antifouling, non-stick, Teflon, epoxy, urethane, high build skid resistant finishes and primers.
Experience
A well published principal of Durall Marine Products, a company with more than 40 years experience in developing special flow-coatings for industrial and consumers. Products developed are for Sailboats, Power Boats, and Ships. See http://www.boat-bottom-paint.com for online information about Durall and its products. Family history includes Sir Francis Chichester single handing around the globe. Admiral Edward Chichester, Superintendent of the British Navy. Rosalie Amelia Chichester, a female yachtsmen flourishing in the Victorian Age. John Chichester, made a fortune in the privateer business and captured a ship with 1200 lb. of gold off the coast of Ghana. Admiral John Chichester helped to defeat the Spanish Armada in 1588 aboard the HMS Larkey.
Organizations
St. Croix Sailing Club.
Publications
Sindicated in most on line Article source sites.
Education/Credentials
MBA, BSB, BA University of Minnesota
Awards and Honors
Sailing trophys for Ranger 23 Tall Rig.
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