Boot top

[DeeGee]

Each year, as I apply masking tape for a/f, then two more for boot top, I ask do I really need this? Being white, it is dirty within a week of going back in.

Some boats have a boot top, some don't appear to - having just a line or two well above the w/line. This is not a hidden quiz! What sort of boot top have YOU got, what are the advantages and disadvantages ?

 

[ghost]

instant recognition of loading - trim,
colour coding - aesthetics
ease of overlapping coverup - maint n paint

 

[cliff]

Black AF on the wet bit of the boat and hard AF for the boot top (red in colour). The red can be scrubbed without coming off so when scrubbing the white bit above I can go onto the red with out removing it whereas if I take the brush to the black AF it will come off.

That is one of the reasons for having a Boot Line (also helps to calibrate the boot line in kegs of beer so one knows when one has loaded enough beer on board and that is is well distributed around the boat to maintain the trim.
----------

“Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity”
Skype id:cliffillupo

 

[Mirelle]

Have Blakes blue boot top. Above Blakes red expensive stuff a/f.

The boot top discolours fast, but a quick scrub brings it back - you need to do this almost weekly.

It scrubs off fast.

Have sneaking suspicion. that two coats of enamel would work as well.

 

[Talbot]

Too lazy for more than one set of tapes, so just continue my erodable a/f up high enough as a boot topping. Occasional scrub with hard brush keeps it to a reasonably uniform colour, and stops the paint level getting too much.

 

[Ruffles]

I have two boot top lines in hard antifouling.

Repainted them this year on a showery weekend. Ended up masking them off twice. The first time a shower come over and washed it all off! Sod. My arms were aching. Have you noticed that with low tack tape you can't leave the reel dangling while you move your ladder?

Also did you know that masking tape comes in 24mm, 25mm and 1"? I know because the gaps between my stripes didn't match. Sod2.

Feel better now /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Rob.

 

[Lakesailor]

I used Blakes Yacht Enamel (375mm tin, used less than half) in black for my boot topping. Put it on before antifouling so that damp won't creep up behind it, then antifoul up to the bottom (just overlapping) the boot topping. It means you only have to mask the waterline the once (or when you do the boot topping again). Slime washes off easily and you don't scrub away the paint.

I can't see the point in the two thin stripes as the slime still shows on the white bits. My true waterline is just above the bottom of the boot topping.