Waterline

[aitchw]

Is there any easy way of marking out the waterline on a small boat hull (17-19') in preparation for painting? I've thought about setting up a laser level to project a line but it all seems very involved. How do you do it?

Howard

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[burgundyben]

Re: Water level

long piece of clear pipe with some water in it, hold it anywhere on the boat at one end with the weaster level where you want the waterline, then wander round the boat with the other end marking the waterline.

bubbles make no difference.

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[Twister_Ken]

Spirit level

BBs method does require you to make sure the lugger is level fore and aft and athwartships first though.

Which leaves you with the problem of finding two bits of ship which would normally be level when afloat. Cockpit seats are good for fore and aft trim, and across a forehatch is good for athwartships.



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[upstream]

Re: Water level

Making sure the boat is somewhat level!!

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[aitchw]

Knew I could rely on you guys!

Thanks

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[Twister_Ken]

But...

...she may not float to her newly painted waterline when afloat, depending on overall weight and the distribution of weight within the vessel. So if you can get any info from the builders, class assoc, etc about the expected posn. of the w'line it will help you decide how much water to pour into the plastic pipe.

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[claymore]

Why don't you float her then mark where the water comes to then bring her out and paint her?

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Claymore
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[Twister_Ken]

Ripples??? nm

`

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[claymore]

Re: Ripples??? nm

OK
Do it when there are no ripples.
Don't send it in with a splash.
Put it in on a still evening or morning and wait a while till the ripples have subsided
stand on the shore with a very long stick and a marker taped to it so that you don't have to stand in the water and cause ripples
Do it alongside a pontoon so that you can lie down and mark the hull
Do it on a Scottish Loch where there are often flat calm conditions interspersed with crashing waves and galloping white horses
If you live in the South of England - put it in your swimming pool.
One of those has to fit.


Anyway - I heard of a boatbuilder who used to do this, get the line painted on and then when the owner came down for the launch the builder would nod sagely and comment on build quality and getting the waterline correct.


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Claymore
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[maris]

Re: Chalk line?????

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[kingfisher]

Once marked, apply painters tape underneath the marks, another line of tape above, and another tape above the second one. Remove the middle on. Hey presto, a straight line.



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[tcm]

Re: Much better way: the tosspot method

1. Experiment with various types of paint until you find some that will float on the surface. Probaably anything a bit oily that needs thinners, i bet. Garage floor paint definitely floats.

2. Sand down the hull a bit, then plop it in the water.

3. Now, tip the paint inthe water, floating it around the boat. But don't get in the boat. You can leave it all night if its calm to develop a perfect line.

4. haul the boat out and the real waterline will be evenly a bit higher than above the gunky line of paint.



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[claymore]

Re: Much better way: the tosspot method

OK maybe you do cheat at racing but that is brilliant.

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Claymore
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