Caulk Strakes

[hodginsmn]

I have lifting strakes that were installed from the factory that are spot welded along the length. The problem is that weeds get caught where the spot welds are (see photo). After every trip I have to crawl under the boat to pull them off.

Do you think any type of caulk would work to prevent this from happening? I have a 140 Johnson and can get going 30 mph ? would a silicone caulk (or anything else) hold up?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Caulk Strakes

That looks like a fairly new boat, I would contact the factory and see what they can do about it.

Those should be tight to the tube.

 

[lakegeorge]

Re: Caulk Strakes

I would call a few other dealers and find out if thier strakes are welded all the way across. I would think that the gaps would be causing some kind of disturbance under water and a possible loss of speed.
Let us know what you find out.

 

[hodginsmn]

Re: Caulk Strakes

The boat is a 2004 Premier which I bought used. I looked at the Premier website and this is what they say about thier lifting strakes now:

"Premier?s lifting strakes are sealed air tight giving our boats a faster time to plane."

Mine are not air tight by any means. I think 2004 was one of the first years they had strakes so it looks like they have improved them since.

I assume they would not be willing to make mine air tight for free now. Should I take it to a "general" welding shop, try to caulk it, or leave it alone??

Would getting it welded be a huge expense - it is a 27' boat (not sure how long the strakes are).

Thanks!

 

[hodginsmn]

Re: Caulk Strakes

One more detail....the front of the strakes do have a sealed cone type nose, but the backs are completly open (see photo) - no end caps at all.

So, they fill up completly with water then I assume, as I move faster, the water just rushes out of the back.

 

[glastron50gl]

Re: Caulk Strakes

I have a 27 ft pontoon with a 140 suzuki 4 stroke Same as the johnson you have and would love the see 30 mph... What prop are you running? is it a tritoon? with regards to the strakes air would need to enter the front part of the strakes to displace the water. If you seal everything but the back it may take longer for the water to rush out....

 

[lmuss53]

Re: Caulk Strakes

I think I'd try a bead af good RTV on those and see how long it lasts. I think 5150 can speak to it better, but the standard weld is something like 3 inches every two feet.

Hodginsmn, could you take a couple of good photos of those strakes from a a head on and side angle view? I am going to get strakes added to mine and am trying to figure positioning and angles and material thickness and other important stuff. I would really appreciate it.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Caulk Strakes

Correct, never seen one welded completely.

If you fdo have it welded make sure you guy pulls the plugs before he starts to keep pressure from building in the tube, it will blow out the weld.

5200 might stick but that is alot of force on it so I don't know.

The only thing I can think that woudl cause it to stand off the tube like that is they got an extrusion with a flat back and wiht the tube being round it makes it stand off.

 

[hodginsmn]

Re: Caulk Strakes

Imuss53 - I will try to get some pictures for you thi weekend. Here is one from the Premier website of how they do them now.

I think I will try some 5200 and see how it goes. Thanks!

 

[lmuss53]

Re: Caulk Strakes

OK thanks, I do have that one, but they are hard to come by. If you think about it I'd appreciate a couple more. I'm down to about what material to make them out of now, I think I've got everyting else straight in my head.

 

[hodginsmn]

Re: Caulk Strakes

Imuss53 - here are some pictures, since the strakes are on the middle tube I couldn't really get any side shots.

I hope this helps.

 

[lmuss53]

Re: Caulk Strakes

Perfect, thanks so much. Now I can get angles and positioning, and I think I can even figure thickness very close. Yours are an extrusion which surprises me, I thought they would be bent from flat stock. Now I will look to buy 2 ten foot sections of the extrusion before I start trying to get flat stock bent. Thanks again, Muss.