Question on boat wax

[SEAL7]

heard a rumor that waxing the aluminum on the underside of a boat will actually make her go slower? any truth to that? Thanks, Evan

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Question on boat wax

Welcome to iboats.

Well........ yes it's true. Wax creates a slick barrier and what you want is a barrier coat that is slick but yet bumpy. If your boat is riveted you can do it (with wax) w/o any problem.

I have to venture into physics for a moment. Slight bumps or disturbances under the hull create air bubbles and when that happens the boat moves faster. The difference is very negligible. There used to be a practice of sanding hulls to create that bubble barrier.......

Years ago there was a product on the market called Hyperspeed coat or speedkote but it was never worth the money for application versus results (not for us common people).

Bottom line is if you want to wax....go for it.

 

[Philster]

Re: Question on boat wax

Waxing over paint = slower. That's what I've understood for year. I think the overall effect is negligible to the user in real life. It can't am't to anything more than 1 MPH in most practical applications.

Up at hyperspeeds for extreme boats, where tenths of a second matter, yeah... maybe it scrubs off a couple of MPH... a huge am't to guys dropping 50 grand to get 2 extra MPH.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: Question on boat wax

Yup, same reason golf balls are dimpled instead of smooth. Laminar vs turbulent flow at the boundary layer - turbulent will have less resistance.

 

[JimS123]

Re: Question on boat wax

In the 1970's it was the norm to wax the hull to make it go faster. At least thats' what "they" said back then. It worked for me.

Some people will argue that it doesn't work, but I never heard anybody say it will make you go slower.

I used to do it annually, but now at my advanced age I have no ambition to crawl on the floor under the boat any more for some minimal gain...LOL. I wax the topsides to make her look good...I can't see the bottom anmyway.

 

[SEAL7]

Re: Question on boat wax

Thanks for the help all, i appreciate it, i didnt want to get back under my baby anyways
thanks again, Evan

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Question on boat wax

if you're talking dirty crusty hull vs clean waxed hull, clean and waxed is going to be faster. "bumpy" in terms of getting turbulent flow at the boundary is 400 grit sandpaper bumpy and really isn't going to change anything unless you've straightened the running surface with a straitedge anyhow. we're talking a difference of a few mph on a boat that's running closer to 100 than 30...

if you're talking about waxing it to keep it clean and protected, I would think it might not be a bad idea...