Bath Tub Testing

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

With a wooden hull, what level of protection should be in place before it is bath tested i.e to establish the amount/position of ballast required? My UTE has been constructed from birch ply using aliphatic adhesive. Currently it has received four coats of dope, thinned 50% with cellulose thinners. All my previous hulls have been one colour, but with this one I would like to establish a `water-line' with the lower portion of the hull painted Halfords Red Oxide Primer to look like anti-fouling paint. How is the `water-line' best established? Previous hulls have been painted in Halfords Primer/Sealer (yellow peril) and the normal primer.

[David Marks 2Participant @davidmarks2]

[Dodgy Geezer 1Participant @dodgygeezer1]

I give my balsa boats a few coats of sanding sealer – take it down to a smooth finish and then put one coat of spray primer on. That helps you to see a line when it's put in. Make sure you put a full load on and trim it first, otherwise it will be very confusing to see just where the waterline is…

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