Protecting my hull
 

I'm going to be towing my Nordic over a couple of mountain passes here in Colorado in a few weeks. Problem is that the higway department spreads sand "small gravel" on the higher roads during the winter months. Depending on the recent weather this can still be on the highway and I'm concerned about developing a bit of a rash in my shiny gelcoat on the way. :mad:

I was thinking about either duct taping some sheet plastic over the front lower portion of the hull or buying some of those rolls of vinyl shelf paper that my wife sometimes uses and sticking that directly to the hull.

Anyone every try somthing similar?

Thanks

Pat

shrink wrap?

I bought semi mud flaps and mounted to a bar that clamps around the reciever to keep the rocks from being flipped up from my truck tires. Cheap and dirty, but they work great.

You can buy them from an RV dealer ready to bolt on. ($100+ ) The grass skirt types don't work as well as the solid rubber ones.

Try this one:

http://www.pickupspecialties.com/Tow...wing_guard.htm

call me and I will try to help you 909-********* on what to do

Many of us have invested in a nice set of flaps for the tow vehicle. I had the setup that attached to the hitch and went across most of the back of my last two trucks. I now have a dually, and went with molded flaps, and then I modified them with an additional piece that extends down below. You don't want your flaps TOO low. Less than 2" is too low, as when your truck squats over bumps, the flaps will actually fling rocks backward. More than 3" is too high, and will allow some rocks to escape and head back toward the boat.

Also, for your immediate concern, I would just have the forward lower portion of the hull shrink wrapped. Many marinas are stripping the shrink wrap off of boats at this time, so you might be able to find a nice big piece that was not shrunk completely down, and can re-use it for some cost savings. Either that, or just pay for a nice job with new shrink wrap.

I think that just about anything that you would jerry-rig would probably come lose and cause your more headaches than it would do any good.

You also might just invest in a several rolls of Heat Shrink Tape, and cover the forward portion with just tape.

See this site:http://www.dr-shrink.com/store/index...tndeeeotbuohi5

And this post:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ight=dr+shrink

Thanks for the good advice. I had totally spaced out on the idea of the removable mud flaps. I'd looked into these a few years ago and forgotten about it until I read the posts. (something that happens when your over 50) There is a place near my old home that sells a nice setup that fits over your receiver.

This is what I had seen before:

http://www.mudflaps.com/

I was just going to add that link. That is the setup that I have. I used it on my old SRW trucks; and still have it in storage. I painted the entire metal assembly to match my last truck. Now that I have a dually, I did not get the wider bars; I just went with molded flaps in each fender.

Pics here:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...t=78812&page=2