How Hull Coatings Affect PWC: WCJ Quick Topic

[@milestone_media]

I offer gator glide in nj I have had a excellent experience so far no hard biting like you mention and a little faster but I go all the way to where Yamaha had the stickers a little under it. I also spray it on to have that oem paint consistency just with a little more texture

[@imx3001]

​@@SaltyPirate71 are you talking about kevin?

[@robertcroslin2883]

Great Info! I now have "Another" winter project for my FX SVHO! 😉

[@watercraftjournal]

And what is that?

[@michaelsteele7420]

Is the clear coat with the flex additive just as durable as the gator glide?

[@michaelhanna2104]

Subscribed! Picking up a 2022 sea doo gtx 300 limited and it has some minor scratching on the front of the hull at the beginning of the V. Was considering fixing and also curious if I should clear coat with the flex additive to protect when beaching....overkill or nah?

[@skipmidgett6189]

Would putting a ceramic coating on the entire bottom section of a newer Sea Doo Ski slow it down or speed it up? Thanks

[@watercraftjournal]

Neither

[@mikelazar7954]

Any product number for the flex additive? And is there a certain ratio to mix into the clear coat?

[@watercraftjournal]

Literally ANY paint shop will be able to answer this.

[@zixxerlev]

Speedcoat 49... Same thoughts and feelings?

[@watercraftjournal]

Never heard of it.

[@TheBradKear]

So if your not interested in making you ski faster but better to handle turns….but look good and you have a plastic hull ( 2023 gtr 230) what can you use ?

[@watercraftjournal]

RIVA Pro Series Sponsons.

[@altezza1945]

Hey Kevin, will keelguard work well on my yamaha ex to protect the hull from damage , pros vs cons thanks

[@watercraftjournal]

It’ll ride like trash.

[@ellisken64]

Getting a Fish Pro Trophy in 3 days, and most fishing. Thinking after this video, just ceramic coating top half and not hull. Thoughts?

[@watercraftjournal]

Yeah, ceramic coating won't last very long on the hull.

[@TheBuffdaddy111]

Kevin, thanks for the videos, they are all fantastic. One question, just purchased a 2019 FX Limited. For the hull, all of my riding will be in a local lake. Do i really need to be concerned with the hull issues I've read about since I'm not hitting huge waves or running up hard on my floating dock or trailer?

[@watercraftjournal]

Yes and yes, Kevin has exhaustively detailed what FX owners need to do to preserve their hulls. Please review his videos.

[@jetguyfly1]

Wouldn't the oem paint on the nanoxcell hull still spider crack underneath the gator glide? And Wouldn't that , now comprised spider cracked oem paint, cause a failure of the gator glide that is on top of the spider cracked paint?

[@jetguyfly1]

@@watercraftjournal who is talking about sea-doo's ?

[@watercraftjournal]

Yes, and that's why a clear coat with flex additive is the smarter decision.

[@jetguyfly1]

@@watercraftjournal I would think that even clear w flex would eventually fail if the oem substrate cracked.

[@watercraftjournal]

Good question. Optimally no. Again, it's nowhere near as fragile as the internet would have you believe; but two coats of clear with flex additive will keep it contained, even if it begins to crack beneath.

[@jetguyfly1]

@@watercraftjournal Need advice on a upcoming purchase of a pwc. Appreciate input on what would be best. 2017-2021 Kawasaki Ultra 310lx or 2019-2021 Yamaha FX SVHO. Ultra 310LX benifits: SMC fiberglass hull with gellcoat paint (strong and durable) Best hull in waves and chop Reliable engine Comes with Bluetooth audio Most storage (50+ gallons) ________________________________ Ultra 310LX drawbacks: I don't love the looks, but it's OK Manual reverse lever, no brakes Seat may be too wide when standing High fuel consumption Short rear deck _________________________________ Yamaha FX SVHO Benifits: Looks cooler More available to choose from Easier to upgrade Less maintenance of supercharger pully pivot and belts Larger rear deck w option for rec deck Brake and left hand reverse ___________________________________ Yamaha FX SVHO Drawbacks: Nanoxcell 2 hull delamination worries (gatorglide fix good enough ?) Supercharger clutch failure Not as good in the chop and waves

[@Killinitman]

What about using rain x on the hull ?

[@watercraftjournal]

This is why I'm quitting.

[@Killinitman]

@@watercraftjournal cool story, turn off comments if you can't handle it.

[@droiddyman55]

What is the best brand of clear coat to use for this procedure?

[@watercraftjournal]

No idea. PPG?

[@davidward2370]

You can spray GatorGlide like a clear coat, it dose not have to have the orange peel. Its way tougher and as much better adhesion. The turning real does not have much to do with the flat surfaces but more with the strakes and chine.

[@watercraftjournal]

I have personally reached out to ALL THREE OE manufacturers as well as Cigarette Racing and a custom surfboard shaper on this topic. Differing surface tensions are direct causes for hull tracking and cornering instability. -K

[@davidward2370]

@@watercraftjournal I agree but what causes the most surface tension? I summit it is the hull design. Change the shape of the brake alone will cause the craft to change its turning dramatically. We do not have a disagreement except maybe the degree of change caused by coating. I guess it depend on why one is coating the bottom, preservation or racing. My Ski with GatorGlide turns very hard.

[@kamax7672]

Hey Dave, so is the turn consistent or does it give out part of the way thru the turn and you adjust for that?also did you apply this or someone else ?

[@johnwest2396]

@@kamax7672 I haven't put Gator Glide on mine yet I know 4 differant folks that have gator on their entire hull and one just did portions like where the bunks sit. they've had it on for almost 2 years now and they're not getting the reaction or negative effects that Kevin talks about, but what Kevin does say makes sense if you go by the physics of the water tension on the hull I don't know I'm not totally sold on it and not totally against it

[@VladOnEarth]

@@johnwest2396 it does makes sense what he said indeed, but if you ACTUALLY know physics, you should also understand that those effects, while present, will be so minimal, that there will be no way to notice any difference. even if they affect as must as 5%, you would never notice that, but they affect even less actually.

[@jeffgabriel9625]

Great video thank you!

[@watercraftjournal]

Appreciated

[@MikeZ32TT]

Thanks Kevin

[@watercraftjournal]

You bet!

[@jeffsurprenant1017]

That was perfect!

[@gary19222]

Well what's the best thing to do when you don't wanna scratch the hell out of a ski?

[@watercraftjournal]

Just what Kevin suggested, 1-or-2 coats of automotive clear coat with flex additive.

[@VladOnEarth]

@@watercraftjournal I assume you'd still want to sand it afterwards to true it if you are aiming at perfection. After it is true you may want to add another final coat also.

[@henrytischbein155]

Except on the superjet it’s gelcoat

[@watercraftjournal]

That's the first we've heard.

[@ericbryant796]

Check out the bottom on a race boat...it will not be shiny, wax smooth....you'll see it looks quite dull.

[@watercraftjournal]

LOL

[@VladOnEarth]

it doesnt actually prove anything, you will be shocked how little research most manufacturers do. Products are released with extremely dumb design mistakes all the time.

[@ericbryant796]

I should have expanded on my comment. A well know offshore boat manufacturer who had a pad bottom boat design used 400 grit sandpaper on the bottom of the race boats...thus the dull look instead of nice shiny gelcoat. No, I wouldn't do that to my Jetski bottom. 😜

[@tareiknetro315]

I fucking loved this clip

[@Podchynok]

How about, next time I repair surface with roll on gel coat, just leave it textured 🤷‍♂️

[@markmahoney6857]

One thought... "flex additive" is meant for products like bumper covers so they can be assembled without cracking the paint. Having said that, "flex additive" evaporates in 12-24 hours depending on brand. So don't waste your money on flex additive. Just sayin'

[@watercraftjournal]

Absolutely not, Mark. At all. Flex additive alters the catalyst to keep paint from cracking - like you said on plastic bumpers. It does NOT evaporate, as much as the catalyst evaporates.

[@Captainchokeout3994]

Watched this live stream. I’d never put anything on my hull. Side note. I’m in a group that makes, and produces comics away from the main 2 (marvel & DC) I spoke with Steve Dye. Said he knew/knows you

[@watercraftjournal]

You've got me, Cpt. How do I know Steve Dye? -K

[@JeTsKi_MiSfItS]

Hey Kev, at least give me some photo credits 😂

[@watercraftjournal]

100% We'll link your video in the description right now.

[@imx3001]

Thanks😂

[@chrisengelbrecht5317]

Hi Kevin. Instead off doing a whiteboard video,why not do an actual physical test and show the viewers what you saying is incorrect.

[@watercraftjournal]

And how would you like me to do that, Chris? What exactly would convince you that the material I presented is true?

[@VladOnEarth]

Why don't you sponsor him to do that then? lol. I hope you understand how much labor and time will be involved in that test? So yeah, put your money where your mouth is lol

[@ussmillerco]

Really?

[@watercraftjournal]

Yup

[@deepdivetrading]

That #502 will run over you lol

[@watercraftjournal]

I've seen him shoot. I'm safe. -K