I stopped at Montana Boat Builders on my way up.
www.montanaboatbuilders.comThey use a multi step process for their boats that include high-strength, kevlar reinforced honeycomb material for the boat bottom. This is the best picture I have of the material.
Then from their website --- "This honeycomb is then further reinforced with multiple layers of Kevlar, fiberglass and epoxy and finally the exterior of the bottom panel is encapsulated in nearly ¼” of high density polyurethane material just like a truck bed liner.
This material is not the rubbery type but rather a hard plastic material which can withstand impacts and abrasion much better than the soft gel coats of fiberglass boats. It doesn't chip like gelcoats do, yet it slides easily over rocks. For catastrophic rock hits, (actually the only ones we have seen have been from metal) this material is repairable."
On the interior, they use a different bed liner that is more rubbery. It actually feels softer than the hull liner.
I think he told me it was Speed Liner on the bottom. I forgot to ask him what brand the interior was coated with.
Here's a shot I took of the stern of one of their boats that was nearly finished.
Note how the bed liner material wraps up onto the wood sides a little ways. he says it's better than HDPE or UHMW because you don't have to use mechanical fasteners.
I asked him about water getting in between the liner and the hull. He said it's just not an issue,
if it is applied correctly.He said they have repaired a couple of other maker's boats where there wasn't a good bond between the glass and the liner, kind of like an air bubble. That's where the liner will flex and if it gets punctured, you'll have a problem.
I know that doesn't answer Woodsman's question about straight fiberglass hulls, but I thought it was interesting and kind of related.
I was looking through these pictures tonight and most of them didn't turn out well at all. I think I was too tired and too coffee'd up from the drive. Most of them are a little shaky and/or out of focus. I could feel my pulse in my head and arms every time I brought the view finder up to my eyeball. Darn it. Still, really nice guy and cool shop and BEAUTIFUL boats.
I had to ask him about maintenance. He said keep it protected from the sun when you aren't using it and it will look this good in 10 years. He explained that today's marine epoxy stuff and the top coat are way better than in the old days.
Sure are pretty. Sure are expensive.
