Need to make my Supreme a flats boat, help!

[MikeA]

I’m going to take my Supreme Jet to the Keys this year and I’m needing some inventive thinking. The front of the Supreme is flat like a big skiff. There is no V to break any kind of wave action. What I’m worried about is hull slap scaring the fish. Anyone got some kind of easy temporary application to prevent hull slap on a flat bottom boat? I was thinking some rectangle foam blocks glued vertically (long end up and down) to the front about where the waterline will be when afloat. Maybe leave a small gap between each block?  Got any other ideas?

[Steve H]

Mike, I am going to look into push pole.

I am wondering if we could take a look at some of these other hulls and borrow ideas that could be forged onto the Supreme.

[Mike Hill]

Lots of flats boats have both "flat" fronts as well as "flat" sides.  So wonder if that is really a problem.  My dad had one a few years ago.  We went redfishing and I don't recall any kind of unusual noise.  Our tri-hulls used to have noise though - the waves would be funneled into the tri-hull "tunnel" or when rocking, the tri-hull sponsons would slap the water. 

Would a weighted peice of cloth draped off the front work?  Should dissipate the chop, and you wouldn't have to glue anything to your hull.

[MikeA]

I just read on Zach's board where a Pool noodle the width of the boat tied off in the front might work. It would float up and down as waves hit it. It sounds like that just might do it. What say you?

[jladdsmith]

Mike,

Have you thought of making a temporary vee out of glued up foam?  I've done this before and there's nothing complicated about it at all.  Edit:  Not the temporary vee part, but using the method for other applications.

Here's the basic concept:   http://curedcomposites.netfirms.com/images/005.JPG 

Here's a more extensive project using the same method: http://www.6park.com/enter7/messages/gvk21098.html

You just build up the layers for a rough shape, glue them together with 3M Super 77 spray, and rasp out the shape.  Larger cuts can be made with a hot wire "knife" or even with an electric fillet knife.  You would be surprised at how fast you can make a respectable piece. 

Two potential issues I see for your temporary app. would be:

1) How would you finish out the foam?  Fiberglass cloth with epoxy resin maybe?  Maybe even the rubber undercoating type spray, or cheap line X? 

2) How to affix it to the hull so that it wouldn't delaminate.  No ideas on this one......

It might look a little 'Bubba', but may be the best short term solution.  Actually if built right, it could be reusable.

Just an idea.  - good luck. 

Jonathan

[Glenn Hawkins]

I vote for the pool noodle.  Cheap, fast, and easy.  Check out TFO's new push pole kits.  Priced right for guys who don't use them all the time.

[Racer X]

I've been to the Keys but I've never fished there.  Are your planning on running your jet or do you have a prop foot to put on it?  A prop may be better suited for that kind of environment.  Maniac and I fished the Mosquito Lagoon a few years back and a jet would have had problems there.  Lots of weeds to get sucked into the pump.  This may not be a problem in the Keys, though.

[NotEnuf]

A friend of mine picked up an old pole vaulting pole from a track team and I added a $14.00 foot from Cabelas and that made a good push pole.  It was better than the old Sunfish boom with a PVC extention and foot that I was using before.  You might check out some high school or college track teams.