Bottom blueprinting?

[Squirtcha?]

Once upon a time...............there was a really nice set of instructions on the internet regarding bottom blueprinting. I think it was showing some of Jeff Bennett's work. I'd be very interested in a link to the information, if anybody could provide it. I used to have it saved to my harddrive, but that drive has since crashed and I lost everything.
I'm not trying to take food off Jeff's table, but I can't afford the going rate for a bottom blueprinting, and would like to take a stab at it myself.
Thanks in advance to anyone who could/would supply the link.

[Taylorman]

Say it with me.
My name is Dan and im a jet-boat-aholic.:D
LOL.
Ive been thinking about that myself. How much speed have some of you guys gained by blueprinting your bottoms?

[pops1]

I think Jeff's get a lot more detailed but to get a basic here you go!
Mark a X 5 foot forward from the transom center of the keel line.
Take a chalk snap line and hold at the X point. Now pull the snap line from the X point to each outsidecorner of the transom and snap it.
when you have done this you will have a delta design laid out on your bottom. This is your primary running surface on your boat.
Take a straight edge and slide it (running same as the keel line) over the entire surface within the delta. any low spots or concave are suction points in your bottom. 99.99% of all boats have them, caused from the boat molds getting hot, or just trailer setting over time.
Grease or pencil mark the low spots.
Sand scuff or scar in and around these spots for your filler.
I would recommend a filler like Mar Glass (a bondo like agent with fiberglass fibers added) or any other similar product. Some even lay fiberglass over it as the filler. I don't think its necessary yet it is correct also, many will use bondo only. I like to use the Mar Glass and detail finish with bondo on the small holes after.
As you are filling you want to keep working your bottom with a long board sander between each dry coat for maintaining your straight line and running your straight edge for verification.
If you use Mar Glass as the bulk fill you will have small holes from heat - Use bondo to fill these holes and increase your sanding grit # as you go to finish.
Rough scar in 30-60 grit
Rough Flat Block in 60-80 while shaping
flat block 120
flat block 220 for finish.
primer or seal
finish sand
Gel Coat/Paint or speed coat.
WaLa you is a pro! Good Luck its easy!

[Squirtcha?]

Originally posted by Taylorman
Say it with me.
My name is Dan and im a jet-boat-aholic.:D
LOL.
Ive been thinking about that myself. How much speed have some of you guys gained by blueprinting your bottoms?
What? Who? Me?
You must have me confused with someone else there buddy.
The way I see it...........it's the only thing I haven't done to my ride in the quest for speed. If I can pull it off myself, it'll be cheap speed. Could possibly be the bestest thing I ever did. I know the bottom's a mess. I've been under it with a straight edge quite a number of times trying to convince myself that it's not hurting me any. I know it is though.
When I bought the boat, it was sitting with the transom hanging about a foot off the trailer bunks and we all know how good that is for em!
It's gonna be a winter project, and I'm just trying to get my ducks in a line prior to doing it.
Alright fine....................maybe I have a slight dependency problem?
Thanks Dave that info is helpful.

[BrendellaJet]

make sure you flip the boat too. This job would not be fun lying on your back.

[dgie]

Damn thats my winter project also, along with fixing up my trailer...When you flip the boat can you set it on some old tires or will that tweek the hull?

[BrendellaJet]

you can set the boat on tires, just make sure you use enough of them. A better way is to use the stringers for support-thats what I did. Some jack stands placed strategically worked very well. I also supported the bow and a couple of other places just to be safe. Have fun, boats aren't fun to flip. I flipped mine 4 times-im glad its over with. If anyone has any questions-let me know.

[GM Killer]

Its the worth the $1500+ to have it done. Its a lot of work and you can do as much harm as good.
Jeff Bennett did mine for $1600 and it only took about 1 1/2 days

[dgie]

Jack stands on the stringers, unless I am thinking about it wrong. I am not sure if they would reach. did you use cinder blocks under them. Also how many people on average does it take to flip a low profile boat, with the engine out of course :D

[Squirtcha?]

Originally posted by GM Killer
Its the worth the $1500+ to have it done. Its a lot of work and you can do as much harm as good.
Jeff Bennett did mine for $1600 and it only took about 1 1/2 days
Quite honestly.............no. I'd have to tow the boat out to Cali and leave it, or stay there while he does it.
I really don't think I could hurt it any more than it already is (aside of maybe knocking a king sized hole through the bottom).
I believe that as long as I take my time, It'll be fine. Granted it wouldn't be as professional as if Mr. Bennett had done it, but I've got so much hook, I'm confident that I can make it better than it is now.

[HBjet]

1500+ dollers is a full race prep. 450-500 is the typical going rate for Jeff and out of everything I've had done to my boat, the 450 dollar bottom blueprint was the best return for my dollar.
Here are about 1/2 of the photos I took when Jeff did the bottom of my hull
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3flip001.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3flip002.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3flip003.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3flip004.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3flip005.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3flip006.jpg
HBjet

[HBjet]

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3hook001.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3hook002.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix002.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix003.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix004.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix005.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix006.jpg

[HBjet]

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix009.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix011.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix013.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix015.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix016.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix017.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix019.jpg

[HBjet]

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix020.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix021.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix022.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix023.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix024.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix025.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix026.jpg

[HBjet]

http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix027.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix028.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix029.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix030.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix031.jpg
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix032.jpg
Before any shoe or ride plate setup and with the nozzle pretty flat
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/20final.jpg
HBjet

[Squirtcha?]

Thanks a bunch Randy.
That's the kind of stuff I was looking for PIXUTATERS.
That price seems very fair too. I kept hearing figures like $2000 and had trouble justifying that kinda cash on my non-race family ski boat.
By the looks of it our hooks were/are in the same place and about the same degree of .................. well..............not goodness?
Pardon my piss poor english.
The picture that shows the straight edge laying along the right hand side of you intake is exactly like mine. Probably close to 1/4" of hook/deflection in that area.
I know it's holding my boat back and I'd give anything (well at least $450- $500) to have my boat get up out of the water like yours do.

[Shark In The Pond]

Best bang for the $$$$$$ ! Mine had alot ... 1/4" of it , and I threw in a 8 degree wedge and picked up 8 mph . If you have ALOT of it and do take it out you will have a new ride because it frees it up so much that you will fly OVER the rollers rather then pound through them :cool: and it will NOT stop as fast as it use too , I came in fairly hot to the no wake and I let off where I always do and the bouy went by pretty damn fast ! Play around with it because IF it has alot of hook it will act different .

[AmericanThunder1]

Everybody I have talked to is glad they did it. Cheaper and better results then any bolt on horsepower. I am going to do mine this winter.

[dgie]

Do most people do this themselves or get it done?,,,,seems mixed

[BrendellaJet]

I paid Jeff to do mine. He did a lot of work. Cost me $500. He knows boats.

[dgie]

I wish I lived in Cali again, I lived there for 12 years and just left 4 years ago when I got out of the Marine Corps. I used to hang out in Huntington, Newport, Costa Mesa, etc. etc. if I bought my boat out there I would have full access to these places. Funny thing is, I probably passed by these places all the time and never knew what they were. Sorry just thinking out loud. I will probably have to takle this effort about redoing the bottom of my boat on my own. I do not think I would trust the locals to work on a jet, they still think its a modified bass boat...:rolleyes:

[nowheels]

will this help a tunnel (21 daytona)

[BrendellaJet]

Yeah, it could, it depends on the condition of your hull. Either Jeff Bennett or Greg Shoemaker could help you out. I know GS used to rce daytonas(19s?) and I think I read someplace that Jeff helped design the bottom?

[AmericanThunder1]

I am going to do mine myself. Just going to use commen sense and some advice from the older ones and it ought to be fine.
And yes you can do tunnels Blade did his he loves the new ride.

[BrendellaJet]

Try sending Jeff an email. He probably has the document/instructions Squirtcha? was talking about. I dont think common sense is enough to get your bottom in better shape- Hes a good guy and will help you out. Hes a rocket scientist and knows a little bit about this stuff- the shape of the keel area ahead of the pump is critical to a good riding performance jet boat. Try a search, his email address is online, if you cant find it, Ill look it up for you...

[HBjet]

Jeff B is an aerodynamics expert. Before he did the bottom of my boat, NASA contracted him to help figure out what caused the latest space shuttle accident.
Send him an email or call him up. His number and email have been posted somewhere here before.
HBjet

[AmericanThunder1]

HMMMMM!!!!

[Marlin455]

I just completed the bottom on my 74 Marlin, and am happy with the results- It tracks better at all speeds, handles wakes and rollers much better, and handles like it's on rails- A vast improvement! As far as speed gains, not real sure, as I completely rebuilt literally the whole boat, so I can't say for sure exactly what if anything I gained by removing the 1/4"-3/16" hook. When I did mine, I used a 6' straight edge, and did everthing all the way out to the outside edges of the boat, and sharpened the strake edges and lower transom edge to a knife like edge. It's a lot of work, probably more so because I went WAAAAY overboard compared to what Jeff did to HBJet's hull, but I think it was worth it. Stan
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/68hook2-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/68intakehook1-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/68hullbottom2-med.jpg

[Jake W]

American Thunder .On Blades Cheyenne I think they did a drop keel and a bubble or they had to fix the droop keel.And Ervin Capps did it he did not do it him self.What did it end up running?
Jake

[dgie]

Marlin, are you going to repaint the hull? and with what kind of paint or gelcoat?

[HBjet]

Originally posted by dgie
Marlin, are you going to repaint the hull? and with what kind of paint or gelcoat?
If your talking about the black area on the bottom of the hull, I'm going to guess its speed coat. And if thats the case, thats how he's going to leave it.
HBjet

[dgie]

Reworking the bottom of the hull is something I am planning on doing in the fall, but never have done it before, so I am in the still learning catagory. What is speed coating? where do you get it? How do you apply it? does it only come in Black?

[Squirtcha?]

Check the bottom of the page. One color only (that I know of).
speedcoat (http://www.rexmar.com/page136.html)

[dgie]

I did a search and it looks like its popular among surfers also. What is an alternative that people use after doing work on the bottom of their boats., not sure if I want a gray bottom on my boat, you know, incase I flip the boat over in the water, and people see it. :D

[Squirtcha?]

No alternatives that I know of, except gelcoat or paint.
People in the ***boat community will appreciate it..............if no one else.

[superdave013]

note the lack of stringer washers or bolt heads sticking out from the bottom of this boat.
And people wonder why Randy runs so well. C'Mon, it's all the little things!
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/3fix030.jpg

[Marlin455]

dgie- HBJet is right- That is the finished product in the pic- no paint or gel over the speedcoat. It's called "Slip Plate", and came from my local John Deere dealer- about $6 a can- 3 cans to do the whole area. So far, it's holding up pretty well, even after I accidentally rubbed the hull bottom on some rocks at the river the other day:yuk: This is what it looks like on the trailer
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/500/68on_the_trailer-med.jpg

[Squirtcha?]

note the lack of stringer washers or bolt heads sticking out from the bottom of this boat.
Geez you just won't let it go will ya? :D
Also notice that the area where Jeff Bennett concentrated ALL his efforts is no where near where my fuel tank hardware pooches through? Hmmmn
Now why would he choose not to do that area?
Do ya suppose that the area outside of the blueprinting was already perfectly flat and straight?
Doubtful.
Then maybe it's because.........................
At WOT...............IT JUST DOESN'T MATTER?

[dgie]

Marlin, just out of curiosity, why would a John Deer dealer carry that? The price is cheaper then Rex too...

[78Southwind]

:)

[Marlin455]

dgie- The slip plate is a dry graphite film that is used on some farm equipment- Thats why I get it at the John Deere dealer- It also comes in quart cans, and can be brushed on. Stan

[AmericanThunder1]

Curious, If you cleaned up the bottem real good and used surfers wax I wonder if that would help?

[Ken F]

Dan,
Here are some pics of when I did the bottom on the Omega.
http://community.webshots.com/album/53322457xFuiDz
Ken F