Speeeed...

Sloughcanoe

So has anyone used graphite paint on their OC? an old speed boat racer told me that he'd use graphite paint to help increase his top speed. Let me know what you all think?

Submitted by Sloughcanoe on Mon, 09/22/2008 - 7:56pm

Shawn Michael

As this has come up in the past persons who know a lot about hydrodynamics have said that you cannot coat a hull with any type of paint or wax that will reduce the drag because water tends to "stick" to the hull so you really have friction between the water stuck to the hull and water slipping by...so the answer would be no. The texture of the hull in some cases can allow more water to slip off the hull and THAT can reduce drag...this texture in not achieved with any paint or slick surface but with grooves (via sanding, dimpling, or texturing) that create a bit of turbulence allowing some water to slip off. Other method used by military craft (such as pores that excrete oils in the hulls of subs) an interesting but useless to us. Until something affordable has been proven in the mega budget tow tanks used in racing or you can staple those olympic speedo suits all over your hull LOL, we are out of luck for now... Of course nothing wrong with the placebo effect if you think something makes you faster, it might work!

#1 Mon, 09/22/2008 - 8:12pm

Hiro C.

Red makes you go faster...

#2 Mon, 09/22/2008 - 10:12pm

Jibofo

Flames are the fastest.

#3 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 2:37am

harleyK

and the smallest, tighest shirt you can buy will make you faster...

#4 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 3:36am

fuzerider

#5 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 3:52am

aquafiend65

The reality is that outriggers move at such low speeds that the designs, tricks and "secrets" used by high speed watercraft usually dont apply.

#6 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 6:33am

poopoopaddler

If the smallest tightest shirt makes you faster, goto is one fast mutha...

#7 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 8:03am

harleyK

exactly.... the only reason I can catch him right now, is that he is "temporarily canoe-less."

#8 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 9:38am

fuzerider

Gotos canoeless?
I`ll send him a Fuze .

#9 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 10:48am

goto

...I'll be waiting for it.

#10 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 5:02pm

Sloughcanoe

Welll....i am always looking to go a little faster no matter how little...always better to check with the "gurus" before slapping a new coat of paint on my canoe.
as for the speedo idea, it's a great idea...i had been thinking of that for a while!!!! why won't they let us buy that material by the yard and we could make one giant speedo suit for our canoes!!

#11 Tue, 09/23/2008 - 7:27pm

harleyK

wouldn't that slow the canoe down? I mean, if you make a giant condom for your canoe, wouldn't it need to be ribbed for pleasure?

#12 Wed, 09/24/2008 - 3:15am

Jibofo

I guess chines are sort of like ribs.

#13 Wed, 09/24/2008 - 4:40am

Sloughcanoe

not if the condom is "dimpled".....(insert lame joke here). If you start looking at the olympic swimming suits....because of the increase efficiency of the fabric...the swimmers are now wearing longer swimsuits/pants etc. etc. (except in the sprint categories), so the increase in weight (ounces) is not an issue.
The main issue would be "virgins" who would fumble around with our "canoe condoms"......put them on backward and/or inside out in our excitement. Probably would be a lot of premature false starts in the process.

#14 Wed, 09/24/2008 - 5:53am