[Paddlewise] Boat Repair - Plastic Question

My hull is due for its second year rebuild. It took a beating on the
side during the Storm Island fish boat and subsequent CCG "Lifeboat"
rescue and during some attempted photography off a breakwater during a
gale, for some SK articles. I've also hit many a reef with the
underside, and despite a triple thickness hull, I'm getting stress
risers near the bulkhead. I've been out on Juan De Fuca Strait many
evenings the last two weeks, as its been running around 25 to 30 knots
with regularity, but I've bashed my keel strip one too many times and
then recently cracked the bow strip portion last weekend.

I have been using a full leght hull strip of UHMW plastic (3/4" X 3/8" X
17'). It has degraded due to UV damage, I believe. I store the kayak,
hull up, exposed to the sun. The UHMW has grazed and cracked, so that is
why I believe it is failing prematurely.

I would like to use a different material, and go a bit thicker (3/4" X
1/2" X 17'). There is a product called "Star Board". It is a marine-use
product, similar to UHMW, but a little softer, completely bright white
(UHMW is off-white and opaque), and has better UV inhibiting properties.
So, it will not be as good as the UHMW for wear, but the softer
properties combined with the durability in the sun, might be better for
my application. Anyone used this stuff before?

BTW, if you don't understand what the plastic strip does on my sea
kayak, it is kind of like the brass half-round you see under a canoe
hull that runs up to the bow tip, screwed in place as an ultimate hull
rub strip.

BC'in Ya
Doug Lloyd (known boat abuser )

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