Protecting paint when crabbing

El Toro · 06-22-2005, 02:18 PM

I recently purchased a new boat and still babying it. The last crabbing outing almost caused a heart attack with all of scratches to my paint. What products are available to prevent the crab traps from scratching the side paint? And yes, I thought about not crabbing, but my tummy told me that's not an option!

snit · 06-22-2005, 02:21 PM

I've seen guys place a piece of belting (from a conveyor)over the gunnel when crabbing. Good idea to me.

Tagster · 06-22-2005, 06:03 PM

I've got a crab davit that keeps the pots out over the water...it is mounted on a Folbe bracket

fop · 06-22-2005, 06:04 PM

Out Shrimping I have a couple of buddies that drape a 6 foot wide piece of carpet over the side and it is just at waters level and it does work well.

Shouldn't be very hard to "haywire" it on the gunnel.

fop

Hagar · 06-23-2005, 09:18 AM

I also use a crab davit that attaches to a swiveling Scotty downrigger bracket. We also use a 1 foot strip of anti-fatigue matting that have sizeable holes prepunched to allow the water to drain to use for the gunnel tops.

Other option might be to get one of those mats auto shops sell that you throw over a fender when working on a car.

foxer · 06-23-2005, 01:28 PM

Northriver makes a removeable aluminum "cover" that fits over the gunwale..

nobrownline · 06-23-2005, 10:39 PM

just paint the boat camo and dont worry about it.A boat is a tool

garyk · 06-24-2005, 10:21 AM

Last week at Tilly there was a boat with an oversize burlap bag hanging over the side. At first I thought he was just keeping a salmon wet, but then saw it was his gunnel/hull guard while he crabbed.

I think one of those commercial doorway carpets with the thin fabric mounted on tough black rubber backing would work just dandy.

If you wanna go full tilt, from a farm store you can get a 1" thick rubber stall mat and cut it to size. That would protect your hull from not just crab pots but even moderate speed boat collisions and maybe even icebergs!

Chrome Bumper · 06-24-2005, 12:11 PM

I second those commercial rubber carpet doorway mats. The carpet rental service places sellem cheap when they are done with them. Have bought them at Napa, but I think that was a one time deal. Would a crab davit help?

El Toro · 06-24-2005, 12:56 PM

Not sure which idea I will opt for, either case thanks for your input!

Cloud-Nine · 06-26-2005, 05:33 PM

I use shower mats ( the kind with the suction cups on the bottom). Works for me.
Dick

Seefood Man · 06-27-2005, 06:37 AM

Quote:

I use shower mats ( the kind with the suction cups on the bottom). Works for me.
Dick

GREAT IDEA!!!!! You've just given me the solution to several problems, ie; rods tips tap the inside of the hull while in the rod holders. Lead tray slides ect. Thanks!!!!

:grin:

SeaSparrow · 06-27-2005, 04:35 PM

We use the shower mats as well and find we have to replace them about every third outing as the rubber gets rubbed through by the trap lines. We are thinking of trying the rubber backed carpet that was referred to earlier! Good luck.

blubeast · 06-27-2005, 07:10 PM

I had a prior boat that was a open bow runabout. I removed all of the fancy cushions and used them as a template and made replacements out of plywood covered with outdoor carpeting with extra attached so it would drape over the sides. That way the entire front of the boat could be used for crabbing without concern for fiberglass gouges.

When we wanted the cushions in for the original use, very easy to put back in.