Boot-stripe, what's it for?

[Bill McMahon]

My Typhoon is down on its lines (or the boot-stripe is painted too low) consequently there is a lot of growth on the booth-stripe. My original plan was to paint over it with bottom paint thus eliminating it all together, but now I'm am having second thoughts.

Do I really need a boot-stripe? Will it effect the resale value of the boat much? I know many will say it's for "looks", but is there any other reason? (I'm a form follows function kind of guy.)

BTW: I did do a search before posting this. About a year ago a similar question got just one reply.

Thanks for your input.
--Bill



b4usail@aol.com

[Michael Greenberg]

A boot stripe let's you see at a glance if your boat is resting on her lines.



mikegre42@yahoo.com

[John H.]

My Typhoon does not have a boot stripe and she looks and sails just fine. The blue bottom/white topside junction is visibile and tells how she lies. I have raised the level of bottom paint several times, and a boot-stripe (of red bottom paint) would have made this easier. This and looks appear to be the only reason for it. JH



jhalpo@rcn.com

[M. R. Bober]

The boot stripe is something to obsess about. It's never exactly right. Gnats land in the paint just as it is setting. Debris scratches it. Optical illusions drive the viewer crazy. Removing the masking tape lifts the paint. Am I ranting?

However if you want to know how a vessel is riding (from a distance), it can't be beat.

Mitchell Bober
RESPITE
CD330
Annapolis, MD

[Steve]

My Typhoon is down on its lines (or the boot-stripe is painted too low) consequently there is a lot of growth on the booth-stripe. My original plan was to paint over it with bottom paint thus eliminating it all together, but now I'm am having second thoughts.

Do I really need a boot-stripe? Will it effect the resale value of the boat much? I know many will say it's for "looks", but is there any other reason? (I'm a form follows function kind of guy.)

BTW: I did do a search before posting this. About a year ago a similar question got just one reply.

Thanks for your input.
--Bill

I recently painted the bottom of my third CD which happens to be my second CD 27. The bootstrip seemed to be scratched up and I had to make a decision what to do. It turn out that it was not paint, but boot strip tape. This tape has been on there at least four years or more. Having found this out, I purchased boot stripe tape and reapplied the tape in about one hour. It looks great. I have done it all: painted boot strips, eliminated them, and taped them. This is by far the best way. Also a thought: you could use the markings made by the waterline stains to accurately place the boot trip in the right place. Lastly as anal as all of us are, no one gets down there a sees the strip up close while it is actually in the water, and once underway close is good enough.



rossmoore@pol.net