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Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23878

I've recently been shopping around for a playboat and found a really good deal on a new ('05 model) Fluid Flirt. The only thing that worries me is that the boat is black, and I'm afraid in the summer it will turn into an oven. Does anyone have any experience with paddling a black boat? Is it going to be ungodly hot?

If it is does anyone know of a good way to 'paint' a boat so that it stays on? If there's a way to do it, I'm thinking zebra stripes would be pretty sick, and deal with the potential heat problem.

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23880

A mate of mine had a black Flirt. I've forwarded him this link so he can give you some more information. He loves his black so much he sprayed his Riot Turbo black as well. But of course the paint comes off as it was just normal spray paint from a can. Quite rare to find a black (or green) Flirt. :)

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23881

i've had a number of black boats and loved them. they do get a bit hotter in the sun of course, but that's never been a problem. they even spent a summer or two on the roof of my car - no problem.
If you're happy, you're successful.
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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23890

I had a black Flirt that I used in Cape-Town. In summer the boat did get pretty hot, as soon as it got in the water the boat would cool off fine ( the water is generally 10-12 degrees though)

I have a Turbo that I spray black once in a while, rougly 50% of the paint comes off but when it comes off it actually looks like a paint effect, I like it.

I was accosted by a guy who sprays cars the other day. He mentioned that you can get a plastic primer that will increace the bond between the boat and the paint, I didn't go into it too much though.

Let me know if you'd like pics of the Turbo.

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23894

Thanks for the help guys. I figured that the water would act as a heat-sync but I wanted to make sure from someone with experience with them.

Rowan, pictures of that boat would be awesome. I have a lot of friends who do car detailing and I would be I could get a decent paint job for a few cases of beer. :laugh:

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23895

aparently black boats have more pigment in them which make them weaker than normal. thats just what my mate said cuz he had a black allstar and it broke so he phoned the place he got it from and they told him about that and replaced it with a different colour.

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23900

Have been running black boats for many years my first being a Dagger Animas when it was the "hottest" new playboat on the market. Have run black Pyranha's and Bliss-Stick boats since then. They get no hotter than any other plastic boat so no worries.

As for tiger stripes, I know the guys at Go-Insane Kayaking in Sapporo, Japan do it to all their boats. Not sure the method. Might want to drop Kob a line just for fun.

t

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23903

Sure thing, i'll dig something out hey. There are also some pics of it in one of Adrians articles:
www.adrian.playak.com/index.php?option=c...view&id=101&Itemid=3

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23904

Billy Harris had a black Solo that he made at the factory with zebra stripes. There is a special spray that you spray onto the the inside of the mould itself to get some pretty permanent stripes. This adheres itself into/onto the plastic during the moulding process. Obviously this isn't an option unless you know someone who makes the boats you paddle... :P But thought you might find that interesting. And the spray can be a bitch to get off the moulds afterwards. ;)

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23918

Yeah, I don't think that using the mold will really be an option. :P

Adrian, you seem to paddle a lot of fluid boats, how does the outfitting hold up on them? I'm mostly worried about the bungee cord that ties the back band in, my Inazone had a similar system and the bungee wore and broke fairly quickly. Has this been a problem in any of your boats?

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23922

Darth_GoosE wrote:

Yeah, I don't think that using the mold will really be an option. :P

Adrian, you seem to paddle a lot of fluid boats, how does the outfitting hold up on them? I'm mostly worried about the bungee cord that ties the back band in, my Inazone had a similar system and the bungee wore and broke fairly quickly. Has this been a problem in any of your boats?


Yeah I've got 5 of them... :laugh: The outfitting is basic, but it works, and is very dependable. I make a few adjustments here and there when I get a boat but then it's totally comfortable and I'm in control. My oldest Fluid is my large Solo and I've used it a lot. Those bungees are still perfectly fine and I've never needed to change them in any of my boats. They are quite thick. If you want, I'll gladly take a photo tomorrow and mail it to you. Just pm me your address.

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23923

Thanks for the offer, but I don't think there's any need for you to go out of your way over it. I'll take your word for it.

Thanks for all the help guys. Hopefully I'll be throwing ends around in a pool over the winter.

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23930

I took a photo of another one of my boats this morning anyway for something else, so if you want to see it, let me know. B)

Be aware that the Flirt you're looking at with almost definitely have the old outfitting, which is not as cool as the newer stuff ;) The current outfitting looks like this:


www.fluidkayaks.co.za/Whitewater_Outfitting.htm

You could install new outfitting, or make do with what it has. Still plenty of people out there with the old boats. Good luck! :cheer:

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23933

I'll probably just use what it has and augment what I need to with some minicell.

I'm also thinking I'll get a Happy Feet footbag, they look like the way to go for playboating, plus I'm sure it will be more comfortable than any bulkhead I rig up with foam.

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Re:Black boats? 17 years 1 month ago #23938

  • Saz
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I personally dont like the happy feet and wouldnt get them at least without trying them first although saying that im pretty much the only person i know that doesnt like them i think.

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