# What would happen if I painted a boat with Never-Wet?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-painted-a-boat-with-never-wet/661635>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 22, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-painted-a-boat-with-never-wet/661635 "2013-06-22T15:30:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-painted-a-boat-with-never-wet/661635/21 "2013-06-23T15:10:44Z")

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> [@CookingWithGas](#):
>
> I think you have the right idea here but you can’t compare density (m/v) to surface area (d[sup]2[/sup]). Also density can be a bit of a red herring unless you’re careful about how you measure it. A boat floats because its volume is greater than that of the water it displaces.

::smack:: Of course, I meant volume, thanks. It’s what I get for posting late at night.

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**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-painted-a-boat-with-never-wet/661635/22 "2013-06-23T15:17:45Z")

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> [@The Great Sun Jester](#):
>
> Yeah it was sort of an “airplane on a treadmill” scenario. I thought it was funny… ☹

I got the joke and liked it. 🙂

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**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-painted-a-boat-with-never-wet/661635/23 "2013-06-23T17:24:58Z")

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Sailors have found, IIRC, in identical racing classes, displacement boats, that a very fine sanded surface will out preform an waxed boat. Has something to do with boundary layers & flow resistance.

I always thought that would be backwards, seems to be wrong for planing hulls but the opposite on displacement hulls. Your Catalina 22, satin sand, Hobie Cat, wax.

YMMV

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**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\
**Post date:** [June 23, 2013, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-painted-a-boat-with-never-wet/661635/24 "2013-06-23T17:51:11Z")

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> [@GusNSpot](#):
>
> Sailors have found, IIRC, in identical racing classes, displacement boats, that a very fine sanded surface will out preform an waxed boat. Has something to do with boundary layers & flow resistance.

Like a shark’s skin.

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**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\
**Post date:** [June 24, 2013, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-would-happen-if-i-painted-a-boat-with-never-wet/661635/25 "2013-06-24T04:26:17Z")

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> [@hajario](#):
>
> Like a shark’s skin.

Yeah, like that …

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