White Tape on Stern of R-21

[markm]

There is a line of white plastic tape directly below the stern light and running all the way to the rudder. I am not sure what is under this tape (if anything, I am guessing a wire). My tape is beginning to chip and weather. Should this be replaced? If so with what and what is under there?

Thanks

Mark :shock:

 

[SlackwaterJack]

I'll take a look at mine and when I go to the marina tomorrow and check it out...I'll get back to you.

 

[markm]

Thanks Jack, I really appreciate it. Mark

 

[markm]

This is a picture of Ron Cowen's R-21, but it the only picture I could find that had a picture of the tape on the stern. I will be taking pictures of the Mark Twain when I get home and post them tonight.

Mark

 

[tuggertoy]

Hi Mark,

Since we bought Ron's boat and you already posted a picture of it, I thought I would add this picture I took after installing the swim step a year and a half ago.

It shows the tape that you are talking about. The tape on Tugger Toy is generally in good shape but does have a few areas that have chipped off on the edges. I have often wondered what it is hiding (my guess is that there is a seam in the fiberglass underneath) and where this product might be available if it needs to be replaced. I am thinking that this tape is purely cosmetic but maybe Andrew would have an idea if there is a functional reason that it should be maintained if does start to fail completely.

Eric

 

[markm]

Eric,

Thanks for the great picture of your stern. That's a great swin platform. I would install one, but it is so cold here in the Spokane area there are only a few weeks when it is warm enough to swim. Hopefully we will solve the mystery of the white tape.

Mark

 

[SlackwaterJack]

Hi Marc (and Eric, I thought that was your boat (formerly Ron's)

It looks like the tape is there to finish the area that has had the moulding "flash" ground down.
On a previous boat I had the same stuff that ran around the entire cabintop. I think it's glued in place with an epoxy, and wherever the glue wasn't "squished" completely to the edge, the unsupported spots may be prone to chipping.

While the chips may make us TugNuts a bit nuttier, I'm not all that sure the effort to repair/replace the stuff would be worth the bother. The trim tape isn't structural and there is no joint there for it to protect, merely a flash line from the mould joint. The hulls are cast in a 2 piece mould but the hull is one piece. There are no wires under it (at least on mine)

IF I were to fix mine I'd probably:
1. mask the hull along both sides of the trim piece
2. work epoxy into areas with voids
3. sand away any excess epoxy after it has cured
4. remove masking
5 cover the lenght of the trim with white pinstripe tape or remask and paint the trim white.

OR...
1.make a decorative loop of rope
2.hang it over the stern to hide the visible part of the seam.

OR... (98.72% probability)
GO FISHIN', (won't fix the seam, but it will keep my mind on more pressing problems, ie; bobber/no bobber? or, is it too early for a beer?)

 

[markm]

Thanks Jack,

As long as it is nothing important i'll let it go and figure something out later.

Stay warm in Lewiston, it snowed in places up here in Spokane

Mark

 

[SlackwaterJack]

No snow here (only mid 40's today though). It's been a very cool wet spring here so far. On the plus side, the dogwoods are in full pink and white bloom all over the valley, and the trees are showing lots of green.
I hope the weather turns normal by the 16th...I'll be running the starts and timing for the Alex Bell Regatta that weekend, and I really don't want to be shivering in the rain for 2 days.