Boat Colors - Which is Best!

Two thoughts on this: practical and theoritical

Practical: Light colors will stay cool -- which is good for comfort --
and depending on the resin used in the mfg of your fiberglass boat --
may be necessary. Epoxy resins begin to soften at 129degrees F -- so a
dark color on a hot day could soften the epoxy enough to show some print
through of the fiberglass. Polyester resins soften at a higher temp.

Also, the metal flake or glitter in finishes helps the mfg hide minor
imperfections in the final finish, as do lighter colors. A dark color
realy emphasises any imperfections.

Theoretical: Considering a fish's angle of vision and that fish tend to
"see" / "feel" with their lateral lines -- I think the noise the of that
18 foot Ranger with a 63 lb Thurst trolling motor will do more to spook
the fish than a gaudy paint scheme.

Course, a while back didn't some on suggest painting the bottom of the
boat to look like a school of shad?

Fritz wrote:
Course, a while back didn't some on suggest painting the bottom of the
boat to look like a school of shad?


Actually, that was another of Hannon's theories. Methinks Doug may spend
too much time worrying about what the bottom of his boat looks like.

RichZ©
www.richz.com/fishing

Since using my under water camera I have concluded that position of the boat
and sun in relation to the shadow that is cast of the boat is more of a
concern.
When camouflaging an aeroplane they consider many things and each different
application requires a different "camo outfit". Arctic, desert mountain,
jungle for instance. The best hull color would be clear, just so you could
use it on cloudy or sunny or those bluebird days in stained or clear or
those in between types of water clarity. Fish are looking upwards so what
they should see is sky. (Nothing) An unobstructed view of the sky is what
we are talking about here. A light blue with a cloud pattern may be the best
gamble.18% grey is neutral. Windy days would lessen the importance of hull
color were as on still calm days hull color would be more an issue. A hull
with changeable holographic hull skin graphics soon at a dealer near you
LOL! What would that cost!!???
Back to the underwater camera for a second, I have seen bass and baitfish
travel with the shadow of the boat during mid day sun, for the same reason
that bass will relate to mats and other cover providing shade??? Sometimes
the nearest fish are just below the boat. Just the facts as I have observed
them. The use of your shadow can be advantage and disadvantage.
--
Stony


"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:iEw2c.194088$uV3.795073@attbi_s51...
Was watching ESPN and saw a spot from Doug on boat color. Never really
gave
it a lot of thought, but what he was saying made a lot of sense.

Doug stated, he reconditioned his aluminum boat and painted it a bright
yellow with black pins to make it look cool. But then he noticed his
catch
ratio dropped dramatically. He thought about it, and the only thing that
changed was his boat color. He went and got some more paint and camo'ed
his
boat. Afterwards his catch ratio went back to normal.

He went on to explain that fish are attracted to dark colored hulls
because
they produce the best shadows, but if the sides of the boat don't blend
into
the sky or background, it puts the fish on alert, or at least this is his
theory. He used underwater cameras to emphasize his point.

Ok, it's pretty easy to modify an aluminum boat, but you better know what
you want when ordering a glass boat.

So, I tried to look up the top winningest pro's and then see what color
their boats were. From the very few I could match up, white was the most
common color.

Based on Doug's theory, the best boat would be a black hull, with camo
sides. But have you ever saw a camo colored glass boat. The closest I
came
was going to Ranger's website and creating a black hull, duck beige &
green
boat. But I think a black bottom, white boat should work well, and then
if
you as an angler wore beige, white, power blue clothing, it would only
help.

I have to ask, what do you think of Doug's theory. Because the BFL Angler
of
the Year in Michigan drives a Red Metal Flake boat (hull, sides, top, and
carpeting. Everything is red)?

--
Craig Baugher




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I swear I saw something on the History Channel about a skin the Military is
developing that displays what appears on its opposite side (left, right,
front, back) making it (M1A1 Tank was used as the example) virtually
invisible even though it is heading right for you. They only thing you saw
was a slight wavy outline of the tank were the display was changing from the
front view to the side view.

I believe they reported snipers (Navy Seals) personnel was already using
this technology. Pretty scary!!! But it would be cool to have on a boat!!!



--
Craig Baugher

"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:OwL4c.7704$_w.239444@attbi_s53...
I swear I saw something on the History Channel about a skin the Military
is
developing that displays what appears on its opposite side (left, right,
front, back) making it (M1A1 Tank was used as the example) virtually
invisible even though it is heading right for you. They only thing you
saw
was a slight wavy outline of the tank were the display was changing from
the
front view to the side view.

I believe they reported snipers (Navy Seals) personnel was already using
this technology. Pretty scary!!! But it would be cool to have on a
boat!!!



Read something about this in Wired Magazine:

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/1...invisible.html

Pretty cool, but still a good ways off...

--
Andrew Kidd
http://www.amiasoft.com/ - Software for the rest of us!
http://www.rofb.net/ - ROFB Newsgroup Home

I swear I saw something on the History Channel about a skin the
Military is developing that displays what appears on its opposite side
(left, right, front, back) making it (M1A1 Tank was used as the example)
virtually invisible even though it is heading right for you. They only
thing you saw was a slight wavy outline of the tank were the display was
changing from the front view to the side view

That technology (albeit fictional) was used in the last "Bond...James
Bond" movie 'Die Another Day'

On Sat, 13 Mar 2004 20:50:04 -0500 (EST), (J Buck)
wrote:

I swear I saw something on the History Channel about a skin the
Military is developing that displays what appears on its opposite side
(left, right, front, back) making it (M1A1 Tank was used as the example)
virtually invisible even though it is heading right for you. They only
thing you saw was a slight wavy outline of the tank were the display was
changing from the front view to the side view

That technology (albeit fictional) was used in the last "Bond...James
Bond" movie 'Die Another Day'

Don't forget Arnold's Predator.
Richard g
www.bassstalkers.com

oh boy!......casting from the holo-deck here we come, set in a course for
Lake Mead ..... ENGAGE!! ;-))
--
Stony

"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:OwL4c.7704$_w.239444@attbi_s53...
I swear I saw something on the History Channel about a skin the Military
is
developing that displays what appears on its opposite side (left, right,
front, back) making it (M1A1 Tank was used as the example) virtually
invisible even though it is heading right for you. They only thing you
saw
was a slight wavy outline of the tank were the display was changing from
the
front view to the side view.

I believe they reported snipers (Navy Seals) personnel was already using
this technology. Pretty scary!!! But it would be cool to have on a
boat!!!



--
Craig Baugher




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.620 / Virus Database: 399 - Release Date: 3/11/04

Best color is 1978 Fiat Burgandy with an aluminum bottom. Just like my
boat.
Bill

"Steve & Chris Clark" wrote in message
...
Since using my under water camera I have concluded that position of the
boat
and sun in relation to the shadow that is cast of the boat is more of a
concern.
When camouflaging an aeroplane they consider many things and each
different
application requires a different "camo outfit". Arctic, desert mountain,
jungle for instance. The best hull color would be clear, just so you
could
use it on cloudy or sunny or those bluebird days in stained or clear or
those in between types of water clarity. Fish are looking upwards so what
they should see is sky. (Nothing) An unobstructed view of the sky is what
we are talking about here. A light blue with a cloud pattern may be the
best
gamble.18% grey is neutral. Windy days would lessen the importance of
hull
color were as on still calm days hull color would be more an issue. A hull
with changeable holographic hull skin graphics soon at a dealer near you
LOL! What would that cost!!???
Back to the underwater camera for a second, I have seen bass and baitfish
travel with the shadow of the boat during mid day sun, for the same reason
that bass will relate to mats and other cover providing shade???
Sometimes
the nearest fish are just below the boat. Just the facts as I have
observed
them. The use of your shadow can be advantage and disadvantage.
--
Stony


"Craig Baugher" wrote in message
news:iEw2c.194088$uV3.795073@attbi_s51...
Was watching ESPN and saw a spot from Doug on boat color. Never really
gave
it a lot of thought, but what he was saying made a lot of sense.

Doug stated, he reconditioned his aluminum boat and painted it a bright
yellow with black pins to make it look cool. But then he noticed his
catch
ratio dropped dramatically. He thought about it, and the only thing
that
changed was his boat color. He went and got some more paint and camo'ed
his
boat. Afterwards his catch ratio went back to normal.

He went on to explain that fish are attracted to dark colored hulls
because
they produce the best shadows, but if the sides of the boat don't blend
into
the sky or background, it puts the fish on alert, or at least this is
his
theory. He used underwater cameras to emphasize his point.

Ok, it's pretty easy to modify an aluminum boat, but you better know
what
you want when ordering a glass boat.

So, I tried to look up the top winningest pro's and then see what color
their boats were. From the very few I could match up, white was the
most
common color.

Based on Doug's theory, the best boat would be a black hull, with camo
sides. But have you ever saw a camo colored glass boat. The closest I
came
was going to Ranger's website and creating a black hull, duck beige &
green
boat. But I think a black bottom, white boat should work well, and then
if
you as an angler wore beige, white, power blue clothing, it would only
help.

I have to ask, what do you think of Doug's theory. Because the BFL
Angler
of
the Year in Michigan drives a Red Metal Flake boat (hull, sides, top,
and
carpeting. Everything is red)?

--
Craig Baugher




---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.620 / Virus Database: 399 - Release Date: 3/11/04