another air dam question

[TheGnMan]

I have been checking out the sticky thread on air dams. I had one quick question about installing a air dam . In the thread posted was that the dam should be 7in. in length but looking at the pictures the dam looks like it goes hull to hull no gap. The distance between is 7 3/4" give or take. So the question is should there be a small gap on each end or should it be ran tight. Thxs abunch Rob

[Fluid]

Tying the dam to the sponsons helps to keep it upright rather than folding down immediately. A tape air dam needs to be higher than a solid dam since the air pressure does fold it down.


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[TheGnMan]

Im not quite understanding what your saying. Im goin to use a solid drywall corner lexan piece . Do you cut it at 7in and center it leaving a 3/8th in. gap on each side or do i cut it tight to fit at around 7 3/4 in? Thxs

[m4a1usr]

Jay is saying that of you use a flexible air dam, like one made out of tape. Its easier to tie the ends into the bottom of the sponsons. Your question was whether a rigid air dam needs to go to both inside edges of the sponsons. The answer is no. You do not need to flush to each inside edge of each sponson. I have never experimented with what could be construed as the "right" width. But on one of my UL-1's I have mine pretty close to 7" long. Maybe just a tad longer. But I do have a gap between the air dam and the inside of the sponson.

I am using rigid plastic corner moulding. I use the 1/2"x 1/2" clear stuff. But have recently cut down the front leading edge with a razor knife to about 3/8" OAH. Someone posted not too long ago about having success with a air dam less then 1/4" tall. Got me to thinking. So I cut mine down. Seems OK to me so far.

John

[TheGnMan]

Thxs John I appreciate your guidance. Just trying to get all of this info to soak in and get it right ,hopefully the 1st time sorry if im being anal somewhat of a perfectionist. Im hitting the home improvement store tom.

[U1Racing]

using a flexible air dam also keeps from ripping the bottom out of your boat if you happen to run over anything in the water

[TheGnMan]

I went to my local hardware store and they only had the clear corner protectors in 5/8ths of an in.. Does anyone know if that is to big to use? Should I cut it back to 3/8th or 1/2 in.

[U1Racing]

i would just use radio box tape and tape it to the bottom of the boat, just make it fairly thick and tape it to the tunnel sides for extra rigidity.

[osprey21]

I have mine trimmed down to 3/8" - so far so good.