Helped JL install his hydroturf tonight. We put the glue on the boat and the hydroturf and noticed the hydroturf expanded! Is it gonna try and shrink back up, or stay how it is?? Im gonna do mine tomorrow, the way my boat is laid out, I can measure then lay it out and trim the excess easier than we did on JLs just wondering if its gonna shrink back up after its installed??

well it didnt shrink, but in two spots my edges are comming up, not alot maybe 1/8" or so is not glued, so matt, save me a little glue. lol.

anyways, if you have an area that is 12x12 inches big you better cut the turf about 11 1/4" x 11 1/4" to make it fit if you are using the contact adhesive, it will expand a good bit.

ooh and make sure you cut the right way, as in direction if you are cutting a piece to make fit around, hmm, lets say a half box, lol.

ooh and to apply the glue, just cut a section of hydroturf about 4" x 4" to use as a spreader, foam brushes dont work, they fall apart pretty rapidly.

I told you dudes....

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=2143

I would recommend as stated above leave a gap of 3/4" everywhere the HT is against something ie. a brace, seat, or itself like a seam. If you have buckliing and water gets under it you will have problems keeping it down. Use a heavy application of 3m Super 90, especially around all edges and you should have no problem. Also you have to clean the surface prior to installing. Pressure wash the boat, then use denatured alchohol over the entire surface.

One other thing is to be sure you square up you sheet. They aren't cut square for some reason. Use a framing square and long straight edge.

Hope this helps.

Mine shrunk back to original size or possable smaller after it dried. Since then it has not expanded at all. For some reason when it rained on it for the first time about a week later the glue either reactivated or something cause it came seeping out the sides a little. When that happened it came up along the edge in a few spots so I plan to add some of that gorilla glue that comes in the squirt bottle to those areas. Just haven't gotten to it yet.

Don, I am not saying that your wrong, but I believe that your case is a little different. I would be willing to bet that you used the 3m spray or you bought the sheets with the glue on it. That glue may react different than the cement. These guys are using the contact cement which I think causes the turf to expand when the glue is applied. Of course I am not a FE on Hydroturf, you can tell that by looking at the job i did on my boat.

Paul, you might be correct in the different adhesion products being used, but I originally said it expands. For the record, I used the HT with the adhesive backing, and used the 3M Super 90. I sprayed the Super 90 onto the surface. I did leave space and didn't have any problems. Gator Trax will tell you as well to leave 3/4" of space. I did as instructed and I was pleased with the results.

dayum!!! look at that sparkling ass gold trailer...

DH888, I wouldn't have a problem leaving 3/4 if an inch if I was going against bracing. Your application looks very good. I don't have bracing on top of my floor and I'm gonna be butting seams together. I don't want this to turn out shitty, but it already seems like its gonna be a sloppy job. This shit is pissing me off already and my boat isn't even built yet. Think I'm gonna do one sheet at a time and let dry before putting the next. Or I might just sell the chit and put a door mat on the floor.

Hey White1! Get good at putting this sheet in yea! I may get u to help with the new skiff.