Beach Rash

Have recent purchased two kayaks, the little lady said she wanted one also .  Both are used as evident by the amount of abrasions on the bottom. 1. Does this affect the speed of the boat? 2. If so how can it be smoothed over?  Have checked the search function and found nothing or I'm using the wrong search words. Thank on advance for any suggestions.

Yes. It effects speed some but not enough to worry about. Abrasion from beach and cove launches is inevitable. Just a fact of kayak fishing.

Abrasions like hair?  Fill em with poly stick by dripping in to gouges while lit then scrape off when hardened?  Light heat gun can rejoin and smoothe out areas but comes with a warning for sure...I’ve used a razor blade to scrape of some peeling threads of poly.

surface texturing will no doubt cost you a few watts, increasingly so as you attempt to go faster bc surface drag increases exponentially to velocity. 
but like charles said, unavoidable.

u might try some moldable fill, but it'll eventually just delam again.

Abrasions like hair?  Fill em with poly stick by dripping in to gouges while lit then scrape off when hardened?  Light heat gun can rejoin and smoothe out areas but comes with a warning for sure...I’ve used a razor blade to scrape of some peeling threads of poly.

this.  Be ulltra careful if you use heat gun.  An abrasion could become a giant melted hole.

bushy

Rash on bottom has no noticeable affect on speed.  If it gets bad take a polyethylene tarp, cut strips and use propane torch to heat up putty knife and melt in the poly strips into cracks then smooth with fine grit 1500 or something.   DONT heat kayak with torch.   Just heat putty knife.

For a easy temporary solution, I rub over with an old bedroom candle(2-3" diameter kind from marshall's or such). The wax fills the gashes and scrapes and lasts a decent amount of time. I'll give it a once over look and touch up every other month or so. Smells nice too

At 3-4 Knots, how much more effort could a scratched-up hull take to propel vs. a smooth one? One paddle/peddle stroke in a hundred? A thousand?   Unless they're deep enough to possibly cause leaks, consider them battle ribbons and
only affecting future sale price to a newby. 

At 3-4 Knots, how much more effort could a scratched-up hull take to propel vs. a smooth one? One paddle/peddle stroke in a hundred? A thousand?   Unless they're deep enough to possibly cause leaks, consider them battle ribbons and
only affecting future sale price to a newby.

The pursuit of that glide 

Imagine smooth silk nighties... buttery smoothie goodness or crusty pancakes

At 3-4 Knots, how much more effort could a scratched-up hull take to propel vs. a smooth one? One paddle/peddle stroke in a hundred? A thousand?   Unless they're deep enough to possibly cause leaks, consider them battle ribbons and
only affecting future sale price to a newby.

The pursuit of that glide 

Imagine smooth silk nighties... buttery smoothie goodness or crusty pancakes

and what if they go commando ...

Liberations. wanton furry freedoms

https://www.healthline.com/health/going-commando-men#summary

going commando is a personal choice

https://www.healthline.com/health/going-commando-men#summary

going commando is a personal choice

Don’t try on new clothes

This!

True story: Was out hiking about in somewhat remote mountain region. Encountered a hiker chick in tank tops with an accent. So where you from. I forget when this exactly happened, but at some point, I think it was as she replied... she lifted her arms overhead to adjust her pack or stretch or something... boom.  My mind was in confusion for some moments in time.

Thank you to those who provided advice, I will try the wax method...on the kayak of course. Thank you to the rest for providing commentary on buffing ones hull and the presence of armpit hair in women.  This is indeed a well versed group!  Cheers from the Central Valley

Use a big SS Spoon and rub it back and forth on the scratches it will smooth out most. It produces heat from the friction.