Hello

I have a wacky idea, some time, space, and a little cash; plus a buddy
that just bough a really nice bass boat. See I want a really nice boat
like this too, but I'm broke and or cheap, you'll have to ask my
wife...

I'm thinking I can measure and trace every inch of my friends boat and
can carve a duplicate of the hull from one full piece of foam creating
a core for a FG bass boat of my own. Hull and top side front and rear
decks, plus cockpit along with carving out all of the storage nocks
and crannies. Then also carving in small recesses the length of the
keel, shear line, and in a cross hatch on the transom. Possibly also
some following the line that battens would run.

Once the core is carved starting to lay up glass using the keel, shear
line, transom and batten recesses in the foam to form thicker members
in place of stations (could be way off on the usage of that term),
then doing a final allover application to encapsulate the hull bottom,
sides, deck and cockpit with the foam in place.

And assuming this can be done

Question time:
Is this sufficient strength for a boat of 16ft with 50 to 60 hp?

Is this limited to closed cell foam construction only; is it possible
to use other foam types?

Could joined pieces of foam be used or is a sold piece preferred, and
what would be the best bonding agent to use to build up from multiple
pieces?

Could A / B mixture expanding foam be used?

If carving an A / B foam mixture plug as opposed to solid stock,
should the weight be 2# or 8#, is there a denser product?

What types or weights of glass tape, mat, or woven roving would be
used to get the best results?

I know these might sound like the oddest questions but I would really
love to know if I can do this. I’ve been dying for a boat like this
all my life but the dog would get braces before my other half would
let me pop for one at a dealer new or used. This way I’m just being
eclectic and might sneak it past her until it comes time to build or
buy a trailer and go fishing!

wrote in message . ..
Hello

I have a wacky idea, some time, space, and a little cash; plus a buddy
that just bough a really nice bass boat. See I want a really nice boat
like this too, but I'm broke and or cheap, you'll have to ask my
wife...

I'm thinking I can measure and trace every inch of my friends boat and
can carve a duplicate of the hull from one full piece of foam creating
a core for a FG bass boat of my own. Hull and top side front and rear
decks, plus cockpit along with carving out all of the storage nocks
and crannies. Then also carving in small recesses the length of the
keel, shear line, and in a cross hatch on the transom. Possibly also
some following the line that battens would run.

Once the core is carved starting to lay up glass using the keel, shear
line, transom and batten recesses in the foam to form thicker members
in place of stations (could be way off on the usage of that term),
then doing a final allover application to encapsulate the hull bottom,
sides, deck and cockpit with the foam in place.

And assuming this can be done

Question time:
Is this sufficient strength for a boat of 16ft with 50 to 60 hp?

I am sure it could be done, but unless you do it just right, it will
be heavy, weak, could hold water, etc.


Is this limited to closed cell foam construction only; is it possible
to use other foam types?

Well, when water gets in (and it will) the foam will become
waterlogged, bit problem, weight, ride, firmness, etc.


Could joined pieces of foam be used or is a sold piece preferred, and
what would be the best bonding agent to use to build up from multiple
pieces?

To answer this would be making loads of assumptions about the design
and overall structural components involved in the rest of the build so
I will not go there, sorry, and it gets worse...


Could A / B mixture expanding foam be used?

Very difficult to form to such shapes with expanding foam, must be
used a little at a time, may not bond to itself.... not a good choice
in my view.


If carving an A / B foam mixture plug as opposed to solid stock,
should the weight be 2# or 8#, is there a denser product?

What types or weights of glass tape, mat, or woven roving would be
used to get the best results?

You are again asking us to design a boat that we know little about. We
would need to see the drawings, understand how and where the boat will
gain structural integerity. There is lot's more to a boat than shape.


I know these might sound like the oddest questions but I would really
love to know if I can do this. I?ve been dying for a boat like this
all my life but the dog would get braces before my other half would
let me pop for one at a dealer new or used. This way I?m just being
eclectic and might sneak it past her until it comes time to build or
buy a trailer and go fishing!

Ok, you could do this, and in fact I have seen a Payson "Skimmer"
built of only pink wall insulation and glass, but again, he duplicated
the structural components in a manner consistant with the origional
design and used only a small engine on the transom.

There are designers out there that can sell you designs for such
boats, of the materials you describe, check Glen-L or Bateau for
starters.

Now that I have ripped your dreams, I will provide what I feel to be a
better solution. Build a cheap easy flat bottom pointy skiff such as:
http://smallboats.com/stanley_sie.htm
You can easily design it just by looking at other pics on my site and
others. This boat is 12 feet long, planes with an 8 horse, floats in
3" of water, a 300 pound man could lean over the edge and if won't
flip, can be built by a novice in approx. 30-40 man-hours, for less
than $200. The plan is tried and true, you have a much better chance
of a successful build resulting in a useful tool avoiding the wrath of
the sig other when she finally realizes that you have spent a year,
400 bucks on Kevlar, and a bunch of ruined clothes for a boat that
either is not finished, or when finished is not really the tool you
were looking for. Why try to make a better mousetrap?
Scotty from SmallBoats.com

On Sat, 10 Apr 2004 22:53:27 GMT, vaguely proposed a
theory
.......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

It may not have been you, but didn't we go this way with some idea for
a kayak/canoe like this some time ago?

I cannot see how this is going to be cheap. Or neat, unless you are
one hell of a carver. This is largely copying high priced mould-making
using CNC foam carvers. That would be for production of a heap of
mould's.

My honest opinion is that your far better off lofting from you're
buddies boat, and then building a wooden female mould from ply. Or
build a ply composite boat. Standard practice.

Hello

I have a wacky idea, some time, space, and a little cash; plus a buddy
that just bough a really nice bass boat. See I want a really nice boat
like this too, but I'm broke and or cheap, you'll have to ask my
wife...

************************************************** **
I went on a guided tour not long ago.The guide got
us lost. He was a non-compass mentor.........sorry
.........no I'm not.