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glass shell??

Old 02-14-2008, 07:53 PM
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jesupslanding
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Default glass shell??

is this an ok way to make a fiber glass shell by making a boat hull, covering it in wax paper,

then fiberglassing it and whenb the fiberglass is dry just pop it off..

Old 02-14-2008, 11:34 PM
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500 lb. koolaid man
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Default RE: glass shell??

From what I've read, you either buy a mold or make one out of foam, and then after it's fiberglassed, you have to basically destroy the mold, sand your new hull, etc. I'd guess that what you said hasn't been tried before. I just see it as that's not a conventional method, and of course the ways used today are at least supposed to be the simplest so who knows if what you said will work or not. You could give it a try though if you have nothing to lose. If you're thinking of making a flat bottom, I don't think I've ever seen a fiberglass flat bottom hull other than some $20 piece of junk hull at some online store, so it would be cool to see one. If you're going to give it a try, do a small experiment first to see if after the fiberglass dries, it does come apart from the wax paper for sure.

Good luck if you go for it.
Old 02-15-2008, 06:28 AM
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Default RE: glass shell??

I have seen on a auto show on tv that they used floral foam to make a mold then covered it in alum foil and layed the glass on top of that and it relest . hope there wasnt any movie magic

im building one now and im useing some 3" blue board foam like you get at lowes but im leaveing the foam under the glass i figer itr should float better and be hold up from hitting things
Old 02-15-2008, 09:10 AM
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Lester Burch
 
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Default RE: glass shell??

All of the Airboats i build for my customer's are fiberglass . I first build a plug that look's like a finished boat, then apply mold release wax, then layup the fiberglass to make the mold . If you have waxed your plug well it will pop out ok.
went you lay up your boat the mold well need mold release wax on it to so it will pop out ok. So far as flat bottom boats most of the Airboat's i make are flat bottom.
Old 02-15-2008, 04:28 PM
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jesupslanding
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Default RE: glass shell??

lester, do you have any pics of your hulls?
Old 02-15-2008, 09:36 PM
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Lester Burch
 
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Default RE: glass shell??

Some of my Airboats are in the M-AB-A.com Gallery . Most of my boats are big Gassers there is one in our local group that runs a 2300 super tiger. but laying up a boat would be the same big or small.
http://m-ab-a.com/Gallery/Lester-Burch?page=1
http://m-ab-a.com/Gallery/Tim-and-Ronis-Airboat-Fun
Old 02-15-2008, 10:07 PM
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Default RE: glass shell??

Very impressive hulls! Now that I think about it, I remember "the love boat" that you built following what your daughter wanted it to look like. I just didn't catch that it was fiberglass. Nice work on everything.
Old 02-16-2008, 10:53 AM
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D Bronk
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Default RE: glass shell??

..Maybe you can use a Wax paper use a Spray Adhessive to hold it Tight to your Mold..I`ve never tried that.. But,,

..You Can Lay up Your Boat, Right on top of the Plug that`s shaped like the Finished boat,that you want to make,made from Blue, or Pink Foam.Use a Finishing Epoxy Resin , with the Glass-Fiber cloth.For this Method Don`t use Polyester Resin it will eat the foam immediately it has to be a Finishing Epoxy Resin that you use.. When the new Hull is Setup, you can leave the Foam in Place,or It (Foam) can be Removed, by pouring Gas ,Lacquer thinner,or Acetone,on to it and wash the foam away. Lester`s method Saves his Plug/Mold.What I have described, is a One shot deal.. Dave
Old 02-20-2008, 06:05 PM
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jesupslanding
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Default RE: glass shell??

ok. today was a not so warm but not so cold day. i went ahead and glassed the mold let it dry for about 30 minutess pop it off just perfect w/ alum. foil.. i shaped it. tomorrow hope i get a little sun to let it harden more and then i will add another layer of fiberglass to strengthen it. but i will post pics a soon as i can

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