Zanek

I am making a 25" Mono hull. I am going to make it out of wood. I am probably not going to do much racing, just driving around. What type and thickness of wood should I make it out of? Could I use balsa wood? Ican get that easily. But I can get any type of wood. I am also open to suggestions about non-wood things that I could make it out of.

Thanks, Zane

ryan_t888

I would make it out of 1/8" ply with 1/32" ply sheeting.

Ryan

Zanek

So you are saying making the frame out of 1/8" ply, and then streching 1/32" ply over it? Can I just use any normal plywood?

Thanks, Zane

Zanek

So you are saying making the frame out of 1/8" ply, and then streching 1/32" ply over it? Can I just use any normal plywood?

Thanks, Zane

ryan_t888

That is what I would do. Then use epoxy to seal the inside and outside of the hull. If you haven't seen my latest rigger build, I used 3/16" ply and 1/16" sheeting on a 34" hull.

The epoxy will strengthen the ply. Normal plywood is ok, as it is a must to coat everything in epoxy anyway. The epoxy should be put on in a thin light coat. You thin the epoxy with a heat gun not diluting it.

Ryan

*delete M i k e u p delete*

1/8" ply with 1/32 ply outer with gorilla glue. Now in my wooden monos, i run balsa 1/4" square sticks as i call them every 1 1/2" from bottom to top and placed inbetween the long runners. Now where motor will be placed, add 1/32 ply to the tune of 3 1/2" wide and 6" long so you won't get a low spot on the outer bottom shell called a HOOK. here's a catch; you'll have to buy 1/32 " ply in 48" lenght to insure no leaks by splicing 2 pieces of 1/32 ply. You can splice but you'll have to be real careful on the inside by beefing up that areawith another layer of 1/32 ply with CA and Accelerator.

Zanek

So once I have built the hull I should coat it with normal epoxy and use a heatgun to thin it out? Is that for strength and rigidity?

ryan_t888

Yes. Main purpose is to water proof the hull. It does add strength as a bonus.

Ryan

Zanek

Another question:

*delete M i k e u p delete*

Try LHS and see if he can order a piece. What i did was do a 2 piece on top and single on bottom and sides. Now if your doing a Wild Thing, it isn't easy!!! VooDoo, lenghten the design without step to the lenght of at least 23" and make it a regular mono. I had to change the formers in height so i had a smooth keel from bow to transom. I had to make former at bow 1/2" wider to add lenght and taper from there on back. Now to make sure i was on track, i use 1/4" x36" balsa to check on keel curve and same on sides and etc,. Make sure construction board is FLAT!!