Foam core/structure - skiff build questions - Thoughts?

[HiZ]

Ok so here goes:

I do not have much experience with building with foam
I want to build a light weight duck skiff and would like to use this as the material
Now I have read about people building swim platforms, etc with the stuff

Please, give me an idea. What/how/etc


I understand how to build the boat and have one constructed, however the goal is lighter weight.
So, I need to understand how to work with the foam

 

[Offshore Ginger]

HIZ , just curious what brand of core do you have in mind , and what type of resin are you thinking of using ? http://www.spaceagesynthetics.com www.coosacomposites.com http://corematerials.3acomposites.com/products-us.html or something maybe like this www.plascore.com which is being used to build Drift boats here in Mich , i can list more if you like .

 

[HiZ]

Looking at epoxy of course - and for the core I was looking at the pink insulation type foam for the pieces.
glassed/with stringers and ribs to boot - problem with ply is that it get's quite heavy
I was also thinking of making it from ply for the structure and using a veneer for the hull/skin and glassing over

 

[Ratickle]

Do you have a couple pics of the skiff design to throw up here for use to peek at?

 

[HiZ]

Here you will find the type or design that I have used to build
I want the versatility and weight of the foam if I sandwich it between glass on a boat
Let me know what you think on it

 

[HiZ]

Ok, well after doing some thinking I am going to do it.
Tell me if I'm crazy before I waste all of this $$$ in materials, but:

Making the hull and ribs and stringers from poly 1" pink construction foam
Using Epoxy resin and covering all parts/pieces of the puzzle when assembled
Anyone have thoughts or ideas about this going south and being a problem?

 

[Ratickle]

I don't believe the strength will be there with the construction foam. When I built the fenders and other pieces for my 23T, I used a high density foam similar to that, but I layed the glass over it on one side, then ground all the foam out, layed and glassed in balsa core. That was light and strong, but that was years ago.

With todays materials like Plascore board, why wouldn't you use that to glass over and be done? Should be light and strong.

Artie, where are you?

 

[Offshore Ginger]

First off personally i would never use construction foam for anything other then what it was made for , and if you are going to use Epoxy why not go with a little better core considering the Coosa & the thermo board mentioned above is lighter and stronger then ply but then again i have see some pretty light drift boats made from Plascore , and to tell you the truth if you are building this project on a budget maybe you should go with Poly instead because using construction foam for your Core in this build with Epoxy does not make a whole lot sense but then again that is your call .Hiz not trying to be rude but over the years i have seen projects like this go bad real fast because so many people do not use the right materials , and often think that everything they need can be purchased from Lowes , Home depot , etc

 

[Offshore Ginger]

Paul , how yah been and just curious do you know anyone that just might be willing to bring a 19 foot boat here to Holland from the other side of the state ................which would be a stone's throw from Saginaw ?

 

[Ratickle]

I'll see who's going back and forth soon.

So how would you actually build the drift boat if you were doing it Artie. Let's say on the best possible budget, with the best possible outcome even though you're on that budget? Are you saying Plascore, with Polyester, would be almost as light as the best out there, and almost as strong?