Foam Form

[FAST EDDIE]

I want to make a deep vee boat from scratch in fiberglass how can I get foam to shape in to the shape I need ???

First time builder any in fo would help!!

Thanks guys!!!!

[toyboy4145]

fast eddie,
Pick three points and sand sand sand. What I did is decide what you want the bow to look like(deadrise, freeboard height, chine height) then make a flowing line from your decided bow to the hull running surface. I just basically drew a line, and with a sawzall blade cut a little off at a time and sanded it to where I wanted it. Then checked it with a profile gauge to make sure both sides were the same. The key is to take your time and check both sides frequently. Good luck and have fun

[toyboy4145]

Fast eddie,
Here are some pics of the master(plug) that I made. I never really finished it so it still needs some work. Take it for what you will. I made this before I knew about this site and have since just bought the majority of the hulls that I run. Any questions just ask, I am more than willing to assist.

[toyboy4145]

Make sure that you use foam that can handle resin on it, the blue foam will melt and destort badly.

[toyboy4145]

stern-bottom view

[toyboy4145]

side profile

[vicman]

Looks like an offshore contender when its done.

vicman/v.m.p.

[toyboy4145]

Thanks, it is 24 1/2"long with a 6 3/4" beam. Definately a 12 cell boat. Fortunately for me i have access to a thermofrm machine, so the parts for it will be ABS, Maybe carbon fiber and glass if I get a whole lot of spare time on my hands.

[AndyKunz]

Rather than getting a special resin-resistant foam, use epoxy resin. It doesn't smell bad like polyester, doesn't eat foam, and doesn't cost very much. YOu can get cheap stuff from Home Depot for about $15 for 1/2 gallon.

It's perfect for this kind of thing.

Andy

[vicman]

Andy, you are right on the money about the epoxy on foam. This is what I have done every time I have worked with foam, including floatation. Interlux makes a great and inexpensive epoxy line called EPIGLASS that I have been using almost exclusively for large projects that require alot of mix, such as glassing a hull from a mold, or covering a plug for a mold. They also offer a nifty pump system for their cans so all you have to do is pump the same number of times for each part and the mixture is in proper proportions. Just stir and start working. Has a very good pot life, very forgiving with time. Takes about 4 hours or so to harden to demolding point though.

This boat was done this way, sorry, its a nitro. OOPS!

vicman

[toyboy4145]

Good call on the epoxy. The main reason that I went with that foam and polyester resin is that I got it for free from work. Also the foam that I used was high density to withstand the heat of thermoforming more than one part off of it. Thanks.