Looking to design and build a flats boat (semi/planing hull)

[willfishforbeer]

Alright, well im looking to build a 17-22 foot flats boat with a semi planing hull. I would like to be able to have it planing, but also be able to trim the bow down into a moderate chop. Now, i pretty much know what the design is going to be, but im building it out of fiberglass and need some help with whether the hull should be cored or if i can just make it thick. How thick should it be if cored? How thick should the decks be? And the transom?

[DesioMedia]

Plans will save you a lot of time and most likley a lot of money. If you want to build it out of pure fiberglass your going to need a mold, which are expensive and not efficient for just one boat. Check these out, they are glassed wood core construction and as strong if not stronger than mass produced fiberglass boats.

http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=XF20
http://www.bateau.com/proddetail.php?prod=PH18

http://boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=546
http://boatdesigns.com/products.asp?dept=273

I think the Bateau PH!8 sound just like what you want and can be built cheaply yet very strong. They also have a 16' version of this. The XF 20 is a really cool boat it can go 30 kts with just a 30 hp.

Hope this helps

Heres a cool pic of the XF 20 running in what looks like less than 10" of water.

[willfishforbeer]

Thanks alot, those look like great boats.