Seam Tape for folding boat

[john zimmerlee]

New twist for my foot controlled electric powered Stream Dancer!

I was having trouble deciding on the shape and length of the proper hull for rotomolding . . . then it hit me . . . don't mold it, fold it!

My first attempt actually worked, albeit a little flimsy. It was made from luan panels and roofing peel-n-stick tape from Home Depot.

Now I'm on a fast track to make it sea worthy. I'm picking up 1/4" expanded pvc today for the panels. I need some seam tape. I'm thinking about the tape used on inflatables. Any ideas, sources, warnings, etc?

John
www.streamdancer.com

[SamSam]

How did you plan to go about roto-molding?
Here's some old plans for a folding boat, maybe you could get some ideas there...
http://www.svensons.com/boat/?p=RowBoats/HandyAndy
I would think you might want some mechanical way to hold the flexible part in place. Relying on tape sticking seems risky. For the seams you might consider shower stall liner from Home Depot, the rubber sheet stuff you put down before ceramic tile.

Nice little boat on your site!

[TeddyDiver]

I'm not quite sure but maybe welding a pvc cloth (like in high quality tars) could work. Hard to find anything else that sits tight on pvc than pvc..

[john zimmerlee]

Thanks, guys, for responding.

I bought the 10' long 1/4" expanded pvc sheet today. It's no stiffer than the luan I started with. I also stopped by Home Depot and bought the shower liner. Great minds think alike.

Also bought some pvc solvent and some glue, but i have doubts that it will work on flexible material.

How does pvc welding work and what kind of equipment will I need?

John

[SamSam]

We used/tried something that people called "aireated pvc" as a cheap substitute for starboard. It was 1/4" thick, real light, cheap. It had it's uses but didn't hold up to UV light very well, turning yellowish, shrinking and warping.

That was in direct sun for a console top, somehow attached to a plywood base. I also used it as sliding doors, exposed on the front and back with no connections for hinges etc, inside a cabin and outside in the side of the cockpit and had no problems there. It had a slight texture and was prone to getting dirty, but if cleaning didn't work, sanding lightly with 220 on a RO sander left it looking like new.

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by john zimmerlee

How does pvc welding work and what kind of equipment will I need?

Hot air gun with flat "nose", a rubber roller and some extra pieces to practice with. Worm up both layers with the airgun nose between the layers and press a'n roll (back'n forth) them together when they come "sticky". Checkup: try ripp them apart. Cold doesn't weld and too hot "burns" black..
BR Teddy

[rwatson]

Folding sounds like a can of worms for a production boat.

You might want to steal some ideas from these guys

http://www.portaboat.com/

or these guys

http://www.instaboat.com/

[owkaye]

john zimmerlee, I looked at your website and boat again today. I remember seeing you talk about it online some years ago. It looks nicer now. Why not just build some and start selling them? You do not need rotomolded boats now or ever, people will buy because you are the only source for foot-controlled electric boats in the world. People would buy them if they were ugly but they are not.

I would not want it as a folding boat. I have been on folding boats and they do not feel strong or sturdy or safe as real boats. It seems you are experimenting in a new realm now instead of moving toward production of your current design. This is okay if your goal is only want to experiment but if you want to sell them you have to build them.

I am confused by your sudden interest in making such a radical change when you already have a proven design. You can hire someone nearby to make your last proven hull into a plug, then make a female mold from it, then start producing fiberglass boats immediately. This would cost little and provide immediate return on your investment. I am sure the boats are salable immediately. Why are you waiting?

Well I hope you are successful in making this change from a normal boat to a folding boat if this is your new focus, but I also think it means a much longer wait and not necessary at all really.

[Butch .H]

John you need to setup a agent in South Africa for you boat.
Regards
Butch