fiberglass (general question)

[hunter7415]

what is the best fiberglass for a boat hull

[kerosene]

you talking about the cloth or the resin or what?

More specific and detailed question gives better answers...

[Mr Efficiency]

You can assume he is referring to the reinforcing, I think ?

[hunter7415]

iam sorry the best cloth and what type of resin

[PAR]

If your boat is a Hunter (I'm assuming) then you'll probably lean towards polyester and vinylester resin systems and a laminate (saturated fabrics) designed for the role it must play.

It's incorrect to think there is a single resin system that is best, nor a single fabric that is best. If this was the case all boats would be made of a single resin and fabric schedule.

Simply put, your are asking about FRP (Fiber Reinforced Plastic) which is a set of materials of many different configurations, most highly engineered to incorporate the specific amounts of each for a light, strong structure.

In short there are dozens of different fabric choices, many are 'glass, but also other materials and there are three basic resin choices, each with it's own pro's and con's.

What specifically are you trying to do and on what?

[hunter7415]

I Want To Make A Littel 14 Foot Scooter Boat For Flats Fishing Already Have The Mold Just Wanted To No What Everone Uses For The Hull Meteral For A Strong Bottom And Sides

[PAR]

What you need to know is the "laminate schedule" which is a set of specifications for the specific design you're building. There is no "common" set of scantlings, particularly for a FRP build. For example the thickness and type of fabrics employed will change as the target speed of the boat goes over 25 knots or in different areas of the boat to resist expected loading. Without knowing what design your are building, any laminate scantling suggestions would be pure guess work. If you don't have the design information (laminate schedule) available, you will have to hire a designer, NA or marine engineer to do a work up for you, in regard to the laminate schedule. This isn't something you can take a guess at, unless using too little material and having it break, or using too much material and making it too heavy are okay for you.

[gonzo]

Polyester and E glass would be the best choice if the top speed is below 40 mph. Otherwise, you may want a lighter laminate. For example, vinylester and S glass.

[PAR]

He needs to know how much and where as well.

[Herman]

It Is Very DiffiCult To Give Exact Specs If The Exact DimenSions Of The Boat Are Not Known. Also The Skill Of The Builder Plays A Role. And Core Materials.

Do You Have A Photo Of The Mold?

[hunter7415]

Iam Building It Right No The Boat Will Be 14.5 Feet Long With A 8 Footbeam Just A Flat Bottom Boat Here In Texas We Call It A Scooter Flats Boat With A Tunnel Hull It Will Have A 60hp Mercury On It Nothing Fast I Just Want It To Run Skinny And Draft Shalow

[PAR]

1.8 Beam/length ratio, 60 HP, well, make it heavy Hunter and good luck . . .

[hunter7415]

HERE IS THE SPECS ON A BOAT THAT IS LIKE THE ONE I WANT TO BUIELD It is 14’6” long, has a beam of 7’. The tunnel is 5’ long and 7” tall. It will float in 5” of water and will run in 3” of water. SORRY GUYS I WAS WRONG IT IS A 7 FOOT BEEM

[PAR]

You just don't get it Hunter. A couple of pictures on an unknown boat, without a scantling list or laminate schedule isn't especially helpful, though it does now offer somewhat the boat you're interested in, it's still not the exact boat., which will likely have several some seemingly subtle differences that will affect the general scantlings and the laminate schedule.

What is the name of the design you are attempting to build? Make model and year? The simple answer is make it 3/8" thick with a chopper gun, but this would be heavy and the wrong way to approach the issues. If you don't understand the issues, then you're way in over your head.

[tunnels]

Originally Posted by hunter7415

what is the best fiberglass for a boat hull

Give with some info !!
What kind of boat, size, shape ,length, and whats it being used for, inboard, outboard ,and how big a motor ???