HDPE Boat Hulls

[kach22i]

Is anyone making HDPE Boat Hulls?

Hovercraft Application..................
http://www.hovpod.com/NewHovPodSPX.html

The new process uses a Structural High-Density Polyethylene Material, which incorporates an enclosed cellular matrix buoyancy component. The material has been used for Formula 1 Race crash barriers in the past, due to its superior impact properties. It is lightweight, and very strong.

Dimensions, Operation, Construction & Performance
http://www.hovpod.com/technical/specification.html

If anyone has more detail than is posted on their website, please post it.

My HDPE questions:

1. Is this a cast material

2 Can it be machined

3. Do you have to seal it or paint it?

4. Same density all the way through?

5. Ideal thickness?

6. Will it hold a screw?

7. What does salt water do to it?

Example:
http://www.hovpod.com/workpod/workpo...teristics.html


SOME APPLICATIONS HERE:
http://www.redwoodplastics.com/index...=hdpe_and_ldpe

TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
Industrial Containers, Houswares, Pails, Food Containers, Marine Ladders, Marine Steps, Fish Boxes, Cabinet Tops, Tote Boxes, Wire Insulators, Fuel Tanks, Trash Containers, Dump Carts, Pallets, Highway Barriers, Cheese Molds, Cutting Boards...etc.

[kach22i]

FYI: Good info in this thread at another forum.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/showthread.php?t=440870

[MikeJohns]

George
I think you will fnd that it's not stiff enough for anything other than small boats, dinghys canoes. Plastics also have an annoying tendency to creep under any permanent load.

The walker Bay dinghy is a PE boat.

[mydauphin]

I work with HDPE all the time. I build docks and seawalls with materials. I also have a Coleman Canoe that seems to be built of it. Here are my observations.

1. Is this a cast material... Can also be extruded

2 Can it be machined.. Yes

3. Do you have to seal it or paint it?. No, but can get ugly from abuse. Hard to paint. Need to use special paints.

4. Same density all the way through? Yes, but I don't why certain areas could not be made thicker, but that had issues also.

5. Ideal thickness? This stuff is really heavy,it is very strong to puncher but not very stiff, therefore a aluminum frame is needed

6. Will it hold a screw? It will, but with movement it will open the hole bigger, need washer and design can be complex to mitigate its softness and flexibility. Flexibility is its greatest benefit. I run my canoe unto rocks all the time, only scratches.

7. What does salt water do to it? Nothing, UV probably does more, but if you have the correct plastic with UV protectants not much. I have cracked a few in cold weather. Becomes more brittle over time.

Hope this helps, was planing on making my own tender with it one time. Ran into molding required not only heat but a seal pressurized mold. Equipment was too expensive for a one off. Also Aluminum frame was going to be need. Went with aluminum frame, foam and fiberglass instead, covered by epoxy for seal and painted with polyurethane.

[rickthorn]

If it's an "ink blot" test...I see a replacement jeepney roof

[alaskamokaiman]

Kach google Mokai boat it is HDPE I have one that is 6 years old left out in the sun and harsh Alaskan winters.

[mtay]

Check out Triumph Boats
http://www.toughboats.com/index.cfm?...RecommendATest

This is a rotational molded HDPE boat