How much does it usually cost to build a mold?

I was just wondering how much is usually costs to build a 18' Flats boat mold from a plug?

I have a flats boat that was home made by my uncle in the late 80s that is getting old, but is looks sweet and has a real nice ride, so we're were thinking about making a mold and building a few for the family and close friends that admire the boat.

I have the books to do this and some fiberglass knowledge. I was just wondering how much it usually costs to do this.

I would need to make the hull, deck, console, a small anchor locker in the bow, four small hatches in the back, a live well hatch and live well in the back, and a polling platform lid. The boat is similiar to the older hoog/hewes w/o the chimes and not as much of a vee.

 

To build a mould usually cost about 3 times the hull (or others) that it will produce. That is assuming that you do not have designer costs to amortise etc etc.

 

Will it have a deck mold as well? I've seen pic's of flats boat, not much to them. Just for the bottom, drum of resin-roll of mat, and get some bidirectional for the bulk of it. 2 layers of 1.5 mat is good, will will keep the bi or roving from printing through. The biggest thing you will want to do is the steel that will be boded to the mold, this will help keep it straight and true when moving it around. I've seen some people use wood, but that is up to you. If you only want to pull a few parts out and then be done with it, don't spend to much money on steel. Oh yea get a 5 of tooling gel. It's a piec of cake. I havn't priced stuff in 10+ years, but hull can be done for 2K with left over material.If you have a big flat deck you will need a little more resin, should have mat left over and will need a little more bi or roving. But seeing were you are located it might be cheaper to buy a set of molds.

http://www.boatmoldtrader.com/18'_flats.htm

 

Re:

I see the 18' Flats Boat on boatmoldtrader.com. Is that website still operational? I see on the bottom that there has not been any update the website since 2006. Thanks!

If I do it myself, I also need to do the deck, console, hatches, etc...

 

2006? I've seen them come and go on ebay. Some times people think their stuff is made of gold. If your is an original piece and good enough to pull a mold off it then go for it. I build my own boats, can't see spending the money on one built by some one else when I can do it myself. Don't listen to people trying to BS you about how hard it is. When I was in better shape (bad back), I could build a 20' in two days. Pop it out of the mold and tab it together on the 3rd day, thats top and bottom. Then the fun starts, RIGGING time. I'm bulding a new family cruiser right now and once that's done it's time for a Hydro. If you enjoy building boats than do it, it's not work if it's fun. Good luck.

 

What is the best way to make a boat plug . Do I have build the plug out of any specific material.Are there some shortcuts or is this a real timely process I have experience in fiberglass, but Im not sure of the steps that are required in this particular prossess I love everhting about boats and really enjoy fabrication work.

 

I'd agree, for production molds, but I've built molds for just a few parts that were lighter-duty. (The trick is maintaining the shape, so I made use of all my coremat scraps.) Production molds typically use more expensive resin, and are much thicker than parts, hence the increased cost.

Seagull427, you can use just about anything to build a plug. I've used that shiny white hardboard you see in cheap showers; a book I read long ago showed how to build them out of plaster of paris. I've even shaped small plugs out of urethane foam, gelcoated them generously, and sanded very carefully!

 

Thanks I appreciate the information , So basically I have to make the actual piece, wether its a boat hull or a hatch or any part I have to make the male piece put some mold release on it ,spray it with multipal coats of gelcoat and before the gelcoat has completely dried start applying multipal layers of matt and roving until I get a good enough thickness that It will hold a shape and reinforce with wood or steel depending on the size of the piece does this sound right.

 

Cost to build. Well my new boat mold is about done. I have to put some wood framing on it and some steel, and then pop the plug out. The bigest factor for this was resin. Tooling was about $1,100.00 for a drum, marine laminatoing was about 900 and vinyl was about 1500 for a drum. Iwas lucky enough to het some uni from a guy, $75.00 for a full roll. He has a trailer full of it, cash only. I bought 4 and used one. Guess I have enough for some boats as well. A roll of mat is about 150.00. It's nice to be building boats again. Now what color or colors to make the first one??

 

Cobra1 What do think would cost to make a 36' Jersey styled express fisherman from plug to finished hull.

 

About $1000.00 per foot, with you doing all of the work. Thats a big boat.Um ship. Still cheaper to build than to buy.

 

more like 2K

If you are only looking at materials it could be 1K, but add in oveerhead, taxes, insurance , utilities, it starts to get bizarre.

 

Thats all I'm talking about. You can control all of that other crap.

 

we can build you one for 45K plus piping.Hull and deck only. You supply the design. email me buckknekkid@hotmail and I'll send you pics of work in progress..

 

Id love to see what kind of work you do.How much of the boat do you build.My e-mail is EricAquilio@alo.com.Ive seen a boat built by cape jersey yachts. There absolutely beautiful but they seem very pricy.