Plasticore?

Discussion in 'Materials' started by JEFFHEENAN, Feb 23, 2016.

  1. JEFFHEENAN
    Joined: Oct 2014
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    JEFFHEENAN Junior Member

    Hello, Has anyone used the plascore honeycomb product? I am looking for a review. I am thinking of using it on the bottom of fiberglass/poly resin drift boat. Will plascore laminate well? I will be hitting a lot of rocks with the boat.
     
  2. KJL38
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    KJL38 Senior Member

  3. Tungsten
    Joined: Nov 2011
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    Tungsten Senior Member

    With your poly/glass bottom when you hit rocks the floor should deflect inwards absorbing the hit.If you cover with a thick core then thick layers of glass it will be stiff leaving the outer skin on the plascore to take all the abuse.This will be heavy and costly
    Youd be better off adding more layers to your poly bottom or look into the UHMW bottom

    Off hand i think its steath craft boats in your area that have a way of attaching the UHMW to a glass boat.
     
  4. JEFFHEENAN
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    JEFFHEENAN Junior Member

    Thanks Tungsten. Yes you are right stealth craft does use uhmw but they also laminate plascore in their hulls, and so does Adapose drift boats. Both boats look like good boats but I wounder if this construction is wise for a boat that is going to take a beating.
     
  5. Skyak
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    Skyak Senior Member

    Pascore honeycomb has a reputation as low cost low quality core. The primary concern is adhesion of the laminate to the core, which is smooth polypro or low density polyethylene if I recall. You can do a simple adhesion test of your own layup and draw your own conclusions.

    I concur that a core stiffened bottom is the opposite of what you want. That would be like making an anvil out of potato chips glued to styrofoam. An aramid and epoxy composite would deflect and bounce back. Your could attach a skid plate out side it if you want.
     
  6. Tungsten
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    Tungsten Senior Member

    I assume your boat has 3/8 -1/2" thick bottom already? If so the uhmv is the way to go skip the plascore. Use the plascore for interior parts/ benches to lighten it up.
     
  7. JEFFHEENAN
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    JEFFHEENAN Junior Member

    Thanks a lot guys for the great info. I am just trying to educate myself for my next layup. Any advise on glassing in the false floor and the casting brace. Do you just connect with layers of csm?
     
  8. Tungsten
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    Tungsten Senior Member

    Normally when adding or attaching you would use 45/45 cloth,so make your false floors on a jig/mould then fit to the boat and tape in with the 45/45 cloth.Maybe better ways?Im not sure.
     

  9. ondarvr
    Joined: Dec 2005
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    ondarvr Senior Member

    There are two schools of thought on drift boat hull bottoms, ridged cored, and thinner and flexible, typically thinner and flexible lasts longer and works better on rocks. Cored hulls are stiffer so when rowing they're slightly more efficient, less force is lost to flex.

    Most drift boat hulls when used hard in rocky rivers need a little attention after many years, a cored hull is a huge hassle to fix, a non cored hull is quick and simple.

    A false floor is just glassed in at the edges, it doesn't take a big heavy laminate, they're a bit more comfortable to stand on because they're level, but I don't use them.
     
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