Expanding foam sandwich between plastic wrap skin on frame

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Quidnic, Mar 15, 2021.

  1. Quidnic
    Joined: Apr 2020
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    Quidnic Junior Member

    All good thoughts thanks

    yes still some interesting challenges to overcome
     
  2. Quidnic
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    Quidnic Junior Member

    I have salvaged four fencing panels for free and built the box already as shown in the video

    I can get plastic wrap and expanding foam for free from work as I work on pest control

    this is what it will look like when it’s finished, I mean this is the sort of shape I’m going for
     

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  3. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    The only way to get that shape is by having a male and a female mold.
     
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  4. clmanges
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    clmanges Senior Member

    You've got to be kidding.

    Or do you mean in foamed construction?

    If it were me, I'd haul those fencing sections to the scrapyard and get a few bucks for them, then stitch-and-glue the whole box out of plywood. You could build at least most of the shell first and put in framing afterward. Then insulate and panel the interior. The process would be more straightforward and far more likely to result in something usable. Far easier to repair and maintain, too.

    Think for a moment about, say, cutting a window into one of those fencing sections. You'll have destroyed whatever little structural integrity it had and you'll then have to build a supporting frame for the window anyway.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2021
  5. Quidnic
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    Quidnic Junior Member

    no this way is much cheaper and easier than plywood

    the windows or portholes are very small plastic bottles bottoms fixed together between the reinforced steel mesh before the foam is applied, no cutting or window frames needed

    everything super simple and super lightweight here
     
  6. Quidnic
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    Quidnic Junior Member

    That’s exactly what I am doing

    an inside and outside layer of plastic wrap with a 100mm gap
     
  7. Quidnic
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    Quidnic Junior Member

    I want to the entire thing under 100kg unladen so it can be towed by my electric scooter
     

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  8. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    Not quite, you need a rigid mold. The plastic wrap will let the foam expand and will end up being a lot of bumps and lumps.
     
  9. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    I don't say he can make a proper structure out of those materials. However, he can make flattish panels if the first makes male and female molds.
     
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  10. clmanges
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    clmanges Senior Member

    Are you going to load the scooter onto the boat? Where, and how (fold-down ramp)? If not, think about where the scooter can be parked without eventually being ticketed or towed--or stolen. Might limit you to day trips on the boat. Also, have you determined that the scooter is robust enough to haul this load? The water is always at the bottom of some grade, and the scooter will have to pull it up that hill. Then find out if you can tow that boat with that scooter without being in violation of any traffic laws. You'll be taking up a whole lane at very low speed, and the boat may wind up requiring a trailer license.

    It just seems to me that a lot of the aspects of your plan entail you becoming at least a minor nuisance to others, and possibly an outright navigational hazard on the roadways. I don't know about your situation, but where I live, I know for a fact that I'd be in jeopardy of fines and possibly impoundment.

    You're on the sketchy side of the law already. Those 'abandoned' fencing pieces actually do belong to someone: the owner of the 'abandoned' property, which, technically, you've already been trespassing on. Find that entity and ask permission. You might also want to talk to your employer about that 'free' foam before you get fired for pilfering company property. I wouldn't want you to find out the hard way that is really isn't always better to ask forgiveness than to ask permission.
     
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  11. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    Traffic laws in the UK are much more restrictive than in the US.
     
  12. Quidnic
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    Quidnic Junior Member

    I’m always thinking of the simplicity route first

    the male and female molds will be the ten or so layers of plastic wrap, yes they will be strong enough for the expanding foam not to bulge in my experiments so far with ten layers. But I will do more than ten layers just to be sure.
     
  13. Quidnic
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    Quidnic Junior Member

    There is no tax on trailers and I won’t be scootering on main roads anyway

    the removeable wheels on the hull are only for short distance just to put her on a car transporter or other trailer if towing on main roads

    my scooter will tow two people up steep hills at speed. At least 150kg and this hull unladen will be less than that

    here is the scooter I’m talking about the wolf had two motors and is extremely powerful. It has a towing hitch and has a low geared mode designed for towing

    the scooter folds up for going on busses or trains and will easily be able to be put inside my tiny house boat when on the water
     

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  14. Quidnic
    Joined: Apr 2020
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    Quidnic Junior Member


    All good points and yes I have thought about all of them and have plans in place on all points yes I have solutions to all the problems so far on this thread

    I have yet other small challenges to get around but I am confident I will cross those bridges when I come to them

    I will be blogging about the entire project here is my plans so far


    https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLwq24ai-Jd3tzZQd3cctKflpB0suphf2G
     

  15. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

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