Fiberglass over a vinyle boat?

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by Dan coffin, Mar 19, 2023.

  1. Dan coffin
    Joined: Mar 2023
    Posts: 4
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Levittown pa

    Dan coffin New Member

    Hello I was wondering if anyone has fiberglassed over a vinyl blow up boat. Can I use fiberglass to cover the boat to make it much stronger. It is a small 7 ft blow up boat. It will be just on a lakes. Could I wrap the whole thing with some fiberglass and what kind of paint to seal it up. What kind of resin to use with a vinyle and 1sy and 2nd more affordable idea. Or what order of layers of what would you use. Considering price and use
     
  2. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
    Posts: 3,614
    Likes: 1,574, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 37
    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    Dan, I think that you would be much better off in the long run if you find a set of plans for a small dinghy that will suit your requirements, and building a boat from these plans.
    Your idea re throwing fibreglass at a vinyl (PVC?) inflatable boat sounds rather dubious to me.
    The money saved on buying the materials for this project can be applied towards the materials for a boat that will work, if you build it correctly according to the plans.
    Have a look at Duckworks - do any of their small dinghy designs appeal to you?
    Plans & Kits - Plans by type - Page 1 - Duckworks Boat Builders Supply https://duckworks.com/plans-by-type/

    Or the small craft designs from Chesapeake Light Craft?
    Chesapeake Light Craft | Boat Plans, Boat Kits, Boatbuilding Supplies, Boat Kit, Kayak Kit, Canoe Kit, Sailboat Kit https://www.clcboats.com/

    These geodesic dinghies have a dacron skin with kevlar reinforcing where it matters, and they are properly engineered -
    Our Boats - Geodesic AiroLITE Boats http://www.gaboats.com/boats/
     
  3. Dan coffin
    Joined: Mar 2023
    Posts: 4
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Levittown pa

    Dan coffin New Member

    Thanks i will look into building a plywood fiberglass boat! Seems alotb more fun and about same cost and stronger
     
  4. Dan coffin
    Joined: Mar 2023
    Posts: 4
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Levittown pa

    Dan coffin New Member

    I have already bought plans for a 12ft skiff made out of 4 sheets of ply and fiberglass I am new to wood work though it seems possible watching you tube
     
    bajansailor likes this.
  5. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
    Posts: 3,614
    Likes: 1,574, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 37
    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    Which plans have you bought re this 12' skiff?
    Do the plans have full size templates, or do you have to plot the outlines on the plywood before cutting them out?
    Re being new to woodwork, a bit of practice with an electric jigsaw first (if you have not used one before) should see you cutting out your panels fairly easily.
    And then you use tapes and epoxy (with epoxy fillets under) to join them all together after first temporarily 'stitching' them together with ties.
     
  6. Dan coffin
    Joined: Mar 2023
    Posts: 4
    Likes: 1, Points: 3
    Location: Levittown pa

    Dan coffin New Member

    Plotting on lines on ply I can use powertools I have a jig saw poly and apoxy resin fiber tape and cloth I have built things no boats the laying out of on ply seems the hardest part with making lines and string to get the correct curves

    Have you used thexio for seems instead of apoxy mix?? It seems easier to use a caulk gun then mix and spread??
     
  7. bajansailor
    Joined: Oct 2007
    Posts: 3,614
    Likes: 1,574, Points: 113, Legacy Rep: 37
    Location: Barbados

    bajansailor Marine Surveyor

    A gentle reminder again - Which plans have you bought re this 12' skiff?

    Do you remember plotting graphs at school in maths class, where you have a vertical 'Y' axis, and a horizontal 'X' axis?
    Plotting the shapes of your hull panels on to the plywood is a similar sort of process - you will have X and Y dimensions for each station on the curve. Once you have plotted these points on the plywood, then get yourself a nice batten (it might be timber, or plastic) that will give a fair curve when you bend it - sight along it with your eye, and bend it various ways. It should always be a nice looking curve.
    Then use this batten to draw a 'best fit' curve through all the points you have plotted.
    If a point seems a bit 'out', check the X and Y dimensions again - you might have made a mistake in plotting the point.
    You could try using weights to hold the batten in place, or maybe small temporary nails on the side of the batten (ie not actually going through the batten)
     

  8. Ike
    Joined: Apr 2006
    Posts: 2,682
    Likes: 482, Points: 83, Legacy Rep: 1669
    Location: Washington

    Ike Senior Member

    When building a couple of dinghies, I used a 1/2 PVC pipe as a batten. You can get them in lengths of ten feet, but I'm sure the one I had was longer than that. Just use some small nails to hold it in place.
     
    bajansailor likes this.
Loading...
Similar Threads
  1. Space
    Replies:
    28
    Views:
    1,178
  2. Tom Peach
    Replies:
    42
    Views:
    2,732
  3. DougDA
    Replies:
    16
    Views:
    1,258
  4. abosely
    Replies:
    10
    Views:
    1,805
  5. mudflap
    Replies:
    8
    Views:
    1,530
  6. Jeeps
    Replies:
    8
    Views:
    1,091
  7. John Slattery
    Replies:
    14
    Views:
    1,677
  8. HG Faulkner
    Replies:
    3
    Views:
    1,390
  9. 67-LS1
    Replies:
    12
    Views:
    969
  10. YarrBeeDarr
    Replies:
    7
    Views:
    895
Forum posts represent the experience, opinion, and view of individual users. Boat Design Net does not necessarily endorse nor share the view of each individual post.
When making potentially dangerous or financial decisions, always employ and consult appropriate professionals. Your circumstances or experience may be different.