c-flex glass

Discussion in 'Boat Design' started by Islandboy, Jul 19, 2007.

  1. Islandboy
    Joined: Oct 2005
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    Location: Bahamas

    Islandboy Junior Member

    hey im requesting info on how to make a c flex frame step by step for a design that i have. i want to know do's and dont's, materials that i will need,alternatives for materials, how to transfer measurements to materials and tools i will need. i hope i have provided enough info to get a sensible reply if not leave a number contact please and i will contact you if you dont understand my request.

    thanks everyone.
     
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  2. waikikin
    Joined: Jan 2006
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    waikikin Senior Member

    Islandboy, I cant think of a c-flex project around here(Australia) for like 20 years +, maybe find some suppliers of it before proceeding, maybe they still use it in the US ? Regards from Jeff.
     
  3. BTScow
    Joined: Dec 2006
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    BTScow Junior Member

    There is a guy in New Orleans - David Sintes - who builds in C-Flex or used to. Give him a shot.
     
  4. messabout
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    messabout Senior Member

    Why C-Flex?
     
  5. BTScow
    Joined: Dec 2006
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    BTScow Junior Member

    I think because it lends itself well to one-off building at a competitive price.
     
  6. SamSam
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    Location: Coastal Georgia

    SamSam Senior Member

  7. waikikin
    Joined: Jan 2006
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    waikikin Senior Member

    Nice link Sam Sam, C flex seems to have fallen out of use here, maybe some of the industrial guys use it, but looks like a good pruduct. Regards from Jeff.
     
  8. moTthediesel
    Joined: Apr 2006
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    Location: 1k Islands

    moTthediesel Junior Member

    I built a C.W. Paine designed "Frances 26" using C-Flex about 25 yrs. ago. It was a good method for building one-off in glass then, and I'm sure it still would be now. Boat is still solid with no blisters or soft spots.
    Just build with station molds on a strongback like any other boat. Staple C-Flex over the molds, soak with resin, then continue lamination schedule from there, then fair and finish the surface and paint.
    moT
     
  9. Ironmaster
    Joined: Jul 2007
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    Location: 66°N

    Ironmaster Gold Member

    link to Dave Sintes Fiberglass

    It´s strange that c-flex doesn´t seem to enjoy more popularity and more widespread use than it does....it seems to be a convenient method for one-off building. Besides it lends itself well to building hulls featuring compound curves.

    ....Those involved in fiberglass boatbuilding seem to favor obtaining compoundly curved one-off hulls by strip planking over frames using bead and cove foam core strips. Hulls built that way tend to be not as resin rich as the c-flex ones and thus tend to be lighter. Maybe that´s the explanation why c-flex is not in today?

    .....Anyway...Dave Sintes offers designs and frame kits for those who want to build from c-flex...he also sells the stuff and he also sells a "how to" video on c-flex boatbuildingn.. I also think Seemann Composites....the producer of c-flex prefers to distribute the stuff via Dave Sintes.........so he is the guy you should talk to

    Check out his website

    http://www.sintesfiberglass.com/
     
  10. SamSam
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: Coastal Georgia

    SamSam Senior Member

    I went to the link Ironmaster supplied. That's a good site. Look at this other use for C-flex...


    A lot of people say putting glass over wood wrecks the boats, but they do it here for 50-80' shrimp boats. Below is a link to the C-flex building manual, also from the same site Ironmaster supplied. You can also get a good idea on how to build a giant duck, there.

    http://www.sintesfiberglass.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/cflex20manual-web.pdf
     
  11. Ironmaster
    Joined: Jul 2007
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    Ironmaster Gold Member

    .......By the way, once upon a time........in the good old days before hurricane Kathrina struck New Orleans......there was downloadable at Sintes´s website a short video on c-flex boatbuilding. I think it´s not there anymore. If anyone is interested in viewing it.. I can send you a link to it´s location..just drop me a message.
     
  12. Islandboy
    Joined: Oct 2005
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    Location: Bahamas

    Islandboy Junior Member

    boat building link c flex

    may i have that link please
     

  13. Islandboy
    Joined: Oct 2005
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    Location: Bahamas

    Islandboy Junior Member

    can some one tell me what is a bulkhead and how it is made
     
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