rota moulding a rowing boat

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by jcox911, Jan 23, 2010.

  1. jcox911
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    jcox911 Junior Member

    Anyone have any suggestions for suitable companies to rota mold a 14 foot rowing boat, I'm east coast so eastern side of USA would be easier.
    James
     
  2. hoytedow
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    hoytedow Carbon Based Life Form

  3. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

    There is a company in the Carolinas that specializes on that.
     
  4. jonr
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    jonr Senior Member

    I'd be interested in knowing more about the challenges of making an aluminum mold - and what they charge for the roto moulding.
     
  5. jcox911
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    jcox911 Junior Member

    Carolina company

    Gonzo, Do you happen to know the name or anything actually useful like that?
     
  6. gonzo
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    gonzo Senior Member

  7. Landlubber
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    Landlubber Senior Member

    Nylex here have been making them for decades
     
  8. jcox911
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    jcox911 Junior Member

    Thanks for the replies guys. I was really looking for a recommendation based possibly on experience. I can go to the web and do a search but you can't beat a personal recommendation from someone that has had experience of a company.
     
  9. Landlubber
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    Landlubber Senior Member

    I made rotomoulded poo boxes and water tanks and deisel tanks, no big deal, but to make the mould for a dinghy certainly will be.
     
  10. jonr
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    jonr Senior Member

    I've wondered if it would be possible to hydroform thermoplastics - then you can have an open mold. It's also quick, so less heat damage to sensitive plastics such as ABS.
     
  11. Landlubber
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    Landlubber Senior Member

    not sure where you are there, the rotos are made from steel, they have a hole in them (or two or three etc) where you put in the pellets and off they go with burners on the outside keeping the mould hot. The pellets melt to the steel mould via centrifugal force...I would suspect that hydroform would need some sort of mechanism to get the little suckers to attach to the moulds.
     

  12. jonr
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    jonr Senior Member

    Yes, hydroforming is a different process that would typically start with a sheet or tube (vs pellets). Usually (always?) metal.
     
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