how do you make your own fiberglass body

Discussion in 'Fiberglass and Composite Boat Building' started by huntermike32, Oct 18, 2005.

  1. huntermike32
    Joined: Oct 2005
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    Location: washington

    huntermike32 Junior Member

    i need to know how someone could make their own fiberglass body. i want to build a bass boat. how would i put it all together
     
  2. Bergalia
    Joined: Aug 2005
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    Location: NSW Australia

    Bergalia Senior Member

    With a mould.
    Easier to build a ply-chine boat and coat it with fibreglass. Plenty of good designs on the website. :(
     
  3. lakerunner
    Joined: Oct 2004
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    Location: ohio

    lakerunner Junior Member

    Check out GlenL.com
    they offer a GOOD bass boat , just what you might want to do . It is fiberglass with plywood core...Strong boat. And has plenty of options for good power This boat is a good looking boat and in range for a first time builder. if you have good carpenter skills and can read, have some money to blow and will have the stamina to FINISH , you will have a bass boat for about half the cost of newand the satisfaction that goes with building yourself. Suggestion..... . Plywood has skyrocketted through the roof it should drop abit later in the spring. Get the prints and study for awhile, get set up for the project, tell your wife that you really do love her more than your fishing ( tell her everyday ) and good luck .....
     
  4. huntermike32
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    huntermike32 Junior Member

    Thanks. actually dont have a wife i am still in high school. I am very interested in personal boatbuilding though. i am in many carpentry classes at school right now. thanks agian. what thickness of ply and what type of wood. thanks
     
  5. Bergalia
    Joined: Aug 2005
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    Bergalia Senior Member

    No wife, Huntermike32 ? Listen I've got a couple of teenage daughters hanging around the house... Both pretty adept at boatbuilding...Send details of your bank statement and I'll arrange for shipping tomorrow.... :D
     
  6. huntermike32
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    huntermike32 Junior Member

    thanks. that would make my life alot easier
     
  7. lakerunner
    Joined: Oct 2004
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    lakerunner Junior Member

    the web site I gave you has a printable material list on the web page for this particular boat so you can do a good price estimate at your local DIY store and on line sights for all other material. And Bergalia made you an offer ?
    that would make my life alot easier ? He he he he
     
  8. marshmat
    Joined: Apr 2005
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    Location: Ontario

    marshmat Senior Member

    Go for it, huntermike!

    Glen-L's 15'5" bassboat http://glen-l.com/designs/outboard/bassboat.html is probably right up your alley- if not, they certainly have plenty more on the site. It's no small project, but it looks like a fairly straightforward hull and Glen-L's plans are generally easy to read.

    I'd start by assessing the budget. Figure out how much you can afford. Look around at similar boats to see what kind of power, gear, etc. you want. When it comes time to assess the building costs, be overly conservative on everything, then add at least a 40% fudge factor to the top of the sum. Boats always, always run over budget.

    I'd figure on spending about a year on building a hull and deck. Building over winter gives you something to look forward to next summer. And homebuilt boats are ongoing projects; there's always something to upgrade/add/fix. I did Sunset Chaser (15' LOA) in grade 8-9.... was an incredibly fun project, and far more worthwhile than MATH 1P4 could ever be.

    Keep a wary eye out for Bergalia's offer there.... he himself claims "Interests: Scaring the crap out of my teenage daughters' prospective boyfriends." (Sorry B... 'twas on your profile and I just couldn't resist ;) )
     
  9. huntermike32
    Joined: Oct 2005
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    Location: washington

    huntermike32 Junior Member

    i was actually looking at the ski-bass 18' i like that one because i want a larger deck so i can store more gear fish and people.
     
  10. Bergalia
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    Location: NSW Australia

    Bergalia Senior Member

    And that, Matt, to use an old Royal Navy quote, sees me: 'Hoist by my own pettard...." :mad: :(
     
  11. marshmat
    Joined: Apr 2005
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    Location: Ontario

    marshmat Senior Member

    LOL!
    That's a substantially larger boat than the 15.... figure on twice the motor and twice the budget of the smaller one. It's still within the abilities of a keen first-timer.
     
  12. cyclops
    Joined: Feb 2005
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    Location: usa

    cyclops Senior Member

    If you go with a plywood core, 1/8" thickness is plenty. You are going to cover it in and out with epoxy. Remember, The shape of the finished glass boat will be exactly the same as the 1/8" plywood form. Lumpy wood form = a lumpy glass boat. No way around that. Pick a deeper type of boat. Your first boat WILL be on the heavy side. Always is.
     

  13. jimslade
    Joined: Aug 2005
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    Location: north Markham

    jimslade Senior Member

    I've built a glen L.[renegade] Find a bass boat that needs work. You will be boating before you retire. The world is littered with glen L s that have never been finished.
     
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