Box Seats DIY Fiberglass Mold

[abl1111]

Been playing with the idea of making box seats for my 23' Tsunami. Actually they're more than box seats - the are more like an "L", with a seat facing aft for passengers.

After my resto, I installed (2) pedestals thinking that was good enough for me. Flash forward a few years; wife, (2) kids !

My fishing boat has become more of a family boat - even thinking of getting a tow rope and inflatable to pull behind !!! Just a metaphor for my scene !

Anyway, I saw a really nice looking, mid 70's 26' Bertram recently with great looking, aftermarket I assume, fiberglass "L" boxes; each box had a swing seat mounted on top of the box for the helm and a nice aft facing cushion/seat for facing aft.

Questions :

- How hard is it to make a mold for this and can the mold be used twice or do I have to destroy the molds to remove the fiberglassed work ?

- After you spray mold release, do you spray gelcoat in the mold, then mat ?

- Where do you glass in plywood for support - the whole structure ?

- What layup would you recommend using polyester resin ?

This will be my first mold attempt and if it goes well, I will have to plan out a hardtop next... Or, the hardtop and then the box seats ...

Thx

[floorboy]

Exactly what I was thinking. I'm watching this one

[riptide]

If I had the coin I would get two of these for my Sceptre

http://www.nauticaldesigninc.com/ima...aning-Post.htm

[abl1111]

RIP,

Thats the one !!! Who makes it and how much ? I think I have to make it myself due to $$$ - unless its not too much $...

[SBD]

Captain Cabo on bloody decks has built a number of similar things by glassing wood and they come out super nice.

[abl1111]

Don't want to glass wood per se.

Want to make a mold with wood/melamine - then gelcoat, glass in and add wood to areas that need the wood structurally.

Do all sides need wood glassed to them for structure ?

[strick]

I would core the whole thing but use core cell instead. Nautical designs has come a long way over the years. Looks like a quality product but at nearly 2k apiece thats some serious coin.

strick

[abl1111]

Thx Strick - would I need to make two molds or do you think I could get away with one ?

You have a preferred layup schedule or is it somewhere on the site already ?

[strick]

Originally Posted by abl1111

Thx Strick - would I need to make two molds or do you think I could get away with one ?

You have a preferred layup schedule or is it somewhere on the site already ?

If you want to get fancy make a mdf mold split it down the middle add a flange to both halves so you can un bolt it to help get the part out. Considering you want two of them.

Lay up 2 layers of 1.5 oz matt 1 layer 1708 3/8 core cell 1 layer 1708 all corners re inforced with the same type cloth during each layer.

strick

[abl1111]

Strick,

A few questions:

The spilt mold would leave me with a seam that would have to be faired etc, right ?

If I decided not to use gelcoat, what would you put down first as a base ?

Just two layers of 1.5 oz mat would do it ? Not familiar with core cell, but would I put down the two layers of 1.5 oz, then core cell and then more mat on top of that ?

Would I have to weigh down the core cell on each side till cure ? So, one side of mold at a time ?

Lastly, what do you use to create the radius' inside the mold ? Clay, cabosil, other ?

Thanks - Alan