I Need A Shrink !

[SBD]

I have built lots of things using blue household foam insulation. It is very inexpensive, easy to form using a Surform, and crazy strong with just a few laminations over it. It has been used for many structural applications including all Rutan aircraft. It is only compatible with epoxy however, ester will turn it into napalm.

I would consider bonding it to the inside and skinning it.

[strick]

A little progress this weekend. I was able to get some work done to the seat box molds. The MDF was sanded with 220 and modeling clay was used to make the radius's around the corners. The molds were then waxed with partall paste and 5 coats of PVA was then sprayed onto the mold surface. This was allowed to cure 24 hours and then duratex was applied to the inside of the mold.









I made some patterns of the top and sides of the molds out of heavy construction paper and then pre cut all my glass and core cell to fit.








2 layers of heavy matt were laminated in place



The a layer of 1708 and then the core cell was glued in place



I try to use up as much scrap fiberglass as I can. Using the extra material helps cut costs on glass.



The gaps between the corecell were filled with cabosil and then 2 layers of 1708 are laminated in place. All the corners get a layer of 1708 tape several times during the lamination.












I've been working to get the bottom of the boat ready for primer. There were 3 thru hulls that needed to get filled and now that we have access to the bottom of the boat we were able to finally get that done.




Moving back to the seat boxes. Excessive glass was trimmed with the grinder and my little harbor freight tool that I showed earlier.




The roto zip works well to cut the glass on the out side of the mold.




Some shots showing the part coming out of the mold. It's nice when things turn out good as this seat box did. No alligators or voids in the glass...and the part did not stick to the mold.... all problems I've had at one time or another. I think I'm starting to get better at this.










The clay is removed to be used another day.




The box is strong and light weight. There will be a liner that goes into this when I get a chance to make it.






















Thats it for now

strick

[McGillicuddy]

Yeah, strick, you have a very understanding gang there... Looks fantastic. Love that concave profile on the seat boxes - great idea! Will they be tabbed or puttied to the hull/liner, or bolted down.

Thanks for sharing the great documentation.

Please, don't pick the poppies...

[strick]

Hey Gil- There will be a cleat mounted to the floor of the boat inside the seat boxes and there will be some screws that screw through he seat box and into the cleat. You ever see any red poppies?

strick

[NoBones]

Hey Gil You ever see any red poppies?

strick

Hee Hee, Strick you crack me up!!
Yo guys be smokin' them poppies and eatin' hummingbirds.
Lucy in the sky with diamonds.....

Those were the daze.

See ya, Ken

[BigLew]

"Yo guys be smokin' them poppies and eatin' hummingbirds."

Maybe a 'not so new' meaning of the term "Up in smoke!"

[McGillicuddy]

Yeah, Strick, I've seen red, white, yellow and the predominant one, the orange Golden Poppy. Red is definitely the prettiest. Symbol of the American Legion, I think. See them going up and down the grapevine over Tehachapi pass on the way to fish the Kern River north of Bakerspatch. And across the 138 to the 395 - the long way to Owens River. Kind of the west edge of the Mohave Desert - next couple of weeks should have insane blooms after the coming rains...might just have to make a road trip.

I used 1-1/2" angle cleats on my seat boxes and they are stout.

Your Seafari looks awesome! looking forward to the next slide show.

[Blue_Heron]

strick,
Nice work, and the rate of progress is impressive. I'm looking forward to seeing all the parts come together. I expect I'll be referring back to this thread frequently when I get started on mine.

Have you decided what to do with your other 25? CC conversion, maybe? You don't happen to have a spare windshield laying around, do you?
Dave

[strick]

Dave- I don't have the stomach for another boat restoration...just takes up too energy and time. The windshield on the other 25 will have to go with the boat when I put it up for sale. Not sure when that will be as I'm using it for reference while I re do this one.

I finished the liner for the fish box the other night. It has 5 layers of 1.5 oz matt and it fits nicely. No problem getting it out of the mold. I still have to glass it in place. Tonight I waxed and put down PVA on the live well so hopefully I will be making that part tomorrow evening. Some shots of the liner.
















Strick