aft hatch - Starboard side

[reelclassic]

MDF=Medium Denisity Fiberboard home depot or lowes has it pretty cheap. Formica you would glue formica to wood(flat straight wood) cut strips off it to screww or nail to make the edges i made my edges 7/8 or so and trimmed off the excess with the table saw after it came out of the mold. I will try to take ictures of the mold tomorrow and post for you!

[billythekid]

mdf



its smooth easy to work with easier to cut and cheap as spit.

[MM33]

I see, whats the white material behind the MDF?
I appreciate everyone's input. I think I may take a stab at it!!

[billythekid]

The panel behind it is malemine (spelling?) you dont need that though you can use MDF under it. I would put the hatch you have down on a piece of MDF and scribe twice on two peices. cut the inner section out of both of them so you have 2 outer templates. screw, nail or staple them together one on top of the other. get some sculpy putty and raduis the hard edge on the bottom like the other hatch. wax the mold. get a pint of gelcoat from any marine store. roll the gelcoat down mixed with MEKP. then 2 layers of mat for what is called the skin coat, it is important that you get all the air out of these coats. then once that kicks, 2 layers of 1708 biaxial. and depending on wether or not the hacth is cored then you would core it with some 3/4 ply would in the middle. ( I have some marine play in 4"x4" squares that you are welcome to. and a couple mor layers of 1708 and you are done. here are some hatches I just made so you get an idea.

http://www.classicseacraft.com/forum...=&fpart=4&vc=1

half way down the page you will see the molds on the table and the layup.

put some detailed pics of the hatch you still have and maybe some other can chime in on how to make a replica.

[MM33]

HERE IS THE HATCH I AM TRYING TO DUPLICATE.

[billythekid]

is the hatch square? or is it tapered? does it have any type of factory non skid on it or is it smooth?

[MM33]

Its Square and smooth. No, no skid on it anywhere. I dont think there is a core either. The width of the hatch throughout is about 1/4 inch or so.

[MM33]

I was wondering what type of mold release to use. The guy at west marine said Mcguires sells a good one. How many coats do you put on? If I use plywood for the mold, isnt it too porous to wax? I am trying to understand the process, any feedback is much appreciated.

[MM33]

Just a question why I would nail the template on top of one another? Is MDF thin so you need 2 nailed together to form a template?
Also, Do I put anything down when I do the Gelcoat layer, or is it just Gelcoat mixed with MEKP. I got a little confused with the sentence "then 2 layers of mat for what is called the skin coat" what do I lay down the 2 layers
of mat with??

Step 1 - I would put the hatch you have down on a piece of MDF and scribe twice on two peices. cut the inner section out of both of them so you have 2 outer templates. screw, nail or staple them together one on top of the other.

Step 2 - get some sculpy putty and raduis the hard edge on the bottom like the other hatch.

Step 3 - wax the mold

Step 4 - get a pint of gelcoat from any marine store. roll the gelcoat down mixed with MEKP. then 2 layers of mat for what is called the skin coat, it is important that you get all the air out of these coats.

Step 5 - Once that kicks, 2 layers of 1708 biaxial. Depending on whether or not the hatch is cored, then you would core it with some 3/4 ply would in the middle.

Step 6 - Then a couple more layers of 1708 and you are done.

[reelclassic]

After 3 or 4 coats of wax (PVA) Brush or spray on the gelcoat let it cure and then start building it up with the matt