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Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
By:Bill Hamm
Date: 8/10/2008, 1:27 am
In Response To: Re: Material: styrofoam boats? (Paul G. Jacobson)

: Have you tried using the rhino liner on a block of your foam? I'm not sure
: what solvents are used in the rhino liner. They could cause problems. Some
: foams are more likely to be dissolved by certain solvents than other
: foams. That's why you can use epoxy resin over styrofoam, but not apply
: polyester resin dierctly to styrofoam. If your tests show an initial
: tendency for the rhino liner to eat away your foam. try painting the foam
: with a latex paint first, then applying the rhino liner.

: Cutting forms from particle board, OSB, or the cheapest grade of plywood is
: going to be about the same cost as making them from foam panels. Ripping
: strips from pine, spruce or fir (SPF) or other whitewood construction
: lumber is going to be your least expensive way to cover the forms. With an
: 8' 2x4 just under $3 you're talking about 9 to 10 wide strips for about 30
: cents a strip. The initial strips will be 1.5 inches wide, which may be
: good for some areas of the boat, but resawing them to widths of just under
: 3/4" or"just under 1/2" will give you an easier job of
: stripping. Those 8' by 3/4" by 1/4" strips are going to cost
: about 15 cents each, or about 2 cents a running foot. If you need 1200
: feet of strips, that's about $24. Find the wood at a better price, or cut
: your strips thinner (3/16ths) and your cost will drop even more.

: After a very rough fairing, and without bothering to fill the gaps between
: the strips, the prototype can be "waterproofed" by coating the
: outside with glued-on paper and a couple coats of paint. You can use heavy
: wallpaper, or thin newsprint. Or wrap it with Saran Wrap, or use a piece
: of heatshrink plastic, tyvek, blue poly tarp, or 4 mil polyethylene. The
: last three can be stapled on. It will be a delicate covering, but will
: serve for a day or two of testing. Pinhole leaks can be accepted for this.
: Forget the deck for now. Install thwarts to maintain the hull shape and go
: paddle it.

: Quick and (somewhat) dirty prototypes don't have to be expensive. If you like
: the design, reuse the forms and build with clear cedar strips. The
: prototype can be used for book cases. Just put in shelves where the forms
: were (or leave the original forms in) and cut the thing in the middle to
: get two pointy topped units. Very decorative !

: Hope this helps.

: PGJ

Hi Paul,

I too didn't know much about rhino liners except what I've seen in truck beds. Did a little reasearch and still havn't found an MSDS sheet for the stuff, but they do mention that they contain isocyanates, so spraying this stuff, which is how it's applied, is a big no-no without a supplied air respirator.

Bill H.

Messages In This Thread

Material: styrofoam boats?
PatrickC -- 8/2/2008, 12:30 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Bill Hamm -- 8/5/2008, 5:12 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats? *LINK* *Pic*
dave -- 8/4/2008, 12:45 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Chris Ostlind -- 8/4/2008, 4:44 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Chris Ostlind -- 8/3/2008, 12:18 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats? *LINK*
Mike Wolfson -- 8/4/2008, 6:47 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
PatrickC -- 8/4/2008, 9:00 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Charlie -- 8/4/2008, 10:10 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Bill Hamm -- 8/3/2008, 2:12 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Bill Hamm -- 8/3/2008, 2:09 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Charlie -- 8/2/2008, 1:22 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats? *LINK* *Pic*
Glen Smith -- 8/2/2008, 1:16 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Charlie -- 8/2/2008, 1:36 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Glen Smith -- 8/2/2008, 2:31 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats? *LINK*
Glen Smith -- 8/2/2008, 2:41 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
PatrickC -- 8/3/2008, 12:35 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Charlie -- 8/3/2008, 11:20 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
PatrickC -- 8/3/2008, 1:08 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Bill Hamm -- 8/4/2008, 1:20 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
PatrickC -- 8/4/2008, 10:29 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Paul G. Jacobson -- 8/9/2008, 5:53 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Bill Hamm -- 8/10/2008, 1:27 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
PatrickC -- 8/10/2008, 9:32 pm
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Bill Hamm -- 8/11/2008, 1:37 am
Re: Material: styrofoam boats?
Bill Hamm -- 8/5/2008, 5:08 am