Bending 3/8 Seaboard/Starboard? Anybody?

[chrisf695]

Kinda just realized that I will have to bend the starboard/seaboard Ill be buying for the bow of my boat for the seat backing cushions.... Can this be done with say a heat gun? Ill be using 3/8 thickness... so it wont be too bad. Or is there something else I should use for this? I really do not want to use wood...

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Bending 3/8 Seaboard/Starboard? Anybody?

Kinda just realized that I will have to bend the starboard/seaboard Ill be buying for the bow of my boat for the seat backing cushions.... Can this be done with say a heat gun? Ill be using 3/8 thickness... so it wont be too bad. Or is there something else I should use for this? I really do not want to use wood...

View attachment 192945

Thermo-Forming a Radius with King Starboard - YouTube






Thermo-Forming a Radius with King Starboard - YouTube

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: Bending 3/8 Seaboard/Starboard? Anybody?

Starboard bends easy enough, but that looks like a pretty sharp bend you have to make-- you may have a problem with there being too much material around the outside radius. My suggestion: If you have a table saw with an 1/8" wide blade, cut four or five 3/16" to 1/4" deep kerfs, about 1/16" apart, down the length of what will be the inside radius. The starboard will now bend around that sharp curve very easily---

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Bending 3/8 Seaboard/Starboard? Anybody?

In the picture I don't see ANYTHING that needs bent... just a very slight curve that a flat cushion and board would easily flex to match

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Bending 3/8 Seaboard/Starboard? Anybody?

In the picture I don't see ANYTHING that needs bent... just a very slight curve that a flat cushion and board would easily flex to match

My thoughts as well, . . . How much are we bending? Depending on where the fasteners are, they may be enough to hold the curve.

 

[frantically relaxing]

Re: Bending 3/8 Seaboard/Starboard? Anybody?

I took a quick look and took for granted he was backing around the 2 hard corners-- If it's just the curve of the seats, the stuff will take that shape and 'relax' all by itself within a couple of days.

 

[chrisf695]

Re: Bending 3/8 Seaboard/Starboard? Anybody?

I guess I should have been a little more clear... its just the curve on the sides. I'm going to be using 3/8 polymer from a local plastics business(Same as Starboard). So I think Ill just make my cut out and place it against where I would like it to be and use the heat gun on the board until it fits correctly and from there I should be good. The salesman said late yesterday that it shouldn't be a problem make a bend like that.

I had another thread on what to attach the cushion backing for the bow and decided to use the 3m dual lock system. I guess its what Sunsation powerboats use on there open bow models and they hit the 70-80 mph mark. I went to radio shack yesterday knowing that they carry the 1x3 dual lock just to check it out and all I can say is this stuff is STRONG... So ill be ordering a 2inch by 3ft of the stuff online today. Should be set to go. Now I just need to fill in all the old bolt holes!!!

 

[chrisf695]

Re: Bending 3/8 Seaboard/Starboard? Anybody?

Oh and this is how it was before... with tons of rust stains. I had to wetsand them all off... and now I just need compound and polish it.