How to build a fiberglass live well

[Grits]

Hello Everyone

I have a Key West 1900 Sportsman center console. Want to build a removable fiberglass live well that will fit in front of the console. It needs to be about five feet wide, eighteen inches deep and eighteen inched tall. I have done fiberglass repairs and copied one small part with a mold I made from plaster. That was twenty five years ago. What is the best way to go about building a tank like I mentioned above?

Thanks for yall's help. I will take any and all suggestions.

Grits

 

[jonesg]

Re: How to build a fiberglass live well

Make it up(mold) from MDS board, I don't know what MDS is but I read lots of people use it to make molds for brackets and such.

formica on ply make a good mold surface too, make up your box, tack and glue together, form radius' on inside corners with putty (resin/cabosil) and give it 3 wax and polish treatments, spray pva and its ready for molding.

If you can find a large plastic tub the right shape that would be a lot easier than making a mold.

Watch this for some neat ideas, he's using mds or formica to make the bracket and swim platform mold.

http://s728.photobucket.com/albums/ww290/88bowtie/?albumview=slideshow

 

[Grits]

Re: How to build a fiberglass live well

Hello Everyone

Thanks for the input. Are you talking about a female for male mold. I want both sides slick. I can gelcoat both the inside and outside. If it is a male mold, I will paint the outside to match the boat.

I am looking for infromation on, how to build the mold, how to lay the glass and deal with corners for the top fit and everything. This is my first major project. Any info on books or videos is appreciated.

My first thought is to use epoxy resin for strength, weight, and waterproof.

Remember, I live inland. I am starting to fish catfishing tournaments. They are one of the biggest fish and some of the most fun we can catch inland. If a catfish jumped, bass would not exist. Don't get me wrong, I love to bass fish and one of my favorites is catching bream on a fly rod .

Thanks for you help.

The Grits

 

[jonesg]

Re: How to build a fiberglass live well

You can buy books and videos from any glass supplier such as US composites.

theres also loads of instructional video on Youtube.

 

[idrownworms]

Re: How to build a fiberglass live well

Another thing you might think about is to build it around a foam core. The foam will act as insulation and add alot of strength. Just make sure to test the foam to be sure the epoxy doesn't melt it.

 

[erikgreen]

Re: How to build a fiberglass live well

The flat out simplest thing to do is to install a cooler there... it'll come ready to install and you can get a padded cover for it. All you need to do is install plumbing, and you can use it as a cooler if you want to keep your fish on ice while traveling too.

Other than that, we need more information on what you mean by "removable", plus some pics of the boat would help.

It's pretty easy relatively speaking to mold a fiberglass box around some type of form.. people have used plastic wastebaskets, wooden plugs, foam, etc.

The question is where is it going to go and how do you want it to fit?

Erik