making a curved template.

[Silverbullet555]

I am working on preparing our swim platform for attachment to the hull. The transom on our boat is curved and the radius of the curve changes throughout the transom.

I want a good template so the fit is good before I put it on. I tried cardboard, but at the end of the day I was not realy happy with the template. So I decided to take a break and ask on here. I've thought about going so far as to make a first template, tape it to the hull and then pour in epoxy or foam or similar to create a perfect template of the hull and then transfer that to the platform to make my cuts.

I'm sure there is a simple way and I am making this harder than it has to be.

Other ideas on techniques and materials to make a good template?

 

[DALLEN7]

Re: making a curved template.

have you thought about foam sheeting it can be sanded to shape as well as cut to help not take out as much material
in one fail swoop kinda small increments to better get the shape. look at oops! dash on his extention.

 

[Silverbullet555]

Re: making a curved template.

I'll take a look at oops extension for the dash.

I picked up a sheet of foam today and I am going to use some fender washers on a pen tip to make a scribe disk so I can transfer the line to the foam. We'll see how that works.

 

[captainzac]

Re: making a curved template.

send me an e-mail and I will give you my number to call
I have done this and it took about 5 minutes

EDIT

 

[MichaelP]

Re: making a curved template.

There are many ways to do this. Another option is to get a piece of flexible copper tube and work it by hand till the profile is right. I use a left over piece of 3/8".

 

[drewpster]

Re: making a curved template.

There are many ways to do this. Another option is to get a piece of flexible copper tube and work it by hand till the profile is right. I use a left over piece of 3/8".

This is an excellent suggestion. I recommend one more step. After shaping the copper to match the curve, transfer this curve to a piece of thin tempered hardboard. (its like pegboard without the holes, available at the home center) Then you can verify the shape and refine it using the hardboard. It guarantees the shape wont move once you get the pattern exact. Then simply use the pattern to shape your platform. wallah! splash!

 

[MichaelP]

Re: making a curved template.

send me an e-mail and I will give you my number to call
I have done this and it took about 5 minutes

EDIT

Hey captainzac can you post your method here please. We would all like to learn a good way to do this. Thanks

Drew - Good refinement!!!!