want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

Craig W

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Oct 29, 2003
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The opportunity has presented itself to me to attain fiberglass 4x8 sheets in various thickness 1/4", 5/8" and some others. I was wondering if it would be viable to use this material instead of encapsulated wood for stringers and flooring. I realize there is an increase weight/density with the fiberglass, but figured some of that would be offset in that it wouldn't have to be fully encapsulated (as wood necessitates) and I could use a slightly thinner section as it is a denser/more rigid material(?). Also, I'm expecting another key advantage may be it's resistance to rot and using it for both stringers and floor would provide many more years of boat life.<br /><br />Have any of you any experience with this type of material? I was just thinking that the rot resistance would be a key assest with this material, but realize that generally the cost would desuade most boat builders from using it. However, my access is pricing it less than a sheet of plywood.<br /><br />any thoughts, comments, recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
 

Bondo

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Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

Sounds like the Way to Go.......<br />The Only draw-back I can Think of is, In My Experince FRP is Super Hard to Cut.....<br />If I could buy it Cheap, I'd use Nothing But It.....
 

Boomyal

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Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

Bondo: What does FRP stand ?
 

Bondo

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Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

Fiber<br /> Re-inforced<br /> Plastic<br /><br />Basicly another name for FiberGlass Panels....
 

Boomyal

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Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

will FRP take epoxy resin for lamination and affixing to boat hulls?
 

Bondo

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Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

Sure.....<br /><br />They're Preformed, laminated FiberGlass Panels......<br />Sort of Just like your Boat.... Only Flat....<br /><br />Most are cast with polyester resin....<br />Some with Vinylester resin.....<br />Others with Epoxy resin.....<br /><br />Epoxy sticks Very Well to All 3 Resins......
 

JasonJ

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Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

It sounds good to me. You can use a good 2 part foam under all the floor voids and it will increase your support and further unify the structure, and you will have a rot proof boat. Wish I had access to those panels when I was doing my rebuild.
 

Boomyal

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Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

A heck JasonJ: with the strength of the FRP I thought I could go back to my ping pong ball idea. :D
 

18rabbit

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Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

All of the frp stringers I have seen glassed into place are channels ... like a “C” with the opening glassed toward the hull. These are extremely ridged structures when in place. However, once installed they provide a channel for any liquids to move about in your boat if they are not totally enclosed or if they are ever compromised.<br /><br />I believe those flat panels are used to repair large holes and shape things like lockers, cabin tops and/or cabin walls that do not require a foam core. We used some to rebuild a transducer box in the keel. Long pieces are flexible but there is no reason why you could not use them for flooring with appropriate support. 8-lb foam?
 

Craig W

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Oct 29, 2003
Messages
84
Re: want your thoughts on this mat'l for stringers & floor

thanx for input guys :) that's exactly the stuff I wanted to hear! now to keep my fingers crossed and hope that the panels are available (I should know by the weekend).<br /><br />Any of you happen to know a name brand or any other info (other than FRP) that I can search for on the web? I'm trying to get an approximate comparison between the densities of decent spruce ply and the FRP. Due to the FRP being more rigid, I will be using a thinner section, ie, where currently there is 3/4" ply, I'm planning on 5/8" FRP for the stringers and bulk heads and 1/4" for the floor -there will be foam for support and no more than ~18" span between stringers [it's a 19 1/2 foot Baretta bowrider I/O 175HP Merc]<br /><br />thanx again :D
 
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