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New Hull Builder

T

Thin water

Active member
I have build several boats (hydroplanes, kayaks, johnn boats both GRP and wood) over the last several years as a hobby. One of my friends owns a custom body shop and has operated it for many years. He is really into airboats and gator hunting. One of my co-workers at my "Real" job is a fiberglass expert who has made many boats and worked at it full time at Disney making their boats and molds as well as all of the fiberglass floats, decorations and other gear they make in-house.

We got together and bought a nice brand new airboat mold that can make 13' 14' or 16' hulls. It is a few inches short of 8' wide. We will be making a few as "In stock" hulls and to custom order.

I can use my chop gun or hand lay, polyester resin or vinal ester. Kevlar reenforcements and even the high speed honycomb vacuum bagged core's can be used on custom ordered hulls. Metal flake in a clear gelcoat over custom gell coat color is not a problem.

I am polishing the mold now and as soon as this cold snap goes away we will lay up a hull so I can post pictures.

ANY suggestions are very welcome. We hope to make a few bucks at this but it mostly gives us an excuse to build some Kick A__ air boats to play with without our wives killing us.
 
Get you hands on a step hull mold and deliver! People are waiting a year to even two years for a good glass step hull! I waited 2 and half years for a carbon fiber hull that still didn't end up like I ordered! I think the potentials are great good luck! P.S. make seat shells and gauge panels!
 
Thanks for the enthusiastic reply. If stepped hulls are the hot thing I will have an engineer buddy design one based on the old "Fast steppers" stepped hydroplanes of the early days of flat bottom stepped hull hydroplane racing and compare it to what is out there now. I have made my own molds and plugs before but nothing as large as this.

I forgot to mention I do have molds for seat shells, both single and doubles and front decks with a hatch. I also just made a mold for an electronics box like goes under a T Top in offshore boats but have not made a part from it yet.

JIM
 
Thin water, your plans sound exciting. Good luck with this new venture !
As far as I'm aware nobody is building the vaccuum bagged honeycomb technique in this industry ...... it's very stong and very light.

Just my opinion, I think that might be a 'foot in the door' so to speak and give your new hulls a place in the market that is unique. Best wishes for your success.

olf
 
As I knock on the doors of my 60th birthday I am looking to get a larger boat under me since age makes me more cautious and dulls the reflexes. I presently run a Predator hull about 2 years old a little over 13' (great hull) with a 6 cyl Lycoming, but it does take more attention / reflexes to drive than my years may provide, specially as age progresses and sets in. I have been considering a 14' 6" x 8' hull for stability and ability to carry a load. Sounds like Thin Water and Predator may be working on that now.
:?: : Looking for a type of hull that would be easier to handle, bite on turns, light, carry a load, climb the hill and get there at a leisure pace.
What would fit the bill in the expert opinion of the members here ?.
 
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