Copycat

[RM Anderson]

Well, I have the form in place and sent the specs to the epoxy supplier to get a materials estimate. They suggested that it maybe quite heavy. Their technician will get back to me on Monday with some options. Maybe fewer layers of glass and adding some ribbing to the interior. I've seen fibreglass canoes repaired by adding foam ribs and glassing over them. I'll provide an update when I hear back.View attachment 78784

Scott,
What about wood core to save weight and provide a form for fiberglass. Perhaps the same way a strip built canoe is built. Not to question you but just a thought.
RM

 

[Steve Sanford]

Scott~
I may have lost the thread here, but.....
I make my spray shields with 2 layers of 1708 with 2 mm Coremat in between.

It is much smaller than your hard dodger, but:
1) It is plenty stiff
2) Compared with my canvas dodgers, it is stronger and not at all flexible.
3) My dodgers usually have a single frame (made from EMT).


4) If you need more stiffness, I would add "ribs" inside - from either foam or PVC (half-inch) - milled on the table saw to a trapezoidal section.



Hope this helps!

SJS

 

[Eric Patterson]

Steve

I like the Coremat idea. Laying up all those layers with my first hard dodger took hours. Coremat may save time and weight.

This thread popping back up is timely. A couple weeks ago I started eyeing my Black Brant next to my Broadbill and thought it too needs a dodger. Thomas rarely hunts with me from it anymore since he has his own boat and runs his own schedule. We hunt together but mostly when we are the the hunting property and in one of our blinds. I can now see my Black Brant being used as a one man boat and that lends itself to adding a dodger. Crap, I don't think I have time to squeeze another project in before the season starts!

 

[Scott Gilliland]

Hi Steve. Funny that coremat came up in my searches. I see a version that cross hatches on one surface to allow it to conform to curves. I think that is a good solution. I will wait until I hear from the technician … he’s back on Monday. I suspect he will propose a similar solution

Thanks
Scott