Hey Dani Didn't you build a foam boat?

[Ron Simmons]

Dani Didn't you build a foam boat a few years back or is my old memory failing? If I'm right, what did you think of it? Did you get the plans online or build it from your own design? Thinking of building one for a small pond that I hunt since I'm getting a new hip and wading will be iffy this fall. Any info would be appreciated. Thanks, Ron

 

[Dani]

I did build one. I just used my own design, though it's hardly anything impressive. Totally flat bottomed with a slight angle of the bow to narrow the thickness. It's nice because it won't sink. Unfortunately it's heavy so for me by myself I need a trailer to get it where I want it to go. I have a little 3hp kicker that I put on it and it's great for that. Trolling motor would work great as well. I've used it as a layout boat and pulled hyudrilla up on top of it to help camo it up. It's worked very outstanding for that. It has three stringers on the bottom to help it track straight. It does not pole well (or perhaps I'm just not a good poler), nor does it paddle well so if you're hoping for that, then perhaps you'd want to just buy a puddler or something like that that does paddle much better. I probably spent enough money to buy a used puddler type boat in building it, but it was fun to build. but it' nice to be able to put a chair in and sit comfortably when I'm all pushed back into the cattails to shoot.
What kind of questions do you have?


Dani

 

[Ray]

I built one as well. Here is a link to the build posted else where.
http://www.refugeforums.com/refuge/showthread.php?t=425261
This boat was sold and then given back to me after the kid ripped it to shreds. He thought fiberglass was tougher than aluminium for some reason. I felt sorry for him, but he did pay me $100 to buy repair materials. After looking at it there was no effective way to repair it to as good as new. I traded it to a guy for two six packs of beer. He stuck a big sheet of glass and epoxy over the damage and is using it as a gear float to walk back into a huge swamp. His wife and him will sit on it to pole across some deep chanels in the swamp. He told me that she likes it since it is significantly more stable than his kayak.

Here are some questions and my answers for foam core boat building
http://duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=65064


I do not recommend it unless you enjoy burning money. By the time you get enough fiberglass material and wood on the foam to prevent it from flexing and delaminating from the insulation foam you will be at or over the weight of a plywood cored boat.

If all you are looking for is a simple pond box boat the Hybrid would fit your needs better.
http://www.hybridduckboat.com/files/index.php?id=1
These can be built much lighter than the free plans state if you build like a kayak with laminated cedar frames.

Here is a post that contains a link to a slide show of my version of a hybrid. Made a bunch of mistakes in that build, but the boat works well for one man and a very small dog.
http://duckboats.net/cgi-bin/forum/gforum.cgi?post=42487

 

[Ron Simmons]

Thanks for the info Dani and Ray. I was thinking of building something like this while I was recovering this summer, but I think after looking at Ray's info, I will look for a small jon boat to set out at the pond instead. There always seems to be a bunch of 10 to 12 footers around here in the spring. Thanks again.