jdret
Active member
Been kicking around an idea (not at all original, I'm sure) about laminating 2" pink foam between two layers of 1/4" birch ply to use as my flooring deck in my 12' V Duracraft. One, for added weight savings, two, to redistribute my neutral buoyancy foam and three, I can detach and lift my entire floor assembly, foam and all, in a few minutes to address any hull problems.
A 4X8 sheet of 3/4" ply is roughly 75-80 lbs depending on grade vs a 4X8 sheet of the laminate at about 52 lbs. I figure my overall weight savings to be around 40lbs.
I have not removed the bench seat tops, but my measuring them, I figure I currently have about 6 cubic feet of flotation. If I'm figuring it right, one 4X8 sheet of pink foam is about 5.2 cubic feet of flotation. In the end, I would end up with more flotation than I began with, which is fine with me.
I'm a aircraft mech by trade and I've knocked it around with some of my buds who have quite a bit of composite experience. They seem to agree it would work as long as it's properly supported and I don't wear any of my wife's high heels fishing. One of them is going to check the densities, do some higher math, and give me a reasonable span between the supports. The laminate construction would be vacuum bagged as I can get my hands on the basic equipment. I'll have to do a bit of testing with "foam friendly" adhesives and coatings.
The exposed foam edges and plywood surfaces would be all sealed against water intrusion. Carpet installed on top.
After I get some numbers from my composit friend, I plan to layer some ply I've already got at home and do a little testing.
I know, like a lot of trouble for a little gain. The way I see it, it may kill two birds with one stone and make a couple of other tasks a bit easier. I've searched the data base and haven't seen anyone else try this.....maybe I'll find out why.
A 4X8 sheet of 3/4" ply is roughly 75-80 lbs depending on grade vs a 4X8 sheet of the laminate at about 52 lbs. I figure my overall weight savings to be around 40lbs.
I have not removed the bench seat tops, but my measuring them, I figure I currently have about 6 cubic feet of flotation. If I'm figuring it right, one 4X8 sheet of pink foam is about 5.2 cubic feet of flotation. In the end, I would end up with more flotation than I began with, which is fine with me.
I'm a aircraft mech by trade and I've knocked it around with some of my buds who have quite a bit of composite experience. They seem to agree it would work as long as it's properly supported and I don't wear any of my wife's high heels fishing. One of them is going to check the densities, do some higher math, and give me a reasonable span between the supports. The laminate construction would be vacuum bagged as I can get my hands on the basic equipment. I'll have to do a bit of testing with "foam friendly" adhesives and coatings.
The exposed foam edges and plywood surfaces would be all sealed against water intrusion. Carpet installed on top.
After I get some numbers from my composit friend, I plan to layer some ply I've already got at home and do a little testing.
I know, like a lot of trouble for a little gain. The way I see it, it may kill two birds with one stone and make a couple of other tasks a bit easier. I've searched the data base and haven't seen anyone else try this.....maybe I'll find out why.