![]() ![]() More recently it came to include more advanced materials like Kevlar and carbon fiber, which many people are familiar with from their use in other products. For many years, a fiberglass construction has been from cloth, roving, mat, and resins you can buy in any hardware store. In the very early years, fiberglass was literally fibers of glass, but that soon changed to fibers of various synthetic plastics. Fiberglass (properly called Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic, or FRP) is still a fiber material set in a binding substance of resin. The concept remains essentially the same, however. There has been a transition from conventional fiberglass methods to a host of exotic materials and techniques which can befuddle even the experienced yachtsman with buzzwords and jargon. Changes In How To Build A Boat The first revolution in modern boatbuilding was obviously the shift from mostly wood to mostly fiberglass construction, but a second one has been much more subtle. ![]() Finally, the details and finishing touches can be taken care of. With the major parts of the boat assembled, interior fittings like seats and steering wheels can then be added. Additionally, some builders fiberglass around the perimeter of the hull to deck joint. Often mechanical fasteners such as screws or through-bolts are used to secure the parts together, in addition to the use of a chemical bonding agent and sealant like methyl methacrylate or 3M 5200, which also makes the joint water-tight. Many boats are designed with a “shoe-box” joint where the hull and deck have mating flanges, or overlap one another. ![]() When the resin cures, you have a hull or a boat part (for an explanation of the different boat parts, see our Beginner’s Guide to Boat Terminology).Ībove: Overhead cranes are often used to lift major boat parts, like this hull for a Regulator fishing boat, out of the molds and into position for further assembly. The mold is first sprayed with gelcoat, then fiberglass cloth is applied, and then resin is used to saturate or “wet out” the fiberglass. ![]() Usually, this means starting with a female mold. With fiberglass boat building, however, the major components of the boat – the hull, deck, liner, and large parts like consoles-are molded from fiberglass. Above: From innovative marine propulsion systems and cutting-edge onboard technology, to the advanced physics of computerized hull design, boat builders share their fascinating stories and unique approaches to constructing and engineering a variety of watercraft in the Factory Friday video series from .īoat Building Basics Prior to the development of fiberglass construction techniques, boats were built of wood, steel, and other materials, by assembling pieces and parts into a structure which was then sheathed with a hull. ![]()
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