how to fiberglass

[Fire_medic]

So I was wondering has anyone ever tried to make their own fiberglass swim platform? How hard is it or would it be? Im pretty intrested in trying, depending on how much it would cost. I dont know the price for epoxy or resin or the fiberglass yet but I thought I might just use a piece of pressure treated plywood for the core or if it can be done maybe that pink foam insulation, with wood stripps inlayed into it to mount the brakes once its glassed? any tips would be welcome.

[kx250frider617]

Fiberglassing is easy, its making it look good that is hard. having a mold to gelcoat is the best and will look factory. Fiberglassing onto of a mold like a piece of wood or foam will work its just that it will need to be body worked then painted with high quality pant or bed liner spray. If you don't install sea deck or an equivalent, it will look cheap in my opinion. I would use fiberglass cloth like what they use in surfboards. It will be easier to sand smooth and it lays down flat. However, it is more expensive and you need more of it. Fiberglass mat is the thing fibers than you just glob on and it builds up super fast but it looks bad.

[Fire_medic]

I watched a few videos of guys doing canoes and surf boards the big sheets do look easier to lay over what ever you use I was going to use 3/4 inch ply wood pressure treated to resist rotting a little better and then i was going to make the sides an extra inch thicker and on the back (the furthest away from the boat) I planed on using a thick piece of wood so I could make a nice round curve to the back and I planned on seadeck for the top. Instead of paint can I put color in the epoxy/resin or do I have to paint it?

[jbort]

resin and glass mat can be costly for something as large as swim platform. Look at West Marine....just simple math $100 for gal of resin, hardener is $45, fiberglass material maybe $70-200 depending on amount and quality plus mixing containers. First one might be test purposes too.

[Wickedcummins]

west marine will be too much money... Find a matt whole seller online and order it and most local paint supply companies sell resing by the gallon for a great price

[IDBoating]

I'm not a glass guy, but:

Can you use mat to build up the bulk, then finish off the outer layers using cloth? That would save time and money yet still yield a smooth outer surface.

Also, I'd consider marine plywood over pressure treated. After all, that's what marine plywood is designed for.

[Fire_medic]

resin and glass mat can be costly for something as large as swim platform. Look at West Marine....just simple math $100 for gal of resin, hardener is $45, fiberglass material maybe $70-200 depending on amount and quality plus mixing containers. First one might be test purposes too.

Actually I was thinking the first one might be a test project lol, But up here in canada I asked the dealer and to order one without hard ware is 1500$ so even if I practice on one and get it the second time around i should still be cheaper in theory lol

[Fire_medic]

west marine will be too much money... Find a matt whole seller online and order it and most local paint supply companies sell resing by the gallon for a great price

do you know any whole salers online?

[Fire_medic]

I'm not a glass guy, but:

Can you use mat to build up the bulk, then finish off the outer layers using cloth? That would save time and money yet still yield a smooth outer surface.

Also, I'd consider marine plywood over pressure treated. After all, that's what marine plywood is designed for.

Marine ply wood they make that stuff lol I'll search around for some but it might be hard being land locked here lol

[Fire_medic]

thanks for the tips so far guys!!!!!!!!!

[Timmy!]

I think you need it to be at least 1.5" thick for it to look right. Maybe do 2 sheets of plywood glued together and then do your glass on top of that. I don't think it's going to matter what plywood you use, it will be wrapped in fiberglass and resin and if it's getting wet, you have bigger problems. Maybe Wicked can chime in but I think the gelcoat is what gives it that nice smooth finish after you have the ripples and waves smoothed out with body filler.

[Fire_medic]

2 Sheets of 3/4 inch ply wood would look good I think and I could still round the back edge like I want (that Ive seen on the newer platforms)so mow here is an important question after the wood is all covered and it looks good and I secure the mounting hardware how do I prevent water from getting in around the fastners?

[Timmy!]

Caulk? Drill the holes and then fill them with it before you put the screws in.

[yearroundboarder]

Contact Scott @ www.swimplatforms.com

They are in Phoenix-AZ

[NICKYPOO]

Check with lumber supply/building material companies. They will have the best prices. 3/4" marine ply should be around $70-75. If you do have a leak problem with it, at least it will be marine ply.

For practice material, ask them for a "bottom" or "slip" sheet from a unit of plywood. They are generally 3/4" MDF and they usually just break them up and throw them out. Giving it to you is doing them a favor.