making a new swim platform using 1708 biaxle cloth

[lime4x4]

My plan is to use a peice of 3/4 plywood for the core of my new swim platform. I was thinking of using 5/8 underlayment board but decided to use plywood instead. I'm planning on epoxing 2x2 peices of wood to the plywood on the underside to help with flex and to make it more regid. The the platform will be 8 feet wide with a depth of 34 inches. How many layers of 1708 biaxle cloth should i use? I 'm using 1708 biaxle cloth cause i have 26 yards of it.

 

[tdrudd87]

Re: making a new swim platform using 1708 biaxle cloth

It would depend on your framing, but I would expect one or two layers at the most, 3/4 play is pretty sturdy on its own, and 1708 is a pretty stout cloth. Have any drawings so others can see what you're planning?

Terry

 

[Shife]

Re: making a new swim platform using 1708 biaxle cloth

That platform is going to weigh a ton. Have you thought about using balsa or core cell instead of ply? The amount of weight saved on a project like this will easily justify the cost of the core. Excess weight in the ends of a boat is never a good thing.

FYI a composite plywood panel that size will weigh over twice as much as a panel with a balsa core and almost four times as much as a panel with a foam core (core cell).

 

[lime4x4]

Re: making a new swim platform using 1708 biaxle cloth

All drawings are in my head at the moment..lol. If i would use 2 inch pink foam for the core. How many layers of 1708 then? The original swim platform was 8 feet wide with a depth of 18 inches. And used 2 pieces of 3/4 plywood. With a 1/4 inche layer of fiberglass all around. And this was the factory swim platform

 

[Shife]

Re: making a new swim platform using 1708 biaxle cloth

You can use the pink foam as a core in things like freezers and interior cabinetry and stuff like that, but will not work as a core in areas that are subject to impact. I've used it with success in interior applications that are subject to very little impact and stress. It will dent and delaminate easily even when laminated. It would self destruct rapidly if used as the core in a decking or swim platform application. There is a reason engineered foam cores are pricey. It seems expensive now, but overall in a project like this it is a drop in the bucket to do it right the first time.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: making a new swim platform using 1708 biaxle cloth

You also have the option of no core and just ribs to add stiffness. Almost anything will be lighter than what the original was.

 

[lime4x4]

Re: making a new swim platform using 1708 biaxle cloth

i could just use 1/2 inch wrapped in 2 layers of glass with ribs and it still would be lighter then the factory one

 

[Mark42]

Re: making a new swim platform using 1708 biaxle cloth

Glue up two pieces of 1.5" thick pink foam to make a 3" thick blank that could be used to make the basic platform shape. Its easy to work with, and really easy to sand nice curves into. After you get the shape you want, use epoxy resin, and start laminating the top and sides w/ the 1708. Four or five layers will be strong. Then flip it over, carve out all the foam, and put in a few ribs and you will have a fairly light weight and rigid platform.

Check out the Bayliner hard top project in my signature to see how I used pink foam to make the top.