How to build a foam sandwich composite boat

Foam Sandwich Manual from bateau2.com tutorials

Overview of the hull building method:

We will create a foam hull shape around a wooden jig, fiberglass the outside, flip the hull, remove the jig and fiberglass the inside skin. After completion of the hull, the internal components will be added. The deck will be built the same way as the hull.

Those familiar with our plywood epoxy (stitch and glue composite) method will recognize the procedure.

The differences in building methods between plywood composite and foam sandwich result from the difference in stiffness between the two materials. Plywood is stiff and will require less molds. In plywood cored composite, the frames and bulkheads can often be used as molds. In favor of the foam is the ease of cutting and the flexibility: no need to fight the core material while bending the panels or planks.

Foam is more flimsy and must be supported by a more dense structure. We will use either closely spaced molds or battens on molds or a combination of the two.
A major difference is the lamination schedule. The fiberglass skins used in foam sandwich are much thicker than in plywood sandwich.

Building a foam sandwich boat step by step:

• build a jig
• plank the jig with foam panels
• fiberglass the outside
• flip the hull
• remove jig
• fiberglass inside
• install internal structure
• install systems: machinery, tanks, electrical
• build superstructure

In pictures, hull only:

1. Molds	2. Battens (optional)	3. Foam	4. Glass outside	5. Glass inside

This file will focus on the building of the hull, deck and structural elements. For the accommodations, systems installation and paint please see our on line tutorials or refer to specialized books and supplier's technical documentation.

Materials and jig types:

The specifications for the jig such as the number and spacing of molds and the use of battens depends on the type of core materials: foam sheets or foam strips.

Wide foam sheet planking:

The foam can be used in large sheets (the size of a plywood sheet). In that case, we will often use scored foam (= contoured foam). Boats with hull panels close to developable surfaces can use plain sheets of foam.

small piece of contoured foam

Scored or contoured foam is foam with deep cuts on one or the two sides. It conforms easily to almost any shape.

Jigs/molds:

The battens (or slats) are required to support the very flimsy sheets of scored foam or to shape the solid foam accurately.

In most cases, battens spaced 6” between centers will suffice. Before installing the foam over the battened molds (sometimes called a slat mold), some builders cover the whole assembly with a sheet of plastic to prevent the resin from leaking through gaps and bonding to the jig.

The foam sheets are usually fastened to the mold by nails or screws.

Those fasteners are removed after the hull is turned over. Headless nails can be pulled through the battens from inside.

In some cases, nails with buttons are required. Buttons are small pieces of plywood acting as a washer.

The slat mold method is the most common in professional boat building. A good slat mold can be used many times.

It is more labor intensive than strip planking methods not only because of the slats but to apply the large panels requires two men.

Next: Foam strip planking

Jacques Mertens
www.bateau.com
Vero Beach, April 2007