Now that I understand surfcraft buildding techniques at least somewhat, I will be undergoing a MASSIVE new project. As many of you have heard me bitching, I am landlocked in Tulsa Oklahoma for the next 3 years. but, a new opportunity arose last week. Oklahoma is also known as the land of lakes. I went fishing yesterday and was talking with the owner of a marina/boat building manufatuer. He described how he built boats wich surprizingly sounded just like the surfboard I just finished. So, I am building my own custom tow in boat for big wave surf (also 2nd use of cruising on the lakes while im land locked.) I Have completed drawings and concept sketches as well as cad drawings and dimensions. now, I need to buy massive amounts of EPS BLOCKS. Im building a 10’ 1 man bi-hull with 2 launch platforms on either side of a 30 hp Honda 4 stroke (i have already). the boat will be epoxy construction with a $100 car bucket seat from auto zone. Now the dilema… does anyone have any clue where to get 10’ long, 3’ wide, 4’ tall blocks of EPS?
EDIT: Clarification: I have no intentions on actually surfing tow-ins on account of it would scare the crap out of me… I have friends in Hawaii who are interested on me towing them into waves. We also need something more stable than a ski. a bi-hull should be tons more stable and easier to launch from and get towed out. I also have intentions of installing a car stereo system in it… CD player, speakers, sub-woofer (I have installed car audio in 12 different cars so shouldnt be too much of a hassle)
There is a EPS Foam company down the street from me. All the shapers who make the paddleboards go and get the foam from them. I am located in Southern California. As far as trying to get it to you would be pretty rough (cost of shipping)
I am planning to be in the Houston and Dallas area in a few weeks, maybe we could talk about me bringing you up a few blocks.
About 10 minutes ago, I called UPS and they told me the name of a local foam manufacturer (not listed in yellow pages) who can make me a 8’ x 4’ x 4’ block of EPS… only problem is that I need 3 of them and they are $200 a block. OUCH! I think if Im doin this big of a project though, I am going to use the $30 / gallon epoxy from home depot. If I used real surf epoxy (clear not brown like the homedepot stuff) than I could rack up over $2000 in epoxy alone. so, I will buy the cheap stuff and tint it or paint the foam first. cool part is that the cheap stuff has same adhesion properties as expensive stuff… just looks like dirty toilet water.
Build it, then just prime and paint the final product with a quality two pack paint. Gelcoat is good for moulding, but even then most fabricators use way too much, excess weight you don’t really need or want.
Or pigment your resin. The pigment powders I use are not really expensive and can be used in epoxy. The more you add, the more opaque the resin.
I heard a story of some Japanese shaping a large custom yacht out of a huge block of foam. Makes sense to me. you’re going to have fun.
What I’m doing is very reasonable… most hand made boats are done this way as well as bass boats. im making it in 3 pieces then im going to glue the 3 pieces of foam together and fiberglass it. also, i need to know which seat looks best so i can measure the height of the base that the seat will be bolted to.
Have you thought about the possible repercussions of dealing with a 10ft boat with a spinning propeller in huge surf… There’s a reason jetski’s are used.
should you wish to ship a wave wrangler through the availiable means costs could become cost prohibitive…
why solid foam lad?
perhaps a bit of hollowness could benifit the
weight savings in the project
thus making transport logistix more amenable
to the congregation at the dock
as well as the trailer
…ambrose…
channeling the voice of reason
from the late twentieth century
make a water strider…
The Common Water Strider is water bug that looks a lot like a big mosquito walking on the surface of the water.
Its body can grow just over 1/2 inch long and is dark brown or black. Like all insects, it has six legs. The front pair of legs is short, and the middle and back legs are very long.
Water striders live on the surface of ponds, slow streams, marshes, and other quiet waters.
google water strider
a long standing
dream ,of making the water strider for lake an’ crik fishin’ access…
ok… heres the verdit after talking with some foam manufacturers about price. Im going to get 1 solid block to make a cockpit for the center piece. the 2 hulls will be hollow construction with foam/fiberglass covering. as far as the comment about the prop. I tried looking into buying only the mechanical systems froma jet ski and no one would sell all of the mechanicals. I would end up having to buy an entire jetski. also, this is for the lake I frequent. Also, a fish finder (doubles as a depth finder/surfer avoider) will be installed. I am playing with the idea of putting on wood veneer. but maybe save it for the next project.
The Common Water Strider is water bug that looks a lot like a big mosquito walking on the surface of the water.
Its body can grow just over 1/2 inch long and is dark brown or black. Like all insects, it has six legs. The front pair of legs is short, and the middle and back legs are very long.
Water striders live on the surface of ponds, slow streams, marshes, and other quiet waters.
google water strider
a long standing
dream ,of making the water strider for lake an’ crik fishin’ access…
ah amby …the voice of education to the technologically challenged ! [ie: me !]
On the other hand , methinks you perhaps perused excess star wars movies …
