How about just fiberglass resin? I recently acquired some with some cabasil. Would that work?

I would love to do something recycled for the skin. Could I possibly melt down some kind of plastic? Maybe use a heat gun to flatten lexan bodies and glue them on?

Some giant heat shrink would be cool! I agree with using a recycled product. Used be called "being cheap", now it is called "green"...

I am building a storage shed at my shop right now. Dimensions will be 10x21. Odd size, but I had a tarp canopy frame (separate tubes that slip fit together) that was not being used. Decided to weld that up and add some bracing (more tubes that I had). My buddy pulled up a deck, and gave me the old lumber, 60+ 2x6x12' treated boards. My other friend gave me some old thick wall 3" water pipe, I cut that down and concreted 12 3' pieces in the ground for supports. Bolted some of the lumber to the pipes and used the rest to make a "deck". Flipped the old boards over so the good side faces up, looks like new! Another friend frames houses, so he gave me most of the scraps from the last house, I almost have enough to frame the walls, then i will bolt the canopy top to them and use some old sheet metal siding (came off my building during the storm) as the roof. So far i have about 150 bucks in it, mainly nails, bolts, and saw blades. I consider this being cheap!!! but I would rather not spend my money, and used lumber is just as good to me. I priced new lumber/materials and would easily go over 2 grand....

Lake Michigan has worse currents than pipeline. I grew up surfing Cali and dont trust the Michigan lake under toe or currents 1 bit. I take a sip of the lake everytime I see it because I can't believe it isn't salt water.. maybe a little river cruiser or behind the breakwall boat maybe to look at boobs by Navy pier. I can swim quite well Ill go past the break wall to test it LOL... can we bring my wife ? She is rican born on the ISLAND and cant swim. Pathetic huh

Haha. I trust the lake like no other. I have a private beach and no breakwater so I cant really have a breakwater cruiser. The current is only ever bad near me during either A, storms or B, windy days. Both not often occurrences. If it gets bad I can set anchor. Meh.

Tonight I think I will start a long, short centerboard. I didnt get any foam today but Monday I hope to have some more. I should have pics of my plans, progress tonight.

Empty coke / beer cans wouold make an ideal skin- very thin and light, yet resistant to... not terribly much, but it'll look cool...

OOO!!! Maybe water bottles! I actually thought of that too.

+1 for the cans over the bottles. It would be easier to work with and shape(tinsnips and your hands) it can be made very flat for less drag(most water bottles have ribs). mabye you can weld them together. and it would look quite cool. If you wanted something really robust however, old licence plates!

what i know about foam...
polyester foams have to be fiberglassed over with epoxy resin only.
urethane foam can be fiberglassed with normal resin.
high density foams are great for boat building but if you fiberglass it it will be punctured, it is designed to crush under loads.

takes AGES to rot in water.

umm....that's about it...
i used to be a member of the RC airboat clan and we built 1/4th scale gassers out of the stuff. layered it up then glassed it over.
i made 2 gassers like that and one gasser out of plywood.

Now I see what your saying about the cans. Thankfully beer is a constant beverage at my beach house so I will have no problem getting enough.

Monday I want to start the base of the hull. Started the centerboard as said yesterday but nothing note-worthy yet.

9 days till the races, I have the bottle to christen the craft lol bay view

And then...:neutral:

Couldn't help it:
http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r...ed_Spy/n-1.jpg

Haha. I am still waiting on another good helping of foam. As soon as I get like 3 more pieces I will start the hull. I wish I could get things faster.