Hand laid fiber cat hull help.

[Blackjack-sven]

I've done some designs for a scratch build of a fiberglass cat hull but I've never really tried to do a hand laid hull before and I also can't find a thread on it either. So the big question would be where do I start with it, and what products should I stock for the build other than the dead obvious?

[ED66677]

bad design gives a bad handling hull! If you've never done it before, get a proven design fiberglass one!
how big is you hull?
you can get a 29" from Scotty (Skunkworks) or a 32" on ebay for a reasonnable amount of money!
BTW the NQD Admiral is far from the original Kyosho C1! poor copy!

[Blackjack-sven]

bad design gives a bad handling hull! If you've never done it before, get a proven design fiberglass one!
how big is you hull?
you can get a 29" from Scotty (Skunkworks) or a 32" on ebay for a reasonnable amount of money!

The design I've made, is for a 50" hull as I figure the bigger the hull design the easier it would be to do the details. I wanted to be different in the design and looks of the hull, but what if I used a proven lower deck and then made my own upper deck to my liking?

[ED66677]

IMO 50" sounds a bit of a big hull to test a design!!!
many $$$ to power it up!

[ozzie-crawl]

not trying to be rude but none of the boats you list that you have are real good for FE so maybe to start with try a proven platform and see what you think.
i know there are a lot on here but maybe a mean machine or similar as there is lots of info here about setup.
i think if you get your self a nice 55-60 mph 29" cat that handles well would give you a lot of satisfaction

[Blackjack-sven]

not trying to be rude but none of the boats you list that you have are real good for FE so maybe to start with try a proven platform and see what you think.
i know there are a lot on here but maybe a mean machine or similar as there is lots of info here about setup.
i think if you get your self a nice 55-60 mph 29" cat that handles well would give you a lot of satisfaction

Your not being rude. I know these boats aren't the cream of the crop. But how bout using the lower half of the mean machine and then creating an upper deck for it in my own style? I'd be keeping the handling properties of the mean machine but making the deck personal and unique.

[ED66677]

get a cheap polyester cat from china then, it will be easier to mod than the epoxy one!

[ozzie-crawl]

dont get me wrong blackjack-sven most off the hulls i have are copies
if your just starting working with fibreglass i would suggest get your self a hull wether it a MMachine or a ebay agitator copy then look at making a diffrent canopy/lid, you can also add air intakes,exhausts,etc just to make it diffrent
if you go with the 32" copy you can should add either carbon fibre or extra fibreglass to the inside of the tunnel and sponsons

[Blackjack-sven]

If you go with the 32" copy you can should add either carbon fibre or extra fibreglass to the inside of the tunnel and sponsons

How much fibreglass or carbonfibre should I use to strengthen such a hull? Should I use medium or heavy weight fibreglass for the laminating, or should I use carbonfibre mat?

[ozzie-crawl]

i believe the mean machine already has some carbon fibre in the floor
with the 32" copy on mine i did from back of the sponsons to about 2" in front of the first step and from one side of the sponsons to the other. i think the mean machine is a better hull all round, not that there is anything wrong with the 32" copy i have 2 of them here is a picture of the inside of one of mine (sorry pic is of phone) you can get the 32" copy as just a hull or in a almost rtr

[ED66677]

if your just starting working with fibreglass i would suggest get your self a hull wether it a MMachine or a ebay agitator copy then look at making a diffrent canopy/lid, you can also add air intakes,exhausts,etc just to make it diffrent
if you go with the 32" copy you can should add either carbon fibre or extra fibreglass to the inside of the tunnel and sponsons

that is exactly what I ment! the Agitator is a good hull, the copy can't be bad for the money!

[Norman2]

Hand Laid Fiberglass Hull

Your not being rude. I know these boats aren't the cream of the crop. But how bout using the lower half of the mean machine and then creating an upper deck for it in my own style? I'd be keeping the handling properties of the mean machine but making the deck personal and unique.

Hi Blackjack-Sven. I understand why you want to personalize your deck. I am building a 30" Scratch built cat (See thread) and i can tell you it is a lot lot of
work and do not know how it will run. I think a copy is the best way to go. I am
attaching photo of Kevin Lews HPR08 catamaran which will show you how a man
can personalize his deck to make it awsome. Hope this will stir your imagination.
Regards, Norman2

[Blackjack-sven]

Hi Blackjack-Sven. I understand why you want to personalize your deck. I am building a 30" Scratch built cat (See thread) and i can tell you it is a lot lot of
work and do not know how it will run. I think a copy is the best way to go. I am
attaching photo of Kevin Lews HPR08 catamaran which will show you how a man
can personalize his deck to make it awsome. Hope this will stir your imagination.
Regards, Norman2

Kevin's ride has a custom hatch? That's very nice looking. How far along are you with your build? I think that I'll be using the Admiral 40" boat. I know that this hull is very far from a good boat to use but it will give me the opportunity to do the custom hatch and see how well the hatch comes out.