[Gaz Posts: 2344 Status: Offline Cruising around Cornwall WWW]

Go foam composite, it should be a little stronger & more forgiving.

The front corner on my ply built shattered early in its life when I hit the ubiquitous "hard thing" when learning. I found that the ply construction is totally unforgiving of any impact, that includes landing on beaches which are seldom flat...


          ...and hitting those red or green painted metal floaty things   that nautical types use for marking the navigable channels we hover chaps don't need .

[John Robertson Posts: 5121 Status: Offline WWW]

Might be worth reading this thread on a foam core Superwedge build (same hull as the Viper - the plans can be downloaded free from HERE).  Not sure if the craft was ever completed (Gazza may know?)

Gaz will no doubt be along shortly as he built a ply Superwedge ten'ish+ years ago so can give you 1st hand experience info (he is building a foam core craft at present so has direct experience of both techniques).

[Peterharold Posts: 4 Status: Offline]

I'm  building a viper hovercraft which is marine ply and foam construction and they recommend  epoxy glue for the timber work .

[Philip Posts: 2436 Status: Offline 12" above the Earth's surface WWW]

As above, I wouldn't bother with epoxy, no real gain. Also if you can manage wood then foam will not be a problem. What type of craft are you considering?

[Nick Flint Posts: 4853 Status: Offline]

Ive used Epoxy (yep its 500% more costly) !
Ive used Polyester (20% the price of Epoxy!!!!! )
I recommend Polyester, with foam for strength, cost, ease of construction (and you don't get splinters from foam!) as per Johns advice.
WEST SYSTEM are perhaps the place to go for epoxy if preferred.
They've also got some super instructional downloadable leaflets, good advice for any GRP work including safety issues with GRP but especially Epoxy. But thats another story   

[John Robertson Posts: 5121 Status: Offline WWW]

Are you sure you need epoxy glue?  Normally, a wooden hovercraft would be seam taped (fibreglass and laminating resin)?  Laminating epoxy resin is widely available (for a start on eBay - click HERE).  What type of hovercraft are you going to build?

I would suggest you might want to reconsider the use of wood.  By the time you pay for decent stuff (marine grade plywood) and buy epoxy resin (5x the price of polyester), coat the wood (it won't last anyway  ) it becomes more economical to use composite foam construction (foam core with thin fibreglass skins).   Another advantage of composite construction is that no internal support framing is required - it's a monocoque box structure.and is extremely strong and light weight (and wood isn't).

[Warby Posts: 1041 Status: Offline]

This may help
https://www.classicboat.co.uk/practical-advice/adhesives-for-wooden-boats-structural-glues/

[Peterharold Posts: 4 Status: Offline]

What is the best 2 part epoxy glue to use when building a wooden hovercraft and where would I buy 2 kilos?