What to use for fabricating a split house?

[steveinak]

Ok i'm getting ready to start my house/cabin addition. I have a winter back on my boat now but i like the style and looks of a split house. After going to my local fiberglass supplier to get prices on materials i'm thinking of doing the job with 1/2" starboard. I thought about doing it out of foam & fiberglass but the cost seems high, resin here is going for $50 a gallon & the foam was quoted at $175 a sheet, gelcote was $85/gal, all this seems high to me even for alaska prices. He quoted me $500/sheet for starboard. I'm going to need just under 2 sheets of material to do the job so i think the cost for foam/glass or starboard is fairly close and i think the starboard will make for a neater job plus with winter almost here i'll have a hard time keeping my shop warm enough to do the glass work, its not keeping it warm its keeping it from going up in flames with all the fumes from the glass work!!
I can get the starboard cheaper on line, found 1/2" for $207/sheet, but then i have to add the freight in to get it here.
Anybody ever done much work with starboard? It looks easy to work with but just wonder how much framing i'd have to do behind it, the biggest piece i have to use is 36x77 for part of the cabin side then the other piece will be 36x72 and that will be a sliding door, the rest are all small pieces.
So what do you guys think about the starboard or am i better off going foam/glass or plywood/glass.

 

[CaptDave]

Never saw one made out of starboard even though there must be some. I like the looks of a composite material glassed over. That is how most of the boats here in the northeast are done or with plywood covered with glass.

I know getting materials in AK can be tough as I lived on Kodiak from 1996-1999 when I was with the Coast Guard. Flying parts to Anchorage for inspection can get quite pricey What part of AK are you in and if you can take a picture of the house and explain what you want to do you may get more responses.

Good Luck,

Dave

 

[CEShawn]

I can't imagine building it out of Starboard, but I understand your situation with shipping and weather.

The only thing that gets me about Starboard is this... How come the crap I buy at West Marine, I can't seem to get dark stains out of it, like rod butts, dirt? Sure you can sand it but it drives it deeper and soft scrub doesn't always seem to work. I've been very unhappy with using Starboard lately because of that. I am actually only using scraps now for backing plates and other projects like that.

Okay, so maybe I just wanted to post on this thread to see what people say! Just kidding. I'm thinking about building a carolina box in my transom this year so its somewhat of a similar project.

 

[El Mar]

One thing with starboard is nothing will stick to it so everything needs to be mechanically fastened.

Also it weighs a lot.

Personally I would build it out of composite, but that's just me, I understand your situation.

What about glass over plywood?? Too old school for ya?

 

[tunafishhkg]

I would think that starboard would be too heavy and worse, quite flexible unlike core sheets that it used mainly for its stiffness. Adding support would be difficult since you would have to bolt it to a frame syst since it cannot be glued to like glass can, and that would add even more weight as well as take up a lot of space. I have found that Screws tend to move in structural applications since movement as well as heat and cold causes a lot of movement. Like many things it has its uses but not this one. Just my opinion LOL

 

[MDI45]

split wheel house

steavinak,iam thinking of doing a split on my 45 mdi this winter...i would use the foam sheets..the price might be high...but when you are finished with the project it will look and hold up alot better...good luck with the build

 

[steveinak]

Here's a not to good drawing of what i have in mind


All i need to build is one side of the house(36"x77"), a sliding door(+-36x72) and a small back section of the house(19"x77"). The wall of the house will be right next to the engine box, i'm going to move the steering over and the part of the house from the front of the windshield back to the new cabin wall will made of plexiglass so i can see my gauges and electronics. I'm also going to mount/bolt all of the new house on aluminum angle so if i need to do any major engine work all i have to do is unbolt the side of the house for access to the engine on all sides.
My thinking was that plywood/glass would be aprox the same weight as starboard. The local dealer has starboard in 3 different densities/weights and he told me the middle weight was just a tad heavier than the plywood/glass would be.
I don't mind doing a foam or plywood/glass house side but to my way of thinking the starboard would be much quicker and easier to deal with and the short sections should be rigid enough, i don't foresee adding anything to the outside of the house and if i did want to add anything its a easy bolt on.
As for cleaning the starboard i don't know anything about that but i'd bet clorox bleach or a mix of oxalic acid(wood bleach)& water would clean things up nicely.
I've got all winter to do this so i want to take my time and make it look good and only do it once. I'm going to have the boat covered so i'll be able to heat the inside and work in there unless its really cold and we do get down to -40 below here at times but most of the winter it stays above zero.

 

[Eastporter]

Split House

Hi Steve,
Here's a an example of a split house on a 40' RP. I believe this is a permanent modification (on this boat), where the helmsman would have two helms (one inside the weather protected house, and one outside in partial elements). I like your design too, I just thought I'd give you another version to think about.

 

[steveinak]

Yup pretty much what i want to do, i'm going a add a autopilot to the rig this year so i'll get a remote for steering in the house and use the existing helm for the steering by the hauler.

 

[jawz]

starboard - it "works",meaning,it expands and contracts,alot ! it's tough to get it to hold such a large shape - and the weight...

personally,if i were you,i would build it out of penske board,glassed up - i know it's a pain in the butt,but,the results will be well worth the effort...

 

[tomy]

Hi Steve! please look at the composites (I like COOSA So far) works like plywood, stronger then plywood, lighter then playwood, never have to worry about water roting out.....worth every penny......Tomy
(look at S W Boatworks site)
p.s. Coosa is a composite of Woven Roven and Tightly compressed foam...call them. they are very nice to work with, and product comes is different thickness's...

 

[steveinak]

Hi Steve! please look at the composites (I like COOSA So far) works like plywood, stronger then plywood, lighter then playwood, never have to worry about water roting out.....worth every penny......Tomy
(look at S W Boatworks site)
p.s. Coosa is a composite of Woven Roven and Tightly compressed foam...call them. they are very nice to work with, and product comes is different thickness's...

Hi Tommy,
I'm looking at all options, the big problem here is that there are only a couple of places we can get materials and those guys think they are special and price accordingly!! Like i posted before the one shop quoted me $500 a sheet for 1/2 seaboard, i found it online for $207 but still have to look into freight to get it here. Same goes for foams & fiberglass and i've looked at coosa years ago when i saw it in Seattle at Fisheries Supply. I'll get it figured out just gonna take some time and planning. I ship a lot of supplies and tons of wire up here for my shrimp pot business (alaskashrimppots.com) so shipping stuff doesn't bother me just have to figure what i want to do and use.
Thanks for your help and guys keep the ideas coming.

 

[steveinak]

I went into los anchorage yesterday and stopped by the figlass supply there had a nice chat with the owner and he suggested i use something called Plascore, its very similar to Nidacore as far as i can tell and i'm leaning toward using it. I'll still have to mess with glassing it but i think it will turn out well. What do you guys think??

Marine Honeycomb ? Marine Honeycomb Cores ? Marine Composite Products

 

[steveinak]

I played around with some cardboard the other day mocking up what i'd like my split house to look like. The windows will be narrower, the door taller and also narrower, i'm thinking about a 28" wide door opening,didn't cut out a door to hang over the opening but it will slide forward & all corners will be same radius as the present windows. From the windshield to the new cabin wall will be plexiglass so i can see my gauges and electronics. Steering helm will be moved closer to hauler and i'll install another helm & controls inside the cabin. I think its going to work out fine and give me a nice warm cabin to get out of the weather into.

 

[maccaffray]

looks like a reasonable plan. the angled bit at the front can be tricky and you might end up with a 7" steering wheel on that outside station but it will be worth it when you can go into a 88 degree wheelhouse. if you run into any trouble just send me a plane ticket.

 

[El Mar]

if you run into any trouble just send me a plane ticket.

There is an offer I would consider Steve.

 

[steveinak]

View attachment 1652

looks like a reasonable plan. the angled bit at the front can be tricky and you might end up with a 7" steering wheel on that outside station but it will be worth it when you can go into a 88 degree wheelhouse. if you run into any trouble just send me a plane ticket.

Mac,
Yeah i'm going to burn up a lot of cardboard getting the angles right on that front panel . I'm working on finding a smaller wheel maybe just put a crank on it instead ? If you would of offered me that 2 month's ago you would have been here the boat would have been done and we'd have some trout fishing trips to BS about Bring one of those aluminum doors with ya!!

 

[tunaorlater]

Might consider joy stick steering.

 

[steveinak]

Might consider joy stick steering.

Does it hook up to the hydraulic steering thats already in the boat or is it a remote for a auto pilot???

 

[tunaorlater]

Hooks right into your hydro system. Black joy stick to the left of hauler.