Bait Boats - Hull Construction

Plans

The first stage of the build process is to construct the hull. You will need a sheet of 6mm plywood that measure's 4'x 2'. Mark out all of the panel's needed to construct the hull and cut them out. The measurements for these panels are on the plans, which accompany this article. When cutting the base panel, cut the front edge at 45 degree's. Do the same on the top and bottom edge of the front panel of the hull. This will create a neat joint, where the front join's the base. SEE PIC. Sand all edge's to remove any splinter's of ply.

To fasten all of the panel's of the hull together, you will need a fibre glass kit, you can get these from Halfords / B&Q / Motor world even some model shops. You will also need a roll of duck tape or gaffer tape 2 inches wide. Place the base panel of the hull on a flat workbench, and starting with one of the side panels. Tape a long the outside of the joint, making sure the joint is as tight a possible, then the rear panel/other side panel and finally the front panel, ensuring all the out side joint's are sealed. SEE PIC. Once this is completed and the hull the right way up. Get the fibre glass tissue/matting out of the kit and cut into 2inch wide strip's, and 2 inch longer than each of the joint's. Now mix up the resin as directed by the manufacturer's of the kit. NOTE! GOES OFF IN ABOUT TEN MINUTES! So don't mix up too much in one go. Now paint a joint inside the hull, then lay on your first piece of tissue ensuring the joint is in the center of the tissue. Then dab on resin till tissue is completely soaked, ensuring you push it well into the joint. Do this to all remaining joint's. Once resin is touch dry repeat process, this time using matting, if you like you can do this again to strengthen the joint's more. When everything is dry you can remove tape from the outside joints and trim off any fiberglass that stick's out above top of hull. Any small gaps in the outside joint's can be filled with Milliput. PIC SHOWS THE GLASSED JOINTS.

Right you should now have a hull in its raw state, turn the hull upside down and draw a line straight down the center from front to back. 35mm in from the rear of the hull, on the centerline drill an 8mm hole; this is to take the rudder assembly. The next thing to do is! Starting 5 inches from the rear of the hull a long centerline cut a slot 8mm wide by 35mm long to take the prop-shaft.