Underskinning material??

[justrfb]

Hello All.
I am thinking about doing this to our toon... We live in North Jersey. I have a few questions... 1. Where do I order or purchase the aluminum sheets? Home Depot, Lowes, specialty store? Also, what method of fastening do the manufacturers use? In other words, if I ordered a new toon with under skinning, do the rivit it on or screw it on? Thanks for your help.

Sincerely,
Rich

[Bamaman]

You'll have to go to a metal supply to obtain aluminum sheeting. The thickness and methods of attaching has been well discussed in the previous (above) threads.

Underskinning makes the ride much smoother and quieter--and a worthwhile addition.

[justrfb]

I appreciate the answer as to where to purchase the material, I am wondering with all the discussion on how to attach; rivet, screw... How do the manufacturers attach their under skinning to new boats? Unless I missed it, it was not stated yet... Thank you.

Sincerely,
Rich

[teecro]

I appreciate the answer as to where to purchase the material, I am wondering with all the discussion on how to attach; rivet, screw... How do the manufacturers attach their under skinning to new boats? Unless I missed it, it was not stated yet... Thank you.

Sincerely,
Rich

I would think you would find that they use both depending on manf...

Myself I intend on using .125" plastic sheeting (LDPE Polyethylene) and # 10 hex headed self-drilling sheet metal screws with rubber sealing washer on mine for when (not if) the sheet needs to be removed for repairs and/or wiring etc....

[justrfb]

Wow T Cro... I was just thinking to myself... There has to be something else I might be able to use other than aluminum sheets. May I ask where you would/did get the sheets? Great idea... I think... I am getting closer to doing this when I pull the toon to head up to Lake George this year with the whole family! Let me know please... Thanks. Also, if anyone else has used or is thinking something other than the aluminum sheets.

Sincerely,
Rich

[BobG]

Because I have a tritoon, I only have two strips to underskin, both less than 20" wide.

I used a roll of .062 (I think. It's THIN!) flashing material - aluminum, 20" wide by 50 feet long. Cost about $50 I think.
After 2 years, it's still working great.

[teecro]

Wow T Cro... I was just thinking to myself... There has to be something else I might be able to use other than aluminum sheets. May I ask where you would/did get the sheets? Great idea... I think... I am getting closer to doing this when I pull the toon to head up to Lake George this year with the whole family! Let me know please... Thanks. Also, if anyone else has used or is thinking something other than the aluminum sheets.

Just noticed that I typed LDPE when I should have typed HDPE as in High Density Polyethylene which is the same material as used in making the ultra tough plastic cutting boards that are so popular today. I found a plastics supplier in Knoxville but I'm sure you can find one fairly local to you by going visit Google. I can get black 4' x 8' sheets that are 1/8" thick for 31.00 each so the overall cost is really not very much at all. I figure the plastic will be easy to cut and easy to handle and not so apt to cut you to ribbons like thin alum sheeting could. I also think the plastic should also deaden the wave/splash sound too. I hope to try this out the 1st week of August when I get off ship....

[mzodarg]

I appreciate the answer as to where to purchase the material, I am wondering with all the discussion on how to attach; rivet, screw... How do the manufacturers attach their under skinning to new boats? Unless I missed it, it was not stated yet... Thank you.

Sincerely,
Rich

I would think you would find that they use both depending on manf...

Myself I intend on using .125" plastic sheeting (LDPE Polyethylene) and # 10 hex headed self-drilling sheet metal screws with rubber sealing washer on mine for when (not if) the sheet needs to be removed for repairs and/or wiring etc....

is this the same as you were referring to? http://www.homedepot.com/p/PLASTEX-1-16 ... /202090190 or is it to thin? wonder if you could laminate 2 together.

[teecro]

is this the same as you were referring to? http://www.homedepot.com/p/PLASTEX-1-16 ... /202090190[/quote]


No that stuff is listed as Fibre Reinforced Polymer (FRP) I can't personally comment on how it would hold up under a boat but I've seen it used a lot on remodel jobs etc with great results. With that being said I've read that some people have used before; it is cheap, lightweight and reasonably easy to cut and I did consider it but I do dislike making fiber glass dust and hate the tiny sharp splinters the cut edges can have.... Otherwise I think it a great idea over alum sheeting....

[Guardian]

Undesskinning with HDPE

DSC_0092 (Small).JPG (39.52 KiB) Viewed 3087 times

DSC_0093 (Small).JPG (39.63 KiB) Viewed 3086 times

[justrfb]

Hello All.
Thanks for the replies... Guardian, nice work! What did you use for fasteners? Is that the stuff T Cro is talking about using or is it the thinner stuff mzodarg is talking about... Please give more info, thanks! Ride, durability, sound deadening... This is very exciting! If I can keep upgrading "Da Boat", we won't have to keep thinking about upgrading with a new one...

Sincerely,
Rich

[Guardian]

This is a product used to seal the landfill site

http://www.ztg-inc.com/distribution

Sorry i dont speak very well in english, i use google translator