DIY Fiberglass Rod Pod lid

Nice upgrade on the lid, Insayn.

Having a background in wood/composite boats, I'd be tempted to use some 4-5mm plywood for the the flat portion of the lid. A layer of glass on each side, and you'll be done. Wood-cored composites are about as light and strong as you can get before going to carbon fiber.

Nice upgrade on the lid, Insayn.

Having a background in wood/composite boats, I'd be tempted to use some 4-5mm plywood for the the flat portion of the lid. A layer of glass on each side, and you'll be done. Wood-cored composites are about as light and strong as you can get before going to carbon fiber.

Take photos! 

How would using a wood core change the process?  (Scoping a winter project).

Nice upgrade on the lid, Insayn.

Having a background in wood/composite boats, I'd be tempted to use some 4-5mm plywood for the the flat portion of the lid. A layer of glass on each side, and you'll be done. Wood-cored composites are about as light and strong as you can get before going to carbon fiber.

I didn't need it to be stronger than it came out, just stronger than the factory lid so I can safely sit on it without it squashing down.  Without the added weight of the hatch, my DIY lid came out about about the same weight as the factory plastic lid, but mucho stronger, narrower, and better fitting to seal the water out. 

was just trying to avoid uploading it a second time. oh well. i'll just attach it here

Is that a provision for Kleenex.  Nice! 

I take it you are going to add bungees across the top of the lid, to secure your tackle trays in your square bucket?

DING DING DING! we have a winner!

did some trimming and a test fit this morning before work.  I ran out of fabric otherwise i'd do more.  not worth running out right now since i have to work at noon.

i love tackle trays. figured this would be the best way to get to them more easily. I kept the box kinda shallow so that I wouldn't take up space below. 5" still gives me plenty of room under the rodpod for any rods and other stuff i would take out below. 

DING DING DING! we have a winner!

did some trimming and a test fit this morning before work.  I ran out of fabric otherwise i'd do more.  not worth running out right now since i have to work at noon.

i love tackle trays. figured this would be the best way to get to them more easily. I kept the box kinda shallow so that I wouldn't take up space below. 5" still gives me plenty of room under the rodpod for any rods and other stuff i would take out below. 

Nice! 

That should come out great.  Be sure to paint it with the Fusion paint.  I purposely went out of my way to abuse my paint job to see what it could handle. Short of a hard scrape down to the resin from a sharp metal object, or from a sander, this paint is not coming off with above average abuse.

Today I'm off to Homer Depot to get some PVC for my next project, inspired by the Great Yaknitup (with a twist of course).

paint won't be a problem.  I have a few cans of black Fusion already.  I used it on some interior bits of my car.

Nice! 

That should come out great.  Be sure to paint it with the Fusion paint.  I purposely went out of my way to abuse my paint job to see what it could handle. Short of a hard scrape down to the resin from a sharp metal object, or from a sander, this paint is not coming off with above average abuse.

Also, once you have it all cleaned up, mix up a hot batch of Resin and sqeegee it over the glass.  If you do it right, you can create a nice smooth finnish.  

I bought the hatches and built the boat around them    However, it takes a lot longer to do it this way. I love your boat Piscosicko





You can also add graphite to the epoxy and get a nice glossy black. Never have to worry about the black scraping off. If anyone in the PDX area wants some, I have a lifetime supply.  I bought a pound and used maybe a couple ounces in three coats applied to the bottom of this yak.

-craig

that is a ridiculously gorgeous kayak...congrats

Thanks.  I just finished it about 2 weeks ago and had the maiden voyage in the mighty Tualatin River last Sunday.  I'm giving it 30 days for the epoxy to fully cure before varnishing. Unfortunately, that means taking off all the hatches and rigging for some more sanding. I've thought about having a body shop spray it with clear coat, but I'm not sure what that would cost. It might be worth it because I hate varnishing.

ok, refresh my memory, you made this great piece of art out of what, again??

I love the rod pods.  I wish you guys would have built them sooner, I would have stole some ideas.

Also, sorry if I hijacked the thread.

ok, refresh my memory, you made this great piece of art out of what, again??

4 mm Okoume plywood (marine plywood), fiberglass, and epoxy (and some blood . Damn super sharp Japanese pull saws).  The graphite is mixed into the fill coats below the waterline. It acts as an abrasion barrier and, when you lightly sand off the epoxy to expose the graphite (which is used as a lubricant in a lot of things), it is super slippery.  Helps slide of over rocks if you are unfortunate enough to get into them.

I was shooting for 55 pounds bare hull weight, but after seeing people here post their photos of damaged hulls due to abrasion, I decided to add an extra six ounce layer of fiberglass to the bottom and another strip down the keel.  I also used it on the inside bottom to add strength against deflection should I hit a rock, or if a Great White wants a bite. Boy did that 6 oz. cloth absorb a lot of resin. Way more than I predicted. It came out at 60 pounds for the hull weight.  After rigging, it weighs 70 lbs.  Ah well, the extra strength is worth it to me, and with care it should last forever. The specs are 15 feet long by 28 inches wide.  

I'm sure one of our handy moderators here can make your posts into a separate thread so we don't forget which thread it was in.  Then delete this message. 

Zee, Bsteves, Pole' Pole' you got your ears on? 

i dont think i could do that in this life time or the next.. i see you also made a greenland paddle to go with it?? thats a nice touch too.