Teardrops & Tiny Travel Trailers

[TD Beej]

Has anyone tried building a TD by stitch and glue? I am wondering if it might be the easiest way to achieve the shapes and surfaces I want with my build. I want to have light build so I would then go back and add extra support for stress points such as anchoring locations or around openings. I figure since people use stitch and glue to make boats it should lend itself to making a TD shell quite nicely with good strength and flexibility.

Thanks, Beej

[GPW]

Beej .... seems possible if you can build a boat like that , a TD would be a likely candidate ...

[afreegreek]

yes, it will work just fine especially covered in fibreglass.. you could also use Sikaflex type adhesive to create nice filets at the joints and that will be plenty strong without the glass..

just make a sample corner with Sikaflex with a 1/2" filet and try to rip it apart.. you'll see..

[caseydog]

I thought about it, but didn't try it. I wanted a "tent on wheels," and doing something with canvas would have met that criteria, but wood and nails were more my speed.

I think it would be really cool, but I'd need help, to say the least.

CD

[kennyrayandersen]

I think that’s kind of how the puffin was built, no? I’m thinking of a modified stitch and glue myself – no stitching, but gluing and filleting the corners and laying some tape over that. There is nothing wrong with it structurally, but most want to insulate their tears as well, and if you are going to put in an inch of foam you might as well put an inner skin and turn it into a structural sandwich. In fact, rather than use ¼ inch material to do a stitch and glue, you could use 1/8 inch ply, ¾”-1” foam and 1/8 ply all bonded together – it’s almost the same weight, but WAY stronger. You could lay the inner down first (even stitch and glue that), glue the foam to that, and then glue the outer 1/8 ply to that and tape over the seams like a standard stitch and glue.

[TD Beej]

Probably no reason you couldn't use a SIP like panel to do the stitch and glue with.

[BigAl]

Hi Beej, Having built a stitch n glue sailing dinghy and a 12 foot canoe. The first using copper wire for the stitches and the latter using small cable-ties.

I recommend going for the cable ties. You can trim them flush with a knife, but the copper wire needs ground down.

I agree that a small RV trailer lends itself well to the technique, but most boats are built with this technique around frames that define the shape whilst the glue cures. These frames are either temporary (like a form) or are part of the boat (like a transom or seat fames, etc,).

How do you hope to keep your shape true whilst the glue cures?

Can you share with us a sketch of your shape?

Check out this excellent SnG boat building Tutorial
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Kind Regards, BigAl.

Build Journal

[TD Beej]

[BigAl]

Lookin groovy Beej!

Couldn't you just build it with glass over sculpted PE foamboard, and forget the ply on the outside?

You could embed ply panels in the foam where you need a mounting for a hinge or a light.
_________________
Kind Regards, BigAl.

Build Journal

[NathanL]

Once you have your panels worked out you can build a S&G structure as fast or faster than just about any type of structure. Cut your panels, drill your holes, stitch together and it will be together and then you can do the epoxy in the seams.

Can build a S&G boat in a weekend, I see no reason why it wouldn't work for a teardrop "if" it has the right shape to it.

There's programs out there on the net you can layout your panels and stitch them together to make sure it goes together in the exact shape you need, then print them out scaled down and do it paper/card stock for a quick test.

[angib]

This sounds like a very workable plan - S&G is an ideal building technique.

The problem is you need to work out the shape of the panels to stitch together. I recommend 'Hull Designer', a piece of shareware that works well:
http://www.carlsondesign.com/#Fun_Shareware

Like any software, it takes some to work out how to use it, but from then on it would be as easy as building a boat from plans.

Andrew

[afreegreek]

the best was to come up with your panel shapes is to use a wooden 'wireframe' then use kraft paper to lay on the frame.. then you can just use the side of a pencil lead to rub the pattern on the paper.. remember, you only need half of your shape as the other half is mirror image.. this technique is way faster and more accurate than a computer program..

** what I mean by wireframe is what the sheer, chine, keel, stems, and deck ridge on a wooden S&G kayak would be..

[TD Beej]

Thanks for the links everyone.