planning a new build but using SOF construction

[Bent bike guy]

Am a retired senior that has to stay busy. Presently building recumbent trikes and enjoy camping but the years have caught up to me. So I stumbled on to this site and figure why not build a tear drop trailer. Several plans show using 1/4" to 3/4" plywood. Got to wondering if a SOF construction method would work. WHY NOT?? its lightweight, waterproof and strong. Kayaks are built using this plus I have several yards of Dacron fabric that I was going to use to built a small pontoon boat. Looking at cost since I am living on a limited budget and plywood can get heavy and expensive real quick. Still pondering which route to go.

SOF construction was used on WW1 airplanes where a frame is covered with a fabric, stretched then coated using varnish and/or paint.
Have seen videos of a guy hitting his boat with a hammer and no damage. got a hole when he hit it with a screwdriver.

[daveesl77]

Welcome to the site! The construction method you are talking about we refer to (kind of) is PMF - Poor Man's Fiberglass. You'll find a ton of info on it and on building "foamies", where the primary structural component is xps foam board.

Good luck, ask questions, post pictures (we likes pictures).

dave

[Greg M]

I'm trying to remember, but I think there's at least one skin on frame build that's been done here. Help me out folks.
Welcome aboard.

[Bent bike guy]

So it has been done before.
After rethinking and looking at the amount of framing required I am leaning towards doing a 1/2" plywood walls but mounting to the side and top of the extended frame (building w/ body over the fenders so I have a 64 inch wide (OD) cabin but skinning it w/ Dacron fabric that is heat shrunk onto the CDX plywood.

[mikeschn]

Well, it's not exactly SOF, considering I got all that foam in there, but I'm pretty happy with it...

http://tnttt.com/viewtopic.php?p=1110105#p1110105



Mike...

[Bent bike guy]

great idea but how stable are the walls. Not much attachment at bottom?
here is what I am/was planning http://www.gaboats.com/boats/
at the bottom of this page it has reference to waterproof canvas
http://www.gaboats.com/tutorials/recanvas.html

[kerryb]

I think your plan has a lot of merit. I'm trying out a similar idea. The sides are 6mm marine ply laminated to 9/16 foam with fiberglass cloth interior, the front is 3mm ply skin with hatch lid in foam fiberglass skin. The geodesic boat style should work equally well. The hatch or door frame will need a pretty robust frame not to flex too much.

[pchast]

There was an article about a SOF camper about a year ago I read. They were concerned
about the transparency of the skin and coating...

I'd have some concerns about the lack of insulation and wife's need for privacy would
require an opaque coating..

[AZ_Desert_Rat]

Hi Bent bike guy, welcome to the Forum!!!
You have started discussing some great ideas and I will be interested to see what you come up with...
Be sure to keep us in the loop as to what you go with and we enjoy pics...
Good luck with your build and BTW, what part of the globe do you hail from??

[Bent bike guy]

I reside in S.W. Washington state. About 90 minutes north of Portland Oregon
As for construction, IO went with 1/8" Luan plywood on outside and paneling on inside. Plan to apply Dacron fabric to outside.
this week hopefully get to build hatch and cover interior ceiling and roof.
The cabin grew from 4 x 8 to 65" x 96 with lots of underfloor storage. The sleeping area is 60 x 72 inches.
hopefully get some pics to post.