A boat support provides stable support for your boat, allowing you to easily work on the inside without damaging the hull. A custom support is also ideal for safely transporting your boat on a trailer. You can buy a ready-made boat support, but with the right materials, you can easily make one yourself custom-fitted to your hull.
In this article, you will read which materials you need and how to proceed step by step. Also check out our instructional video where we explain each step. An excellent DIY project that can save you a lot of money!
Materials Needed
To make the boat support, you will need the following materials and tools:
- Pallets (for the base)
- Fiberglass mat (450 g/m²)
- Spherecore core material (3 mm)
- Polyester laminating resin + MEKP hardener
- Release agent or release film (to prevent bonding to the boat)
- Paddle roller / De-aerating roller
- Velour roller + roller frame
- Mixing cups and mixing sticks
- Kitchen scale
- Fiberglass shears
- Dust sheet / Cover film
- Vapour mask
- Nitrile gloves
- Safety glasses
Step 1. Preparation
- Protect work area and boat: cover the floor with protective film. Apply a suitable release agent or release film to the part of the boat being used as a mould. This prevents the polyester resin from permanently bonding to the hull.
- Cut materials to size: cut the fiberglass mats and the Spherecore core material to size using fiberglass shears.
By adding a 3 mm core of Spherecore, you quickly build thickness and stiffness without adding much weight. The material absorbs resin well and is easy to process, making it highly suitable for any DIY enthusiast.
Step 2. Mixing laminating resin and lay-up
- Mix resin: accurately weigh the polyester laminating resin and add approximately 2% MEKP hardener. Thoroughly mix both parts with a mixing stick. The laminating resin changes color once the hardener is mixed in properly, letting you see instantly if the mixture is uniform.
- Apply layers: apply a layer of resin to the prepared surface using the velour roller. Place the first fiberglass mat into it and saturate it with resin. Carefully roll out air bubbles with the paddle roller. Now apply the Spherecore core material, saturate it with resin, and finish with a second layer of fiberglass mat. Roll out air bubbles thoroughly once more with the paddle roller.
Step 3. Mounting on the base
- Curing: allow the laminate to cure completely according to the instructions on the packaging.
- Attaching to the pallet: remove the molded shell from the boat and mount it on the pallet(s) to create a stable support structure.
- Final result: your boat now rests seamlessly and securely on the DIY support, ready for further maintenance or refurbishment work.
Have questions about this project?
Feel free to contact our specialists. We are happy to provide tailored advice to make your project a success. You can easily reach us by phone, email, or WhatsApp.
