Resurrection of a classic Schulze Tunnel boat

**One Oldman** · 12-02-2016, 05:11 PM

WOW What a classic! It must weigh a ton with all that wood. LOL Great project!

**tunnels** · 12-02-2016, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by One Oldman

WOW What a classic! It must weigh a ton with all that wood. LOL Great project!

Wood can be much lighter than fiber glass as long you can keep the water out ,so need to make sure its well sealed inside and out !

**Tom Smyth** · 12-03-2016, 06:48 AM

Boat is suprisingly light. Three guys can pick it up easily. I am guessing maybe 400 lbs?

**tunnels** · 12-03-2016, 07:41 AM

Originally Posted by Tom Smyth

Boat is suprisingly light. Three guys can pick it up easily. I am guessing maybe 400 lbs?

In this day and age there is no reason why a composite boat cant be built as light or even lighter than a ply boat using premade glass panels and glassing them together similar to the stitch and tape method ! and a similar framing and stringer system to the wooden boat but all made from composite !!.So if you can build a plywood boat you can build a composite boat the same way ! Just flat panels on a smooth shiny bench almost the exact shape and size and set them up on or inside a set of frames and glass all the joins then fit the framing and tab it in place all same as if you were building using plywood ! Its nothing new !! I have been a part of building a 46 foot tunnel boat and was a breeze !

**Tom Smyth** · 12-16-2016, 05:34 PM

final fit check on the new stringers and short blocks and transom...

**Instigator** · 12-17-2016, 08:34 PM

Originally Posted by tunnels

In this day and age there is no reason why a composite boat cant be built as light or even lighter than a ply boat using premade glass panels and glassing them together similar to the stitch and tape method ! and a similar framing and stringer system to the wooden boat but all made from composite !!.So if you can build a plywood boat you can build a composite boat the same way ! Just flat panels on a smooth shiny bench almost the exact shape and size and set them up on or inside a set of frames and glass all the joins then fit the framing and tab it in place all same as if you were building using plywood ! Its nothing new !! I have been a part of building a 46 foot tunnel boat and was a breeze !

I raced kneel down for nine yrs. All 2 cyl classes where weight was king. Several tried glass (80's ERA) and failed.
All came from a mold.

I have an old glass patio door I use to lay up flat panels on.
Your idea would work.

Sorry for hijack Tom. The boat looks killer!

**tunnels** · 12-17-2016, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by Instigator

I raced kneel down for nine yrs. All 2 cyl classes where weight was king. Several tried glass (80's ERA) and failed.
All came from a mold.

I have an old glass patio door I use to lay up flat panels on.
Your idea would work.

Sorry for hijack Tom. The boat looks killer!

I fully understand what you are saying !
Guys built Boats in a mold usually get carried away with a bit extra here and a little more there just for luck ! then before you know it you have a heavy boat .
Fabrics and the orientation of the glass fibers and understanding what does what and how to get light weight and FLEXIBLITY yet exceedingly strong is something few builders recognize OR UNDERSTAND The old thoughts of it moves it will break is absolute rubbish !! its because it moves it will absorb much more pounding and abuse than if it was stiff !!
Go sit under a willow tree on a windy day and watch the branches move and twist and never break !

Materials have changes since the 80s as well and manufactures have not been siting idol picking there noses ,they are continually looking at how to make better fabrics thinner , lighter yet stronger and same concept applies to carbon and Kevlar as well . Making every filament work is the magic key .

Your idea would work. ah they been doing it for years !!its nothing new !!

**gmjim** · 12-17-2016, 11:53 PM

You certainly find some very cool stuff Tom!!

**Tom Smyth** · 12-19-2016, 09:30 AM

pre - drilling the screw holes. Next was mix epoxy glue and screw them in place...

**Tom Smyth** · 12-22-2016, 02:53 PM

new bottom panel fitted.....

**tunnels** · 12-22-2016, 06:29 PM

nice job !!

Have a good and merry xmas

**Tom Smyth** · 01-12-2017, 04:11 PM

bottom side ready for a few coats of epoxy finally. then time to flip it over and start removing the decks on the top side

**Tom Smyth** · 01-24-2017, 11:57 AM

now we are getting down to some REAL fun........

**home made tunnel** · 01-27-2017, 08:26 AM

The more parts that go on, the stiffer the boat becomes - Do you do the wiggle test like I do? ... Grab 1 corner of the boat and lift to see how much it twists? Every new piece put on, the boat twists a little less and less! It's exciting when the deck goes on.

What will you be doing to the inside of the hull? Just Epoxy coating it? Paint after? Painting the interior White afterwards will show you any potential issues years down the road - Like rot spots will turn brown / etc.

**Tom Smyth** · 01-27-2017, 02:57 PM

insides will be sanded as access allows and coated with epoxy. I plan to reinforce just about all of the existing repairs. Not worried about adding a few pounds to th eboat, more about longevity. Yes I do the wiggle test and this thing is solid as a rock right now. Decks were only screwed ( stapled) down along the outside perimeter and glued to the longitudinal stringers. I plan to use fasteners at every support structure.

It is obvious when they built this boat it was not expected to last more than a few years. Now is the chance to make sure this baby lasts for another 40.

How many other Schulze tunnels still exist in the USA ????