Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some common questions people have while building their duck boat.

Q. How much will the boat hold?
A. One cubic foot of flotation foam supports approximately 60 pounds. This duck boat uses three 4'x8'x2" sheets of foam. A rough way to figure weight capacity would be 4'x8' = 32 square feet. 32X60 pounds =1920 pounds divided in half (only 6" thick)=960 pounds. This is a rough estimate and each persons boat is going to be different. Although it should hold 960 pounds it is up to each person to determine weight limits.

Q. Do I have to use epoxy resin?
A. Yes, other types of resin are not compatible with the foam.

Q. Where is the best place to get epoxy resin?
A. This varies. It pays to shop around for the lowest price. If you buy the West system epoxy resin you are going to pay top dollar. There are several manufactures of epoxy resin and some that are up to 1/3 less or more than the name brand epoxy makers.

Q. Where can I get the polystyrene sheets?
A. Most home improvement stores carry the sheets. If you don't have any luck there check with builders especially those that do basements. They should be able to point you in the right direction.

Q. Can I change the shape or length of the boat.
A. Yes, you can make it any shape you want. I just posted these plans for the one I built. I am not a boat builder other than my own. I thought others might find this method interesting and I'm sure others will be more creative than I am.

Q. Can I use fiberglass batting?
A. I used fiberglass cloth on mine. I am not sure on the properties of the batting so I can not advise on this. You may want to check with your local boating store or a boat building forum.

Q. How strong is the boat?
A. I applied two coats of cloth to the bottom of my boat and have had no problem with it. I do not recommend running the boat into anything though. If multi million dollar ships can be sunk so can a $300 duck boat. As with everything you must use common sens