: Has anyone used polystrene as boatbuilding foam? It seems to be unaffected by
: epoxy, but does it have the sheer strength to be used in structural panels
: of epoxy and fiberglass? I have constructed a test panel (1 and 1/2 inch
: thick pink polystyrene from the Home depot--although 1/2" or 3/4
: would be better in my view) Can these panels be sufficiently strong in
: shear resistance for it to be used as a core material rather than
: expensive "marine" foams. Anyone have experience with these
: materials or other foams that might be readily available and cheap?

One other thought. It might be possible to glue up layers of polystyrene into say, a block 14" high, 24" wide and 17' long. Then mark the center lines, station section lines and top and side shape on the block of polystyrene and cut and to shape. You would fit outside templates shaped to the form for each station that would be fit from the hall center line to the deck center line. Then fiberglass the outside. This would all be done without a strong back. Then the hard part of just taking out enough foam to fit you and at the same time carving in your seat, hip pads, knee pad, foot braces all in one swoop and then fiberglassing the inside. I know it's wild.

John