HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) Boat Build Part 1

In the spring of 2023 my dad and I started building a boat out of HDPE or High Density Polyethylene. I had the idea in my mind for years but couldn’t find the right size and wall thickness of pipe.
Finally I acquired the correct pipe and it didn’t take long to get started on the build. I have enough pipe to do one small “Test” boat to work out all the bugs and another larger boat as a final project.
The pipe was fused with a heat plate and the ribs and transom were hand fused with a heat gun and HDPE rods. There has definitely been some learning curves on this project, hopefully we get them all worked out before moving onto the bigger boat.
Hope you enjoy! Stay tuned for part 2 and on, and like, share and subscribe!

[@benduea2713]

Looks great. I want to build one as well. Looking forward to your next video!

[@donnellaapperson480]

Looks pretty good I have thought about doing this for years just been busy. Hope it works out for you

[@DavidM2002]

I would be thinking about filling the inside with that expandable spray foam to displace any water that may leak in. I loved that you had an idea and took up the challenge to actually do it. I hope it works out for you. Even if it doesn't, it's a great learning experience. And even if it doesn't work out, please tell us about it and why, and if you would / would not try again.

[@WoodLander-]

You bet. I will document the whole thing. Should have a new video out soon.

[@TEKKKNO]

Cool experience

[@coppersunday]

Sum great ideas there

[@dennislilley5562]

That's a really nice boat

[@beauty_stand]

we are waiting for the nexts steps thank you

[@dominiccorley7546]

really looking forward to a part 2 of this, I have a few questions and perhaps a proposal for you!

[@WoodLander-]

I’m open. What have you got?

[@user-ef1pv9lf5d]

You need a plastic extruder gun to do this properly, those welds aint no good. And for the pipes you need a buttwelding machine. Do you scrape the weldingsurface before welding? You did cut the pipe nicely but did you clean away all the oil before welding? your beads look like they have a lot of dirt in them wich is a big nono. If you have done this correctly you could drop this hull on concret from the height of 5m without anything breaking. You should test this before going out to sea with it.

[@johntaylor-cu7nh]

Very cool and alot of hard work i 1 video. do you mind sharing the price of material? Looking forward to part 2

[@WoodLander-]

I salvaged the pipe for free. I have put about $500 in material so far. I estimate around $1600 USD for the material to build a 16ft boat.

[@dennislilley5562]

over six hundred views No one is hitting the like or subscribe. It's free to do. It might encourage him to make more videos.

[@Juan-oy3fo]

0:16 Adding the v bottom To the two toons greatly increases your bottom clearance.. by 400%?? From 8 inch to 2 inch. Of course guessing. For my 40 ft toon ,So let say I use 6 ( 12ft ttl) two ft diameter pipe to Cover it with 14ft deck leaving 2 ft channel in middle 2×2×0.782×6×60×40 45,043.2 gross displacement 7507 each pipe 30,029 gross 4 piper 15,014 2 piper But I want the draft I maybe return

[@Juan-oy3fo]

One lb sq ft aluminum deck frame

[@Juan-oy3fo]

187 lb displacement Per ft long of pipe 2x2x.782 = 3.12 x 60 lb

[@Juan-oy3fo]

18 lb per ft long pipe 1.5 in thick x 40 ft 753 lb

[@Juan-oy3fo]

10 % draft per pipe 2.4 inch

[@jerrogance]

How much is HDPE? Is it a cheaper boat building material compared to fiberglass or steel? This is interesting stuff...I was thinking it would be cool to build small barges with the stuff, for either workboats or pleasure crafts.

[@WoodLander-]

A single 4x8 sheet of 1/4” HDPE cost me $75 USD. A 50ft length of 1/2” wall pipe cost $1000 USD. So for around $1600 or so you could build a. 16ft boat.

[@dennislilley5562]

Do you think it's better than fiberglass Thinking about doing a pedal boat and im over fiberglass

[@TEKKKNO]

I think it's petter for several reasons More flexible without cracking It's easier to fix Recyclable material And the best ever as i read it's antifouling material so no need for bottom paint or cleaning Also i believe it's less expensive than fiberglass Also working with fiberglass is dirty and hard

[@WoodLander-]

I have not worked with fibre glass. But from what I know about it can be a pain. HDPE has been relatively easy to work with. It takes some practice but it is not hard to learn.

[@dominikrogodzinski4920]

how will you connect the hdpe boards?

[@WoodLander-]

I have been fusing everything by hand with a heat gun and special tips and HDPE rods. It’s like tig welding but with plastic

[@antoniiocaluso1071]

I build small sailing catamarans, of ply'wd, epoxy/glass,.... Might I ask the weight of the finished bare hull, please? VERY-canny work, though I'd bet you'd have built here "better", if a thinner-gauge pipe was used, no? Poly-pipe like that, here in SW FL, USA is absolutely indestructible!! (against direct-hurricane & wave-action, anyway? :-) Compare that I'm using 1/4" ply'wd, right,... for a 20'x9' near-shore mini-crusing vessel, and VERY-light. And, hopefully...nearly-indestructable ))) How's her draft, please? mine is 8". tanx, and buona fortuna!!

[@WoodLander-]

It is not done yet. And I will post the other videos as I continue. I estimate the total weight of the bare hull will be 300 lbs.