A member asked whether poor man’s fiberglass would adhere to a cheaper 1 1/2-inch foam board with aluminum foil facing, and whether it would be strong enough compared with pink foam for a foamie-style mini sternwheeler built across two canoes for camping. One member said PMF had stuck well to slick surfaces in their experience, including a metal roof vent, but the original poster later became concerned that the cheaper foil-backed board looked like bead-style foam and leaned toward 1...
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A member asked whether poor man’s fiberglass would adhere to a cheaper 1 1/2-inch foam board with aluminum foil facing, and whether it would be strong enough compared with pink foam for a foamie-style mini sternwheeler built across two canoes for camping. One member said PMF had stuck well to slick surfaces in their experience, including a metal roof vent, but the original poster later became concerned that the cheaper foil-backed board looked like bead-style foam and leaned toward 1 1/2-inch pink XPS instead.
Multiple members favored XPS because it was described as closed-cell, stronger, less prone to spreading water internally, and easier to repair or reshape with glue if mistakes are made. The original poster also shared project progress, including painted canoes, a usable trailer, design sketches for the connecting platform and paddle wheel, and plans for a 12-volt variable-speed drive with possible solar panels and sailboat-style wind generators. The practical outcome was a preference for pink XPS over the cheaper foil-faced board, though PMF adhesion to the foil surface was only supported by limited anecdotal experience.