MJ Sailingvideo

Building Our Custom Helm Seat - Foam, Glass & Vacuum Bagging (MJ Sailing - Ep 364)

August 2, 2025 · 17 min · 46K views · Kent Island

What this video covers

A custom helm seat is constructed from Nidicor honeycomb foam and high-density foam, reinforced with 12-ounce double-bias fiberglass and Total Boat polyester resin.0:31 To ensure structural integrity, the builders apply fillets at all 90-degree seams before laminating, as sharp corners prevent fiberglass cloth from laying flat without air bubbles.4:16 The assembly process utilizes vacuum bagging to consolidate the layers, with absorbent cloth placed over the glass to manage excess resin.1:30 Support beams are fabricated separately using two layers of 12-ounce biaxial fiberglass and two layers of 17-ounce unidirectional fiberglass to achieve rigidity while maintaining a low total weight of approximately 25 pounds.6:14 The builders note that laminating foam sheets before cutting them into individual pieces prevents edge tearing and improves overall accuracy.2:51 After assembly, the seat undergoes extensive fairing and priming to achieve a finished surface.11:04

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