Fiberglass boats have gained popularity for their durability and reliability. Fiberglass has a number of significant advantages over other materials. The vessel can be assembled quickly and without any special expenses. A do-it-yourself fiberglass boat is a budget-friendly and decent option for fishing trips.
The boat is made of plastic - without matrices. Technology for building plastic boats
Building boats from plywood with a fiberglass exterior is quick and cheap. I made several such boats, but later abandoned this technology. Despite the protective layer of plastic, plywood quickly absorbs moisture, the weight of the hull increases and the speed characteristics of a planing boat decrease. And of course, the strength of plywood is significantly lower than the strength of monolithic fiberglass. With poor ventilation and in conditions of high humidity, plywood is quickly destroyed by microorganisms and delaminates.
Fiberglass does not have these disadvantages, but building boats from it is very labor-intensive. You must first make a block or matrix, mold a plastic case onto it, then glue the set into it. Making a block or matrix is justified when building at least 4-5 boats, but it is quite difficult to find so many people who like to build identical hulls.
I used a different technology. The design of the hull kit is practically no different from a boat with plywood sheathing. First, frames cut from plywood 12-16 mm thick are installed on the slipway (all their connections are glued together with epoxy glue); then the keel cuts into them, and then the stringer. I recommend making the bottom stringers from oak, and gluing the side stringers from several pine or spruce slats. The fry is removed from the edges of the set adjacent to the outer skin.
The entire outer surface of the hull is divided into sections within which it can be sheathed with one flat sheet of fiberglass. A template made of cardboard or thick paper is removed from each section. Plastic in the form of sheets is glued on the table, and hot irons are used to speed up polymerization. All work on the production of plastic sheets must be carried out outdoors, since heated resin abundantly releases volatile components that are toxic. Tracing paper is spread on the table, serving as a separating layer, 3-5 layers of fiberglass are applied to it, then epoxy resin, prepared with a plasticizer and hardener introduced into it, is applied to the entire area of the fabric, as evenly as possible, and ironed. The viscosity of the heated resin decreases, thanks to which the binder well saturates all layers in the fiberglass package. In those places where the binder was not enough, you can apply a new portion of resin and iron it again. It should be remembered that the optimal ratio (by weight) of binder and fiberglass is in the range from 40:60 to 50:50.
The more irons are used for ironing (it’s more convenient for two people to work), the faster the plastic is produced. Irons must be periodically cleaned of adhering resin using a sharpened shoe knife or a piece of iron from a plane. The process of partial polymerization occurs after 20-30 minutes, and the material becomes rigid. You cannot hold the iron in one place, as the heated area may stick strongly to the iron and the plastic blank will be unusable.
After the material becomes sufficiently rigid, but it can still be easily cut with a knife, leaving smooth cut edges, a template is placed on the fiberglass sheet and the sheet of future sheathing is cut along the edges using it. The edges of the boat hull kit, to which the plastic will be glued, are pre-coated with epoxy glue. The ends of the plywood frames have to be lubricated with glue several times. Then the plastic blank is placed on the set with tracing paper facing outwards and attached to it with small nails, ensuring a tight fit of the surfaces to be glued.
The tracing paper from the casing is subsequently removed with sandpaper. This can be done using a drill, gluing the sandpaper onto a fiber disc.
If, when laying the sheet on the set, it sag between the frames, then it should not be glued. It is necessary to attach the workpiece vertically in the sun or near a steam heating radiator to continue polymerization of the binder. In this case, it is necessary to periodically check that the workpiece does not become so rigid that it will be difficult to pierce the plastic with small nails or that it will be difficult to bend the sheet along the contours.
Thus, the entire surface of the hull is covered with pre-glued sheets, starting from the stern. On stringers, the edges of individual sheets are glued end to end; on frames due to their small thickness - overlap. The overlap of the edges should not exceed the thickness of the plywood of the frame.
Purpose and step-by-step production
A plastic small boat is intended primarily for fishing. It can also be used for water tourism and sports activities. Operating conditions of the boat on the water: waves no more than 60 cm high, wind force - up to 4 points on a ten-point scale. A fiberglass boat is an excellent alternative to inflatable boats.
In the first place among the advantages is strength, which exceeds that of an aluminum boat of the same class. Such a vessel will last a long time, with proper care - up to 20 years. The fiberglass body has excellent hydrodynamics and shape, and has high physical and chemical properties. The repair can be completely done with your own hands. One of the most important advantages of a plastic boat is the ability to customize it according to your wishes.
Fiberglass is the only material that allows you to create a shape of any complexity yourself. Independent design of the bottom makes it possible to equip it with steppers of any configuration. You can achieve maximum efficiency of the vessel's performance by locating the redans in the most suitable places. In addition, the design of a homemade boat will reflect the character of its owner.
There is a method for making a homemade boat from plywood and fiberglass, when plastic is used only for the outer covering of the boat. But this technology does not justify itself. The layer of plywood lying under the plastic quickly picks up moisture, which increases the weight of the vessel. Plywood quickly degrades due to the influence of microorganisms and the delamination process, because plywood is significantly inferior in strength to plastic.
How to make a boat? By carefully following all the rules, even a beginner can complete this task. The technological process is simple and inexpensive. The ship's hull is created using reinforcing filler impregnated with a polymer composition.
Materials and drawing
Raw materials used as reinforcing filler in the manufacture of the frame:
- body base, sides – roving fiberglass fabrics TP-07, TP-03, TP-056;
- local strengthening of individual sections - structural fiberglass fabrics T-11, T-13.
Fiberglass fabric comes in different types depending on the type of weaving and the size of the threads. Mostly they choose “oblique” or satin weaving. The threads must be twisted. The material is sold in the form of sheets, rolls, tape.
To glue the reinforcing material, you will need resin. There are three types of resins used in the shipbuilding industry: epoxy, vinyl ester, and polyester. The most important characteristics of resins when building a fiberglass boat from any type of fiber are adhesion and impregnation.
A cheap option is to use polyester resin, which allows you to create a single piece of fiberglass in one operation. You can use TM Ashland resin. To create a decorative body coating with protective properties, you will need a gelcoat. You will also need plywood at least 1.2 cm thick that is moisture resistant.
Making a boat is impossible without a competent drawing. The design of a future watercraft can be done using the AutoCAD program. First, a 3D model is created, then diagrams of frames and patterns are created. Ready-made drawings are taken from specialized sites on the Internet. Now you can start making a fiberglass boat with your own hands.
Making a fiberglass boat with your own hands
People have been interested in fishing for a long time. It’s always good to sit by the river with a fishing rod in your hands, relax in nature and breathe fresh air. But a lot of fish are found in deep waters, far from the shore, so the desire to have a good boat is natural, especially since today there are many options for making one yourself.
Boats are different: wooden, rubber, PVC, fiberglass. What is good about new fiberglass, what are its advantages and disadvantages, how to build a boat from it yourself, we will find out in more detail in this article.
Repair
Repairing a fiberglass boat or boat is required when typical damage occurs:
- defects in the decorative layer;
- cracks in the body;
- holes and half-holes;
- divergence of angles;
- shells.
Basic materials for repair: fiberglass, epoxy resins. When starting repairs, it is recommended to place the damaged area closer to the horizontal level. The surface must be clean, dry, and free of grease. A hairdryer, technical or household, may be required. Before starting to seal defects, the fiberglass fabric must be degreased, rinsed in a solvent, and dried thoroughly.
During emergency repairs, do not dry it over a fire, as soot will form. Before laying on the damaged area, the fiberglass fabric is soaked in a diluted compound (polyester or epoxy resin), and then pressed out by pulling it between two sticks. The repair area must be cleaned with coarse sandpaper down to the fiberglass layer, making it slightly terry.
Advantages and disadvantages of fiberglass boats
The main advantages of the material include:
- respectable appearance;
- reliability;
- durability;
- waterproof;
- affordable.
Boats have many design advantages:
- Possibility to change engine oil in full. A little, filled below the maximum level, begins to foam, the motor overheats.
- The boat can be made with either a keel or a flat bottom, which is very convenient for use in shallow waters.
- It is possible to make a more complex contour for the hull, which will significantly increase the propulsion of the vessel and make it easier to control. When switching to planing mode, the engine will not need more power, and the consumption of the combustible mixture will be significantly reduced.
- Fiberglass is not afraid of sudden changes in temperature, does not wear off when it comes into contact with the bottom of the river, and is not damaged by impacts.
- Holes are not difficult to repair yourself using epoxy resin and fiberglass.
- These boats do not need to be inflated, they are not afraid of punctures and cracks. If there is foam in the structure, as well as sealed cavities in the boat filled with air, it is simply impossible to sink the boat.
- The manufacture of the boat, as well as the contours of the hull, can be of almost any configuration.
How to use fiberglass in everyday life and in construction
In private, this material is most often used in three cases:
- for repairing rods;
- for equipment repair;
- for strengthening structures and planes and for sealing.
Repair of fiberglass rods
To do this, you will need a fiberglass sleeve and a high-strength resin grade (ED-20 or equivalent). The technical process is described in detail in this article. It is worth noting that carbon fiber is much stronger than fiberglass, which means that the latter is not suitable for repairing impact tools (hammers, axes, shovels). At the same time, it is quite possible to make a new handle or handle for equipment from fiberglass, for example, the wing of a walk-behind tractor.
Helpful advice. You can improve your tool with fiberglass. Wrap the handle of a working hammer, axe, screwdriver, saw with impregnated fiber and squeeze it in your hand after 15 minutes. The layer will ideally take the shape of your hand, which will significantly affect the ease of use.
Equipment repair
The tightness and chemical resistance of fiberglass allows you to repair and seal the following plastic products:
- Sewer pipes.
- Construction buckets.
- Plastic barrels.
- Rain tides.
- Any plastic parts of tools and equipment that do not experience heavy loads.
Repair using fiberglass - step-by-step video
“Homemade” fiberglass has one irreplaceable property - it is accurately processed and holds rigidity well. This means that from canvas and resin you can restore a hopelessly damaged plastic part, or make a new one.
Strengthening building structures
Fiberglass in liquid form has excellent adhesion to porous materials. In other words, it adheres well to concrete and wood. This effect can be realized by installing wooden lintels. A board on which liquid fiberglass is applied acquires an additional 60–70% strength, which means that a board twice as thin can be used for a lintel or crossbar. If you reinforce the door frame with this material, it will become more resistant to loads and distortions.
Sealing
Another method of application is sealing stationary containers. Reservoirs, stone tanks, and swimming pools covered on the inside with fiberglass acquire all the positive properties of plastic utensils:
- insensitivity to corrosion;
- smooth walls;
- continuous monolithic coating.
At the same time, the creation of such a coating will cost about 25 USD. e. for 1 sq. m. Real tests of products from one of the private mini-factories eloquently speak about the strength of the products.
Video: testing fiberglass
Of particular note is the possibility of repairing the roof. With a properly selected and applied epoxy compound, you can repair slate or tiles. With its help, you can model complex translucent structures made of plexiglass and polycarbonate - canopies, street lamps, benches, walls and much more.
As we found out, fiberglass is becoming a simple and understandable repair and construction material that is convenient to use in everyday life. With developed skill, you can create interesting products from it right in your own workshop.
Design requirements
Fiberglass is a unique material and is perfect for homemade boat production. Convenience, lightness and durability are the main qualities of this material. The same applies to the design. Building fiberglass boats is easy; the main thing is to glue the fibers together correctly to make the boat waterproof on the water.
The following requirements apply to the design:
- Maximum rigidity of the boat sides. The thickness of plywood used is at least 1.2 cm, applied in a double layer.
- The edges of the sides must be perfectly smooth, otherwise the boat will be unstable on the water. For this purpose, the sides are puttied.
- Fiberglass placed in molds must be lubricated with wax.
- Air should not accumulate in the material, so fiberglass is applied to the matrix layer by layer, in 5-6 layers.
Polypropylene is the optimal material for building a homemade boat
A sheet material currently widely used for the manufacture of swimming pools and various containers, polypropylene is excellent for making a vessel.
According to some characteristics, a boat made of plastic is in no way inferior to a real boat made of aluminum or fiberglass, and may even surpass it. Making a boat that is comfortable for two people will take only 1-2 weeks and you will have at your disposal a full-fledged vessel for fishing or riding.
The advantages of polypropylene, and, accordingly, of a floating device made on its basis, are:
- 100% waterproof;
- zero adhesion;
- resistance to mechanical damage and various types of influences;
- ease of repair;
- the ability to maintain the original appearance for a long time;
- resistance to ultraviolet radiation and to any climatic conditions;
- light weight of the finished product, which is convenient for transportation;
- excellent frost resistance, which simplifies the issue of storing a floating device;
The flexible material very gently absorbs shock and noise, which reduces any instability to a minimum, and therefore guarantees safe movement through water.
Making a boat
The fabrication of the boat is a key point in its production. You need to stock up on gelcoat, polyester resin, glass mat, scissors, release wax, rollers, hardener, oars, sandpaper, cuffs and oarlocks.
- according to the technology, the matrix is completely coated with separating wax in 4 layers, after which gelcoat is applied for the outer layer of the boat;
- Fiberglass seats are installed parallel to the sides of the boat;
- for rigidity and strength of the structure, the glass mat is rolled in 5 layers;
- the excess fringe is cut off, the saddles are glued in with glue;
- oarlocks are screwed on;
- the sides of the boat are thoroughly sanded with sandpaper;
- the finished boat is loaded onto the rack;
- The outside and inside of the boat can be painted with gelcoat, but this is not at all necessary.
Using this sequence in the manufacture of a boat, the design will be light, strong, stable on the water, durable and very attractive. The back can should not be made too narrow. The seats will remain buoyant even if the boat completely capsizes in the water.
The fiberglass hull of the boat is similar in structure to the reinforced concrete structure. Fiberglass is an elastic material, it can be bent and given any geometric shape.
Following clear instructions, it is not difficult to make a boat with your own hands, and a fairly light and easy-to-use vessel will contribute to good rest and successful fishing for many years.
Connecting the edges of fiberglass sheets on stringers (a) and frames (b)
1 - fiberglass sheets; 2 - epoxy putty; 3 - stringer; 4 - nail; 5 - frame.
Then all irregularities are filled with epoxy putty and the body is allowed to stand for two to three days. After this, the body can be sanded, and then covered with additional layers of fiberglass to the desired thickness of the skin. When applying the last layer of fiberglass, a coloring pigment is added to the epoxy resin. Next, the skin is sanded, if necessary, it is painted, turned over and work begins on the inside of the body.
The boat I built in this way has been sailing for 8 navigations. Its length is 8.5 m, side height 1.2 m, width 2.6 m; engine - "ZMZ-53". During operation, there were several cases of collisions with driftwood, and although the set was damaged by strong impacts, there were no leaks. The kit does not lag behind the skin, and repairs after encountering a snag do not require much time. Now I’m finishing the construction of a ten-meter yacht using the same method. There is no doubt that the resulting structure will be light, strong, and durable.
L. Nefedov, Perm.
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Plastic boat for fishing. Is it possible to make a plastic boat with your own hands?
Recently, plastic boats for fishing have become very popular. Alas, not everyone has the opportunity to acquire such luxury. However, the solution may be to make a vessel from scrap materials, to be more precise, from ordinary plastic bottles. Creating such a vessel takes a little time, and the process itself is quite simple.
Airboat
Having seen photographs on the Internet of how a boat is made from bottles, many are surprised, asking a natural question: how to make a homemade boat from plastic bottles or how long can it be used?
The manufacturing principle is so simple that even a ten-year-old child can construct it. For production you will need a lot of plastic bottles. They must be in perfect condition, without cracks or holes, so as not to allow water to pass through.
The quantity depends on the desired size of the vessel. Also, the bottles must have lids to prevent water from entering inside and making them heavier. The plastic material must be laid out in the shape of a vessel, carefully secured together with glue.
Here is the swimming aid ready. It is very cheap to produce, but not very high quality. There is a high probability that if you catch on a branch you can pierce the bottle, thus damaging the structure.
Why from bottles
Anyone can create a plastic boat with their own hands. To do this, it is not necessary to have extensive knowledge in shipbuilding. It is enough to follow certain rules. Of course, you can make a boat from plywood or wood, but this is a very expensive undertaking. And not only in terms of finances. Plastic bottles are much cheaper. In principle, you can even collect them by placing a special container in a public place. In addition, the design of a boat made of this material is much simpler.
It should be noted that for the manufacture of wood or plywood products, special calculations are required. Otherwise, the ship simply will not float or it will be very dangerous to be in it.
Features of the material
Polystyrene foam is a fairly versatile material for making a variety of DIY projects.
The polymer from which the foam is made has the appearance of a foamed mass. Thanks to this, there is a lot of air between its particles, which allows the material not to sink in water. In addition, polystyrene foam has good thermal insulation properties, low weight, high buoyancy due to the large area of the material and lightness. Foam plastic is affordable for everyone, and is also easy to process with tools and glues well. But this material is easily destroyed, so it cannot be bent or given complex shapes. Therefore, to give strength to a homemade boat, its hull is made not from solid foam, but from a sandwich skin consisting of a layer of foam with glass mat. Sandwich technology is that between two layers of material that takes the main load, there is a separating layer of lighter material. Thus, two layers of fiberglass are separated by foam.
You can use regular extruded polystyrene without fiberglass, but such a homemade foam boat will require plywood or other protective material on the outside, such as film or tarpaulin.
We collect everything you need
To make a good plastic boat for fishing, you need to collect a huge number of large plastic bottles and prepare additional tools. Such containers will take much less to create, and the assembly process will be faster and easier. So, to make a boat you will need wide tape, a well-sharpened knife, large scissors, a coil of strong but thin wire, crossbars made of fairly thick plywood, light pipes or boards.
In addition, you can choose the material that will serve for the final finishing. If desired, the finished product can be sheathed with thick plywood or any other dense but light material. After this, the boat can be painted with a waterproof coating. This will make the design more neat and beautiful. You can even stick your logo on the side of the boat.
Rubber dinghy
The answer to the question: how to make a boat with your own hands, drawings will be the first answer. Thanks to them, the product will turn out to be the correct shape. Therefore, the first thing you should do is draw drawings, calculating the smallest details.
After this, we cut out a boat of the specified dimensions from a sheet of plywood. Additionally, we will need boards to securely fasten the bottom and a tarpaulin for covering. These materials must be connected to each other using the same glue and resin. Be sure to give the glue time to set, otherwise the structure will turn out flimsy. And your efforts will be wasted.
After this, cover the product with a tarpaulin, tightly attaching it to the boards. Remember, the design must be wide. This way you will get a homemade boat. It will not be very similar to the rubber one that is sold, but it will provide you with softness and comfort.
For a better understanding of the manufacturing process, you can see how to make a PVC boat with your own hands. There they will explain the principle of operation using a clear example. After all, reading and seeing an example, repeating actions, are completely different things.
But to be effective, it’s worth reading the detailed description and watching the video tutorial. This way you can quickly understand how to make a rubber boat correctly, which can serve for many years.
Bottle preparation
So, how to assemble a plastic boat for fishing correctly? First you need to prepare the bottles. To make containers more efficient and rigid, they should be inflated with pressurized air. Of course, this is difficult to do at home, but it is possible. It is enough to remember the simplest law of physics: when heated, any substance expands. This also applies to air.
To do this, plastic bottles need to be placed in the freezer, and then, tightly closed, removed. Once in the heat, the air will begin to expand. Everything is quite simple. The air will expand due to the sudden temperature change. As a result, the bottles will become more elastic and rigid. This is exactly what is needed to create a more stable vessel on the water. Of course, if possible, it is better to pump the containers with air under pressure.
Before use, plastic containers should be washed, removing all stickers and labels, and then dried. If there are any glue stains left, they should also be removed. When screwing bottle caps, it is better to use good, water-resistant glue. This will prevent them from depressurizing.
Wooden base
For many centuries, people have used wood as a means of transportation on the water surface. At first these were simple structures in the form of small platforms, later a boat appeared, the production of which took a long time.
After all, it must be of high quality for the safe transportation of cargo. Nowadays, if desired, anyone can reproduce the remedy at home.
A simple step-by-step plan will teach you how to make a wooden boat. It is necessary to prepare in advance long, wide boards that will serve as the sides of the shuttle. They must be dry, smooth, and free of cracks.
After preparing the base material, it needs to be processed for easy fastening. The edges of the boards must be cut evenly so that when assembled, the boards touch each other tightly. Next, we begin to make a vehicle. You need to start from the bow. We cut out an additional board that will hold the sides in the middle.
After finishing work on the sides, you need to build seats. The process is very simple, so it won't take much time. Wooden boards must be nailed to the sides. After this, the bottom should be installed. It may be iron.
We cut out the desired shape from a sheet of iron and, thanks to densely driven nails, fasten it to a wooden base. The boat is almost ready. All that remains is to attach the iron chain, which will serve as the basis for the anchor.
We make logs
In order for a plastic fishing boat to float well on the water, you need to assemble improvised logs from the prepared material. This is done very simply. Two bottles need to be connected at the bottoms. In this case, the recesses of one container should fit into the recesses of the second. You can fasten the bottles with a third. To do this, you need to cut out the middle part of the container and put it on two fastened together.
After this, all joints should be treated with waterproof glue, preferably the most reliable one, which is suitable for gluing plastic parts. And at the end we wrap it with tape. It is very important. After all, only in this case will plastic rowing boats for fishing last for a very long time. Of course, if desired, such a design can be equipped with a motor.
Now you need to take two bottles and cut off their bottoms. They are put on the ends of the already finished part of the log. All joints again need to be coated with glue and wrapped with tape. As a result, bottoms are formed at the ends of the workpiece. Now the log is assembled according to the same principle as described above.
Aluminum ship
Having learned the principle of production of previous boats, it is not difficult to guess how to make an aluminum boat. The only difference is in the material from which the vessel will be made. In terms of strength, it can easily be placed in second place after wood.
And if done well, it can last a lifetime. When doing this, remember that you need to attach the materials efficiently and firmly. Because life depends on the quality of work.
Log floats
Even plastic motor boats are made from floats. To do this, the finished logs need to be firmly connected to each other. Moreover, one float can have up to eight structures. This is the most optimal number of logs. Of course, this indicator depends on the size and depth of the future vessel. The main thing is to calculate everything correctly. A person should feel comfortable in a finished boat.
In this case, the logs are fastened using thin but quite strong wire, plastic film and waterproof tape. If desired, you can use glue that is not afraid of moisture.
Comments2 comments
- Gennady:
07/14/2016 at 16:40Good afternoon. I would be grateful if you could provide the addresses of the stage-by-stage construction of a boat made of foam plastic with plywood reinforcement in the required places, step by step, with all the details and photographs. I have no experience assembling boats, but I have a great desire. I’ve been browsing the Internet for a long time, but I haven’t yet found an interesting design option with an assembly technology that is understandable to me.
- Alexander:
03/16/2017 at 12:28
In the summer, the men and I walk along the reservoir to the hunting base. In some places its width reaches 10-20 km, and the height of the wave in stormy weather is up to half a meter. The entire journey to the base with a good engine (forty or higher) takes about 2-3 hours. I haven’t got my own boat yet, so someone has to “fall on the tail” and adapt to that guy, and this is not very convenient. I wonder if the boats you described in the article are suitable for such operating conditions? And what kind of engine can be installed on such boats? I'm deciding whether it's worth starting the construction.
Assembling the boat
In order for plastic motor boats for fishing to be durable, you should carefully consider the assembly of the vessel. From ready-made floats you need to assemble something like a raft or catamaran. If the design includes a motor, then it is better to make the vessel in the form of a real boat or even a yacht. Everything, of course, depends on the number of plastic bottles and needs.
The floats can be connected to each other using, for example, crossbars. This part of the vessel is made of wooden blocks, metal pipes or plywood. The bottom of the future vessel can be attached to the prepared crossbars. It can also be an ordinary board, plywood or metal pipes. It all depends on the size of the boat and the number of people who will sail on it.
Frame
The boat frame made of PVC pipe is the basis of the basics. The integrity of the structure will depend on its strength. You can learn how to build a frame correctly in the videos provided.
If you approach this issue irresponsibly, the constructed structure will fall apart the first time you try to launch it into the open water.
After detailed development and verification of the drawing, practical work on creating the frame can begin. You can secure the frame using the methods already suggested above, or you can use a soldering iron for plastic products.
Working with such tools is not difficult. Even a person who has no experience in this field can cope with these works. Soldering irons come with instructions that describe the entire procedure in detail.
It is not recommended to buy this tool for a one-time job to weld a frame, justifying it as economically unprofitable.
It is better to use a rented device to attach a frame made of plastic pipes. This service is offered by stores that sell soldering irons.
A frame made from blanks soldered with a soldering iron will last a long time. In this case, each joint of the frame will be highly durable. This way you can make a very durable structure with your own hands.
If any difficulties arise during work, video materials will help you solve the problem of how to properly make a frame from PVC pipes.