look for some large (+10”) plastic water pipe/gas main scrap ends (they should be blue or green in color). Now if you heat them up to approx 210-225F the material will became plyable/moldable. So cut the required approximately sized piece ( depending on pipe dia it will be 1/2 or 1/3 of circumference). Heat and mold to the hull, being sure to place a pad of the approximant thickness of the carpet/padding to be installed in the cradle to protect the hull from the heat. Cool with cold water. NOTE: Do Not let the girlfriend/wife know what you have cooking in the oven, they will not appreciate cooking plastic pipe in the same oven they bake their muffins in!!! ( been there, done that, had that conversation!!!) Be REALLY careful or the temperature, +250F and you will have SMOKE!!! Good luck Harry Murphey
Harry,
Is the "good luck" meant for success in getting the section of pipe shaped the way you want it, or getting it heated in the oven without getting caught by a wife/girlfriend. I think on some level, I am still in trouble for running some automotive parts thru the dishwasher back in my Mustang Restoration days. ( I STILL remember THAT conversation )Not sure I wanna take a chance on putting boat trailer parts in the oven. It IS a heck of a good idea, and maybe the next time she and her sister do a "Girls Weekend, I'll be getting some new trailer bunks formed up . Thanks for the additional tip on the maximum temp to use when softening the sections of pipe. Those sections work pretty well on 18's without any custom fitting, but I am working on a 16 for a friend this winter.
Stephen
Hobie 18
