One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for making a boat.
The boat includes a port side positioned opposite from a starboard side.
The boat also includes a floor and stingers supports positioned within
the hull. The method includes providing a insert having two spaced-apart
elongated portions interconnected by at least two spaced-apart transverse
portions that extend between the elongated portions. The elongated
portions are sized and relatively positioned for one of the elongated
portions to extend along the port side of the hull and the other of the
elongated portions to extend along the starboard side of the hull. The
method also includes positioning the insert in a chamber defined between
a male mold piece and a female mold piece. The method further includes
providing fibrous reinforcing material that surrounds the insert within
the chamber. The fibrous reinforcing material includes portions
positioned between the male mold piece and the insert, and also includes
portions positioned between the female mold piece and the insert. The
method further includes transferring resin into the chamber between the
male and female mold pieces such that the resin envelops the fibrous
reinforcing material, and curing the resin within the chamber. As the
resin cures, the resin enveloped fibrous reinforcing material hardens to
form the hull, the floor and the support stringers of the boat.