false floor bagged

The above image is of the false floor (approx 1900 x 1320mm) being vacuum bagged while it cures. The lay-up for the floor was 10mm 80kg/m^3 foam with a layer of 200gm^2 E-glass layed on the +- 45 deg to the centreline and an extra layer of 130gm^2 E-glass at 0/90 on the topside. This lay-up was chosen for several reasons:

1. The cloth was layed on the +- 45 so that i can create a "torsion box" with the floor, hull sides and hull underside between the mast and the transom (all of which will have laminates on the +- 45). This it to help create a stiffer hull with reference to torsion induced between the skipper downwind (back corner of the boat) and the rig trying to rotate in the opposite direction.

2. The 130gsm layer was added to the topsurface because on my old boat 1 layer of 200gsm was not quite enough and pierced easily, while 2 layers of 200gsm was better it seemed slightly heavy.

Also note the floor has two lateral stiffeners, which are an additional thickness of 10mm foam and capped each side with 300gsm Uni carbon. This is to help increase the stiffness of the floor as there will only be two stringers running parrallel to the centreline that support the floor.


This is our new rudder gantry mould. This was made from 18mm MDF then brushed with epoxy. The design is based on the one off my old boat, but approx 50mm higher at the bottom gudgeon than the last design to help keep it clear of the water at low planing speeds.


This shows the foam strips being built up and glued into place. This will result in a member that is 30 x 20mm once it has been shaped and faired. Also notice this mould incorporates a flat section from the lower gudgeon to the hull, this is so a thin laminate (2x 200gsm carbon) can be layed there to help further prevent the gantry from dragging in the water.

Whats next?

by approx 29th of May i hope to have all flat panels laminated (fore-deck, floor ribs, bulkheads, bowsprite support, spinnaker tunnel and tension members to take rig loads). As well as the transom bar and rudder gantry laminated. Then we can clear off the work table and assemble the jig to start on the shell.