Getting really close

Still a few details to go, and bottom paint.  And a lot more details.  But very close to see the water now.
(PS sorry about the poor light conditions, but the pictures were taken 11:23 pm.)

Getting closer

So - I need to gather a bunch of people to help me assemble the boat again.  Hopefully this week-end.

Modifying second float bow

This was written some time around easter, but I did not succeed in publishing it.

I never got around to collect any objective data on how my new float bow performed last year.  All available time was put in to sailing, and I never even got my instruments calibrated.  However, no adverse effect was sensed, no significant difference in the tendency to nose dive, but I had a definite feeling that the boat retrieved much better from nose dives.  So now it's time to make my self a symmetric trimaran again.

Extending workshop, enjoying Aurora Borealis

Due to the need for a larger workshop to finish my friend's mast, we started an extension last year, but the progress have been extremely slow.  However, the concrete for the floor will come tomorrow, new wall are now isolated, and lights are mounted.  This means that the modification of the second float bow will start soon.

Last years sailing season was extremely short for me, and hence, sailing will be prioritized over modifications to the boat this year, and the C-foils may have to wait another year.  Further progress will decide.

Insulation and levelling.  Ready to pour concrete.

When I got home tonight, I was entertained by a beautiful aurora borealis.  Did not have a camera at hand able to capture it.

Sailing

Sunday I was out sailing with my regular crew Vegar and two new potential crew members, eager to learn sailing. We were crossing the fjord a couple of times. We had a GoPro on the float deck, the result can be seen here

On the water. Brief update.

While waiting for the epoxy to cure, I started to make the main hull ready.  Beams back on.

Jib furler line in Silas' new fairlead

Daggerboard control line cleat blocked up with a piece of UHMWPE.

Engine bolted to the new engine bracket.

Everything while the epoxy skimming coat was curing

And then the two coats of primer

With great help from good friends we were able to put the boat together again on Thursday night August 22

During Friday night and the small hours of Saturday, the boat was launched and most of the necessary equipment was refitted. I was pushing hard these days as the annual local distance race "Ytterøya rundt" started in the morning of Saturday August 24. Still the largest race in our part of the country, although have been suffering very light conditions over the last few years.  Last year we were the only boat to finish the course. This year 43 boats participated, of which only 3 boats reached the first rounding due to the glassy conditions, most of the time no detectable movement in the air at all, but half a knot of favourable current.  I ended about 100m from the mark when the race was called off.  A beautiful day though, just like summer in fact.

Ytterøya rundt Aug 24 2013

Almost there

After round one: filling the lows, cheese grating was due, and then: The big fill.  I have experienced that adding enough filler to avoid having to re fill low areas saves a lot of work.  A bit more sanding, but if you make your compound light and use fresh paper on the torture board it is not that bad.  Several re fillings however can be bad due to different hardness etc leading to new lows etc etc, you get the picture.  However, I have not yet been able to add enough in the big fill to get there.  But better all the time. Filling and fairing looking in different angles at different stages

Planning for a scientific experiment

I decided a couple of weeks ago, that if I were to hit the water before the snow starts to fall around here, there were no way I could finish the work I have started.  The upside is, that when I add one modified and one original float to the boat, I will effectively be able to tell the difference, if notable.  I am also capable to record various data, such as roll and pitch, from my Nexus system.

I had my share of sudden decelerations when the float was "submarining" and the flat deck acted as a break last season, once I was solo I was very close to be thrown over board actually.  To make these stops a bit softer I am adding 40mm foam to the front deck.

Rounding it off to the best of my ability

And filling the transition to the original hull with epoxy/micro-balloons

Laminating, using a 300gsm 2x2 twill carbon fabric.  Conservatively wetted out and vacuum to make sure no bubble trouble
.

The port float had several cracks from the storm last fall.  I turned out, however, that the hybrid lay up I used is very durable.  Except for two places, the cracking was only in the fairting compound, and the laminate was only dented.  No internal delamination either.  I just sanded with my pressured air angle grinder at 22000 rpm and coarse disc until kevlar fibres were lifting from the bottom of the site.  Then laminating over with 300gsm carbon.  Vacuum.

Filling the dents

Round one:  Filling the lows

The "new" float is getting there, slowly.  The first, starboard, side was a bit of work, but I think it starts looking reasonable.  Port side was a blast and the next two float sides should be even faster, as I can apply the extra foam more precise.

I have removed the SS deck fitting for the bow pole side stay and replaced it with a piece of carbon tubing taped to the forward bulkhead.  I will use a system similar to the one on the shrouds to attach the stays.

 More sheets of 12mm H60 foam being glued to the central 75mm foam bow cap piece

 Another sheet being glued to the float side

 Bow cap being attached

The carbon tube is taped to the forward bulkhead

 Float up side down.  Elongated at waterline, but the shape is preserved at the first few inches of immersion to maintain the good light air performance.

 Port side up side down.  Will give an idea as to how the additional buoyancy is distributed. Much less fairing compound will be required prior to lamination here.

 Front view up side up.  I plan on adding a rounded deck the first 152 cm of the float to assist in the resurfacing process after the occational dive, and to reduce the rate of deceleration encountered with the current design.

 Oblique view

 Prototype padding.  Lots of bits and pieces of foam and a bunch of fairing compound.  This shape is transferred to the other sides using templates every foot cut from this shape.

Establishing the new forward float shape

I have an idea of how the shape at the first bulkhead should be.  And the new profile of the float bow.  Then I just have to try and tie it all together and apply the adjustments listed in my last post.  I am still uncertain as to how well this will go, both with respect to the final result as well as how much trouble it will be to make these changes.

This morning i started out glueing a 12mm sheet of foam to the next 1,2 metres aft of the first bulkhead..  I use PU glue for all the foam glueing.  I put this sheet in a bag to make sure I had sufficient pressure over the whole panel while curing.  The foam blank in progress seen in foreground.

I was home waiting for the cure when Per, who has been working in my workshop, building a new carbon wing mast for his cruising cat, called me and told of a gigantic bang that suddenly had frightened him.  It turned out the resin trap had imploded.  Saved the job by bypassing the trap.

After rough shaping the new foam I glued another sheet in the more forward part.

I think I will have to attach the foam blank now, and just work the long board to get the lines smooth.  Then probably make up  patterns to transfer the same shape to the three other float bow sides.