Float in storage

4 of us carry the float out of the shop

 - float weighs 319 lbs

removing the carrying ropes and bars

 float stored away until beams are made and fitted, and mounting holes drilled

- all this before the deck can go on

float stored under blue tarp beside our present smaller trimaran

Topside ready for plywood deck

 glass overlaps at stem have been sanded fair and appear white

 nice curves!

 deck beams at aluminum plates have been epoxied in place

deck beam notches are done

gunnels have been planed fair ready for plywood

Deck prep work starts

 float is upright for deck prep work

side view of glassed hull before deck work

Epoxy coating the float interior

turning the hull on it's side made it easier to reach inside to brush on 3 coats of epoxy

this way gravity helped the epoxy to flow out smooth

Fiberglassing

 glass cloth positioned dry

- cloth overlaps the keel 2" from both sides

- two strips of cloth, 2" and then 3" wide, were previously epoxied over the keel

- this gives 4 layers over the keel for toughness

epoxy was applied by 10" window style squeegee 

small stapled wood scraps holding the cloth will be removed after wetout

Keel protection

 1/8" oak laminations on stem for toughness

soild oak strips at stern for toughness

Okoume plywood

Okoume plywood for the cabin and beams arrives

3/8" okoume plywood with 7 layers

BS 1088 stamp

3rd layer of veneer done

narrower 1.5" wide veneer strips were used around the curve of the bilge

3rd layer of cedar veneer filled and sanded fair, ready for glass cloth

3rd layer of veneer started

 1/8" veneer thickness was scarfed 8:1 at longitudinal joins 

2nd layer done

 the surface will be sanded fair before the next layer goes on

staples and straps have been removed

2nd layer of veneer started

 wedges driven under the straps align "wild" edges

 wax paper facilitates removal after cure

plenty of wedges

1st layer of cedar veneer done

 Cedar veneers glued edge to edge

 1st layer of 1/8" cedar veneer done and sanded

pencil lines show stringer locations for accurate stapling of the next layer

Enthusiasm is growing!

Family interest arranges a viewing

1st layer of cedar veneer started

 veneers glued edge to edge and to the stringers/gunnels/keel

veneers held with straps and staples

Stringers faired and ready

 stringers faired in at bow

 and at stern

tapered stringer's free ends held fair with fishing line

drainage channels along bilge stringers

Making cedar veneer - lots of it!

Planing 1/8" red cedar veneers 

each hull gets 3 layers

approx 1200 sq ft needed for floats and mainhull