The Hull Build

Epoxy primer is first sprayed into the mould.  This helps to assure that the phenomenal adhesion characteristics of the epoxy laminating resin, which comes next, does not bond the new hull permanently to the mould.  

Finished hull laminate, with vacuum lines in place.  The small black fixture in the foreground is a vacuum gauge, to monitor the level of vacuum. 

The forward backbone and keelson bedded into place inside the hull laminate, prior to pulling the part from the mould.  Note the very precise compression device on the backbone; an untrained eye would mistake that for a concrete block.

Those who like their laws and sausages, should watch neither being made.... Here The Chief drives plastic wedges between the hull laminate and the mould to start the process of breaking the new hull out of the form.  The rope bridle and chainfall are seen at left.  If the boat hangs up in the mould, the seasoned pros just get a bigger hammer.

The Chief and Willie Crear, without a traditional 'whiskey plank' to lay, make do with a couple of liters of dark rum.

The finished hull, with interior components such as backbone, keelson, mast horses, sprit bulkhead, and sideboard boxes, weighed in at 245 pounds.  Together with the deck, the two parts came in at 375 pounds, without any sideboards, rigging, mast, boom, rudders, sprit, or line.  The class minimum weight is 595 pounds.

The finished hull and deck glued together with thickened Gougeon epoxy paste.  While waiting for the epoxy to kick off, we used shrink wrap tape to hold the pieces in precise alignment.