HELP! Hull is Sagging! I don't know what to do!

[CatBuilder]

Thanks for the advice on the "L" beam strongback, guys. It really worked.

Here are the results.

Picture #1: The mold, cut apart. Pretty sharp looking bow, huh? (pun intended!)




Picture #2: The b*tch is finally out! How I have to wrestle it up against the wall somehow. Too tired for that today. Will start that tomorrow.

[hoytedow]

That is real progress. Did the mold cut go smoothly?

[CatBuilder]

Yeah, the mold cut came out a lot better than I thought it would.

There is literally no movement when things are bolted back together.

The 4 bolts, nuts and washers hold it in place well and I used a jigsaw, which has a kerf about the same as a Japanese saw.

So far so good...

Still an awful lot of logistics to go though. I have to get that hull up against the wall and I want to store it up right (deck up) to keep the balsa away from the concrete and large lakes that form in my shop when it rains. I have to support it up like that.

Then, I have to make the next half, but the halves are all on the wrong sides of each other. This first half is the inboard, port hull. The next half out will be the outboard, starboard hull.

Then, change the mold around (and rotate the mold, I think, so I don't have to rotate the hulls).

From there I'll make the outboard port hull and inboard starboard hull. They will have to play leap frog though, to get them on the correct sides of the building. Bit of a PITA.

Andrew: I'm thinking my hull will be fine sitting around. Take a look at what's supporting it. It doesn't move a bit. I have a temporary bulkhead at every other station and massive longitudinal stiffeners - an L beam. It's not bending even a little. I am going to proceed in normal order of building, since the hull is so well supported. Also, the epoxy is cured. There is no post cure required with System Three epoxy, other than the slowest hardener for the general purpose epoxy. Other than that, when she's done, she's done... and she's done!

That is a smart idea about doing half bulkheads in that fashion. I already have this half out though. Scarf joints scare me a bit. They don't seem to seal up nicely all the time, but maybe I can do this on the other set when they are ready... thanks for the idea.

[viking north]

I know boats are referred to in the female gender but "b-tch". She looks good and in your honour on this friday afternoon and after spending 8 days replacing failing KYTECK b-tch plumbing in my B&B in a 4 foot crawl space i'm breaking open a bottle of rum. So here's mud in your eye and may the rest of the build go less stressful.--Geo.

A yacht is not defined by the vessel but by the care and love of her owner.

[CatBuilder]

Thank you, Geo! What a great post.

Do enjoy that rum. I definitely don't envy you in that 4ft crawl space, in March, in Nova Scotia. Thanks for the kind words and enjoy the rum!

[rberrey]

You have it wipped now,wether or not there's a better way or easyer way you glassed it and got it out of the mold.3 more to go .

[rberrey]

Cat, also while you have the rigging on it, you may be able to stand (dig) two or three post in the ground along the side of the tent. Hook a pully or comealong to the post (4x4) to stand the hull, and tie them off to the post. rick

[Charly]

Congratulations Catbuilder! Cheers! Having something to show for your efforts will sure put new spring in your steps!

Do you still have the leftover convex pieces of the advantech from the mold build? Maybe you could fashion a mold/cradle to go underneath the hull section to support it and hold it vertical? Just a thought.

[cthippo]

Congrats, Cat. Good work and we look forward to your next step!

[CatBuilder]

Thanks, everyone. Again, I arrived at Andrew's advice. Ha ha ha.

I am reversing the mold to make the matching half to my first half. Doing so eliminates a great deal of shuffling hulls around.

I am making the entire port hull, then entire starboard hull.

This requires two mold reversals rather than one, but is safer for the hulls (less movement) and gets them into the right place as each comes out of the mold.