Construction Profile

[Willallison]

Would anybody be prepared to post, or to email me directly, a typical construction profile for a mid-sized sailboat (say 35ft) of cored FRP construction? I have all the finer details down-pat, but I'm not sure on how a few of the elements fit together.
Thanks in advance....

[Tim B]

Glassfibre on the outside, foam or core material in the middle. See "Principles of Yacht Design" for more info.

Simple huh?

Tim B.

[Willallison]

I ask a silly question on the odd occaision - but I aint that dumb!! When I say how a few of the elements fit together, I meant for instance - at the mast step, there is (or should be so I believe) a floor, the step and mast themselves, and at least one bulkhead. Lets say the bulkhead is immediately fwd of the mast. Is the bulkhead bonded directly to the fwd face of a floor? Should the floor literally be under the mast step? Or one fust fwd and another aft of it?
Where there are floors, should transverse frames extend up the hull from the top edge of the floor? Or should there be a frame, with a floor bonded to its fwd / aft face?
etc etc etc

[SailDesign]

Will,
When you think "floor" in a cored hull, don't thinl a seperate member, but rather a frame where the face goes horizontal under the sole. Don't EVER glue stuff to faces, fwd or aft...
Bulkheads are just frames without holes in 'em. Well, you can usually put in a door if you want, just add some xorner'banding (45 degrees across corner area), and run some tape to seal the two faces "through" the hole. If you need a floor in way of the bulkhead, then build the floor, tapering cloth onto the hull, and then put in the bulkhead on top of it.
Ideally, the mast step should be on an intersection, but if you can't, then have a floor immediately fwd and aft of it (preferably with one of them under an end) See above if you need a bulkhead there

Steve

[Willallison]

Gotcha - thanks Steve

Ideally, the mast step should be on an intersection

...intersection of frames / stringers I take it...?

[SailDesign]

Sorry, Will. Should have been clearer. Intersection of frame/floor and centreline structure. I suppose you could call it a centreline stringer

Steve

[Willallison]

hmmm.... assuming that there is a 'centreline stringer'....many boats seem to do away with this....

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Willallison

hmmm.... assuming that there is a 'centreline stringer'....many boats seem to do away with this....

Well, you could always put in an intercostal in way of the stick.....

Or you could send me the plans as they are and I'll charge you a fortune to finish them.

Just kidding - my prices aren't THAT high......

Steve

[Willallison]

...trust me...it costs me enough to do my Westlawn course as it is!!
....and if the boat were for me, there wouldn't be mast to worry about

[SailDesign]

You mean I'm doing your homework?

You naughty boy...

Dang! I thought after 4 kids I'd have spotted the signs by now.

Steve "good luck with the Westlawn, Will"

[Willallison]

...just helping Steve, just helping....

[SailDesign]

Originally Posted by Willallison

...just helping Steve, just helping....

Oh... That's OK then

Steve