Lock Crowther 1962 Kraken 25 trimaran build and rebuild log

Congrats Corley. And all the best to Mum and Geogia Grace.

 

Thanks OS, Mum and baby Georgia are settling in well at home and our two and a half year old daughter Emma loves her new baby sister.

 

Well it's been a long time since I've posted to this thread. Busy times in the workshop so only a little time for boatbuilding. I've started to glue the two float halves together with segments of 400gsm double bias glass. The gaps are due to skirting around the screws that are holding the hull halves onto the mold. It's all set off now so I can go back and pull the screws and glass over the gaps.

 

Hey Corley
Get yourself a roll of peel-ply for Christmas. Once you have tried it you won't ever go back!

 

Thanks for the suggestion, peel ply will be used for the larger glass areas just did not have any on hand for this job.

 

float deck jig construction.

I'm making a deck jig at the moment for the floats. The big problem I've found is that the floats I have don't agree with the plans these are prototype floats, custom and a different length and shape. I'll set the new float on the deck jig and it should help with positioning of bulkheads, deck gear and crossbeam mounts and keep the appropriate shape.

The deck jig consists of some cheap luan 3mm ply, I'll laminate two layers together for stiffness. My plan is cut the sheets in half lengthwise lay the two up together onto the curve of the float deck and glue together in situ to get the correct curve. I may laminate on another layer if I don't think it's stiff enough.

 

I'm preparing the rear crossbeam for paint it's actually in good condition and quite useable. I've partially constructed a deck jig (used the original float as a reference) which I'll use to hold the now unloaded molded float skin in shape ready for it's poured keelson, bulkheads and decks.

 

I've painted the rear crossbeam now. Strangely enough the beams are the most salvageable parts of the platform of the original boat. I was reluctant to spray it so brushed and have some sags and runs to contend with now the gloss is good though. The Toplac paint brushes well and I thought I had tipped off well but lots of runs obviously user error next time I'll apply with a roller rather than a brush. The traveler is a home made one I might buy a commercial roller bearing and track car system to replace the original. The fasteners that held the traveler track on were all corroded and in need of replacement.

 

To anyone who has been following this thread with interest, and who might be inspired to build one for themselves-----I have plans available.
If interested just PM me.
Cheers. OS7.

 

Pics

Pics of this design when sailing do show what to me anyway is one of THE prettiest simple boats ever designed.

Good on ya' for saving a piece of art and history.

Cheers,

 

Thanks, I'm making some progress now that my girls are growing up a bit, there is just a tiny bit more time to spend in the workshop. I reckon even my wife will like this boat when it's finished.

 

BTW - that blog in your sig - is it your personal blog or are you a contributor there?

Keep up the pics and great discussion of the Kraken

And Gary's Sid is always a treat and could use even more coverage - i love pretty much everything he does.

 

I'm a contributor at the MYCV blog and run the trimaranproject blog.

 

Ahh, that wood looks beautiful on that fine hull.
Maybe you should post your K25 build over at Sailing Anarchy; there's a thread on the good, the bad and the ugly devoted to wood and ply. There's one anti-wood bigot in particular who will begin to mouth froth in anger at your images. Cheers.

 

I've finished the deck jig for the float hulls. It doesn't look like much but took quite a bit of work to get right. In addition to setting a fair shape for the gunwhale it will help with the positioning of hardware and beam bulkheads.