Material costing estimates

Discussion in 'Materials' started by Ryan w Taylor, Jul 9, 2018.

  1. Ryan w Taylor
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    Ryan w Taylor New Member

    Hi all,
    I am currently studying engineering at University, I am looking for ballpark costs for beams for a catamaran, one being carbon fiber with a diameter of 118mm, the other oak with a diameter of 225mm. I'm not sure these are viable sizes and they need to be 7m long.

    I have no experience with boat building at all so please forgive any naivety! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    Thanks
    Ryan
     
  2. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Too vague
     
  3. Ryan w Taylor
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    Ryan w Taylor New Member

    No worries, what other details do I need? It doesn't need to be quite, just need average.
     
  4. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    You would need to have a laminating schedules for both. You would need to spec the laminations in the oak beam as solid would not be stable. The amount of epoxy would depend on the amount of glass/carbon. An oak beam laminated in epoxy would also need finishing as epoxy is not UV stable. Finishing adds another layer of cost.

    As with many of these types of requests, what happens is it looks like a school homework project to most of us that you want someone else to do for you..
     
  5. Ryan w Taylor
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    Ryan w Taylor New Member

    If I were asking you to do my school project I would be asking for the radius of each beam with regards to it's Max deflection with specific mast weights. So no I'm not asking you to do my project. I am asking advice from more knowledgeable people in boat building, as I have absolutely none, for a simple cost to justify weather my theoretical boat should use an oak beam or a carbon fiber beam. If it is too much to ask because I don't have more specs that's fine and I apologise for wasting your time.
     
  6. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    Ryan

    Try reposting and ask for a rough idea about how to spec or build these.

    You can also use aluminum beams. Getting cost is really tough. The beam manufacturers all require going through distributors.

    I bought AL beams for a 32' cat a year ago and paid about $4000 usd for 55' of beams (sailboat mast). A good deal. I woukd estimate for a larger boat $125-150 per lineal foot for AL.

    The oak is harder because I don't know the size (spec). If you were to laminate say 6 pieces? of say 8" wide 3/4" oak together and epoxy and glass it, the cost per foot might be ... say $20-50 per lineal foot depending upon the cost for white oak and clears vg oak might be higjer still.

    I have no idea how to spec a carbon beam.
     
  7. AusShipwright
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    AusShipwright Junior Member

  8. fallguy
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    fallguy Senior Member

    The AL would be 8-10# per foot.

    White oak about 15.

    CF ?
     

  9. Ryan w Taylor
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    Ryan w Taylor New Member

    That's exactly what I needed. Thank you for your help.
     
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