Windknife trifoiler build

Had to dump the PRO-SET and instead go for Gurit SP340LV HT. Discussed with their UK composite technologist Martin Armstrong and worked out the details of the joint.
Before joining I did a T-terminal conversion of the rather clumsy hounds using a Fiberfoam A-cat fitting.

 

Due to low inspiration during the covid period this project was put on ice. I have finally resumed the build. After a few days work in December the hull is close to ready. What is left to do, is laminating 5cm wide carbon band around all tube joints, under the rear beam pocket and around the forestay bulkhead. When all reinforcements are done, a few holes in the swiss cheese deck has to be filled.

Rear beam pocket with waterstay reinforcements:

Forestay bulkhead:

Mockup of rudder gantry with linear actuator for MPU controlled pitch control:

Front beam waterstay/dolphinstriker:

Swiss cheese:

 

Finally all reinforcements on the hull are done. Weighted the naked hull using a calibrated scale and it was just under expected 25kg. The scale showed 24.9kg minus 0.3kg on the bow for balancing. 24.6 is OK. The large hole at the rear is for an Osculati waterproof box for the electronics. Also weighted the 8m 18cm cord carbon mast when the scale was available, 13.2kg is better than hoped for at 1.65kg/m.

 

The design has evolved since the start of the project. This is the present status of the design, including electronic pitch control and adjustable AoA trim using linear actuators.