Attention Australian builders

Sorry about that bloke, I deleted it as you posted this one.

Dave

 

No worries, I probably didn't make it obvious enough!

 

Report on KSS building technique

G'day,
We have just finished the KSS workshop to build the 15m/50' hull of a
harryproa http://www.harryproa.com/SoloTranspac/Solitarry1.htm.

In a word, it was fantastic. 12 people (about equivalent to 3
boatbuilders working full time once all the talking and learning had
taken place) attended and we got the two half hulls and the deck
infused. Hulls are gel coated above the water line so no fairing or
painting is required. There were a few materials related hiccups, so
we did not glass or fair the half hulls after the below waterline
shaping was done, but this is not a huge job. If we did it again, the
whole lot would be completed in the 4 days, which is a quantum leap
quicker than any other one off build technique. Derek's deck edge
radius is a stroke of genius, so joining it all together will be very
quick and accurate.

It all looks fair, but we won't know for sure until the rest of the
glassing is done and the frames removed. The wet out and laminate
consolidation is 100%. Vinylester resin still smells, but infusion
is so much better, lighter, quicker and less wasteful than hand layup
that there is no comparison. Bag the job, pour the resin into the
bucket, open the tap and 15 minutes (mostly spent ooohing and aaahing)
later you are sitting down with a cup of tea, with half a 50' hull
curing on the table. 450 gsm or 2,500 gsm, it all gets wet out with
exactly the right amount of resin; no voids, no dry spots. The hull
we built is pretty small, but the same technique and timing will apply
to any size hull.

There were 6 (including Mark and I) professional strip plank builders
present, all of whom were convinced that this is a much better way to
build boats. The materials cost was $5,000, which included tailoring
the foam, which was so easy that it would have been cheaper to do it
our selves. Strip cedar/epoxy are similar materials cost, plus paint.

There will be some photos on the harryproa web page soon, and a weight analysis.

Two highlights: First was Derek, whose knowledge of the technique made
it all very easy and enjoyable for everyone from the the know it alls
who didn't, to the completely inexperienced. His tales of the early
days of multihull development and short handed sailing were a large
bonus.

The second was that after 3 days of workshop we booked dinner at a
moderately swanky restaurant. We worked late and did not have time to
go home and get changed, so went along in our work clothes. Apart
from one messy person (me) having gel coat on his trousers, no one was
barred from entry. Infusion is a very clean operation.

We all had such a good time that we are going to have another workshop
in August to build the ww hull. Only half as long, but more complex
due to the cantilevered bunks and cockpit. It will even be possible
to infuse the complex curves of the seats and include the washboard
track and hatch surrounds in the laminate. With the deck edge radius,
all 7 parts (2 hull halves, deck (including cockpit cover) 2 seats,
bunk base and bunk wall will slot together with no additional glassing
or filleting required.

Regards,


Rob

 

Rob, great to hear it went well & everyone had fun, look forward to seeing the photos soon. Regards from Jeff

 

"The debate about fibre orientation and shape compromise was played out more than 10 years ago... in the multihull world remained intact."

I don't think that is fair as an attack on the KHSD. There were misrepresentations on both sides. It's true that KSS has more joints and pooches below the waterline where they might reasonably be said to count, but the topsides look great. CM has scarfs that create vertical interuptions in the flow. I think Kurt was wrong to some extent on the emphasis on longi fiber above all else, but other than KSS, I don't see most modern designers or builder running out to make boats out of polyester resin and old school foam. Both methods are compromises.

It's brilliant KSS came along to allow one to stressform cored hulls. While the doorskins were available (hear they are available in certain places still with the good glue) it was great to build a 24' tri for $3K using CM. The good deal about KSS is they still sell lots of GRP and foam products

 

Hello,
I am a boatbuilder building catamarans using Kelsall's KSS system for quite sometime now and I must say I am very pleased with the results. The system allow us to build faster and totally custom hulls. 3 58footers are currently in production.
For those who are not familiar with the system, the hulls are infused flat on a table (with vinilester resin preferably) and then bent to shape by a series of supports and strings for a final laminate (4-5 layers) once in place.
All who know him must agree Mr. Kelsall is a true gentleman and innovator with lots of knowledge on what he does.
cheers,
Giorgio B.

 

I'm curious how many home builders have succeeded in making a KSS design without attending or organizing a workshop first. Workshops are a great idea, and you can tell that when even a builder as experienced as Rob has a blast at one that they are well worth it. Still if every build was preceded by the designer and a crew of 10 eager participants attending, then CM, CC, strip planked, whatever hull, would also rip out the door. Maybe not equally fast, etc... but it's like Tom Sawyer painting a fence, it's pretty amazing what a group of people can get done.

So I am wondering, how many people have done this process with nothing more than the planset in hand, or is it too complicated to get right without professional help?