Tropical Wood Catamaran Boat

I had a similar experience 22 years ago with the first plywood 2 part nesting dinghy I built.
I lavished epoxy on it inside and out (with a layer of cloth on the outside as well), but I built it in the middle of our rainy season in the tropics (with very high humidity) and a few years later the plywood had all rotted , leaving just a very wobbly single layer of glass cloth with epoxy claiming to be my dinghy..
I had taken a mould of it before it rotted away, and a mate and I built a couple of GRP versions for ourselves. My GRP one is still fine - or at least the GRP is - however there is not much left of the pine gunwhales now after they were savaged by termites.
I am trying to work up some enthusiasm now to replace them - I think that there will be no wood involved......

Edit - do termites like slightly soggy plywood? I wonder if they chomped on the plywood as well as the gunwhales.

 

Moral of the story, don't encapsulate ? Polyester had a reputation, I don't know how well deserved, as inhibiting rot in encapsulated timber, one wonders how epoxy which is virtually waterproof, would not act to inhibit through lack of exchange of moisture, maybe that is the problem, the moisture can't get out.

 

moral of the story is build fast and not in a rainy season

 

There are a few factors to consider, species durability not least.

 

I don't know about the plywood, but they are powerfully attracted to wetted particle board (even after it's dried). The particle board turns to sponge anyway, but of course, the critters attack the other structural stuff while they're there. Make what you will of that.

 

Hi bajansailor,
I am so grateful for my plan and thought to be critic to enable me learn to do this project the right way.

 

Hi upchurchmr,
Yes you are right planks are of canoe size Thickness 1/2'' x Width about 25" x Length about 15' but size will depend where a plank will be install install.
Joint will be skiff and epoxy, cutter sunk head screws will be used with wood plugs to prevent water from entering. It is also understood that wood boat has a lot of maintenance work. I remember when I was helping my uncle in fishing days, when will return from the waters we will clean the canoe of foils and pull the canoe out of the waters to dry and it largely prevent the wood from damage.
But of cause it is impossible to do that with a cat.
Thank

 

'Of cause' is not proper English...

it is 'of course'...

best regards...

 

Thank you very much for the correction

 

LOL, we knew what you meant, somarine.

 

My prototype Hull
Thanks all

 

hull bottom looks a bit narrow to me, but not a big fan of telling you because all I have is another designer's plans as basis, we you going for just a displacement hull or semi?

I see electric motors as well. Those are pretty costly and you won't have much range. Is this a real ship or a project for school?

 

Hi fallguy,
"hull bottom looks a bit narrow" yes I am trying Deep V-hull in this project. The Project is LOA : 8' LWL: 7.5'. I do not intend to use this as a real ship but instead using it to learn the tricks and tips towards my 11m ship.
My current problem is the wood bit,

 

Study this: Atom Voyages - Hans Klaar on Building and Sailing the Polynesian Double Canoe Ontong Java https://www.atomvoyages.com/articles/sailor-interviews/327-hans-klaar-building-and-sailing-the-polynesian-double-canoe-ontong-java.html

 

Thanks Rumars
It really encourages