Practical Boat Owner - July 2018

(^5)
Two lengths of softwood are added to the wide aft section
to give the panels stiffness and to ensure compliance with
the no concavity restriction in the class rules. The seams are
epoxy fi lleted and taped with woven fl ax which has similar
strength to glassfi bre tape but blends into the timber better.
6
The interior is given a layer of 160gsm woven cloth/epoxy.
Most of the moulds can now be removed and the wooden
inwales are fi tted together with some of the bulkheads. All parts
fi tted to the boat are epoxy coated on all surfaces prior to fi tting,
especially on exposed end grain, to prevent water absorption.
3
Individual panels are added symmetrically, one at a time to
each side, to minimise stress and twisting. Here the last
topsides panel is being added.
1
The formers were cut to shape in particle board then set up
on a strongback. Duct tape prevents panels sticking to
them when the chine seams are epoxied. During the build
process it was found that fewer formers were actually required.
4
With all the hull panels fi tted, wired and tabbed into place
the structure is ready for epoxy fi lleting and taping of all
the seams.
(^2)
The fi rst panels are fi tted into place and wired together on
the seams. Note the small plywood tabs screwed into the
formers to help twist and hold the panels securely in place
against the sides of the mould.
Forming the hull
BUILD A 2.4MR CLASS RACER AT HOME
Step
by
step