O.K. first thing...A month or so ago Ian Lindahl came over and helped glass the inside of the first hull. This opened the doors to a lot of progress. Once that was done I could start with the internal structure - bulkheads, sublayer, transom, forestay and shroud blocks, and sheer clamp.
The first things to build were the bulkheads. These are vertical structures that are placed where the aluminum cross beams go to connect the two hulls. These bulkheads are made from a foam sheet laminated between two pieces of 3mm okume plywood. The half round cut out at the bottom simply allows for air flow and if any water does get in I can get it out at the transom (back end) through an access point. In the forward bulkhead I cut out the center. This simply lightens the panel a bit more. They are then glued in place with thickened epoxy.
Second was to place the forestay and shroud blocks. For the non-boaters there are two cables on each hull that hold the mast up. The forward cable is the forestay and the aft cable is the shroud. The blocks are the anchoring points for the u-bolt which the cables will connect to. I decided that from the side view of the hull I wanted to have a curved deck. So to locate the forestay and shroud blocks I need to create a pattern for the curve, temporarily place my sheer clamp (the long piece of pine running the length of the boat) and below that place the blocks.
The photo showing the overall view illustrates the use of clamps made from PVC pipe and the close up view shows the curve pattern, sheer clamp and then the block. The block is also bonded to the hull side using epoxy and for safe measure I glassed over it.
Third was to place the sub layers. There are two sub layers. One forward of the main bulkhead. This layer keeps the hull from collapsing in the event I pitchpull - basically flipping end over end - This link has a few images of boats pitchpulling. http://www.mathran.nl/acat/node/17. The second layer is between the main bulkhead and the aft bulkhead and will keep the hull from collapsing as I fly a hull. When I do that I will be literally standing on the side of the hull (Oh...I can't wait!). You can see an example of Ian flying a hull in the video posted in the last update. So.. These layers are both made from standard 2" pink insulation foam cut to shape and then spot glued in place. These will also help keep the shape of the hull when I start laying up the deck.So Next is to assemble the sheer clamp. This is a 3/4 x 3/4 strip of pine running the length of the hull on both sides at the top. This provides enough surface area to adhere the deck to as well as stiffen the sheer (the sheer is where the hull and deck come together) I have this started but no pictures as of yet.
After that I will either get the second hull up to the same point as this hull or start the deck...don't know yet.
