Deck Lay-up begins |
| Monday, 14 April 2003 |
The mould has now been finished. After the initial wooden mould has been faired and glassed, it is cooked and vacuum bagged without any lay-up. This ensures that there is a good seal for the vacuum once it has been laid up, and also makes sure that there is no warping of the mould shape when heated.
At the end of last week the outer skin was laid up, and then the first cook was completed by the weekend. As the oven takes a couple of days to cool down, this means that it is ready to go again on Monday without wasting any time in the schedule.
The interior structure is also forging ahead. The majority of the bulkheads are in place, except for the aftermost bulkhead A. This is kept out of the boat for as long as possible to leave good access. The bowpole tube is being laminated in, and the engine bearers are in and the shaft position aligned. The daggerboard case is also in place.
The mould for the coachroof is also now underway, which will be the last of the large carbon structures to be completed
The interior is being built off the boat, with a moulded ‘hull’ to ensure that it will fit when transferred. This will help ease congestion once the laminators have completed their work and all the different trades – joiners, electricians, engineers – are fighting for space in the hull. The only job they then have to do in the confines of the boat is to put the interior in place.
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