Working with Composites Archives | Page 6 of 12

Weight, Performance, and Payload: The Logic Behind Our Catamaran Refit

Topics: An engineering analysis of weight reduction in a catamaran refit, covering the strategic goals of increasing payload capacity and the critical considerations of balance, center of gravity, and structural integrity. Author: Shayne & Anna The systematic replacement of Paikea’s timber interior with composite structures continues with the installation of a new bunk and bulkhead. This work is part […]

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Custom Cabin Floor: An Advanced Vinyl Ester Infusion

Topic: A look at the meticulous process of vacuum infusing a custom cabin floor, highlighting the switch to a low-viscosity vinyl ester resin and the advanced “envelope bagging” technique that ensures a perfect, void-free laminate. Author: Shayne and Anna What happens when a standard boat-building task meets a professional’s desire for perfection? You get an advanced vacuum

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Structural Bulkhead: Building a Return Flange Under the Floor

Structural Bulkhead: Building a Return Flange Under the Floor Some weeks the best footage comes from the people who weren’t supposed to be filming. This one belongs to the boys. With a week away at work, Harry and Ollie took over documentation duties aboard Paikea — and there were two genuinely separate projects happening at

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Structural Cabinetry: When Your Furniture Is Also Your Boat

Structural Cabinetry: When Your Furniture Is Also Your Boat The socks-and-underwear drawer dividers on this boat are also doing structural work. That’s not an accident — it’s the whole design philosophy. Furniture that stiffens the boat The bunk top needed support, and the obvious answer was simple internal framing to hold future pull-out drawers. But

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Laminating a Bulkhead Penetration with a 3D-Printed Plug

Laminating a Bulkhead Penetration with a 3D-Printed Plug Every hole through a structural bulkhead is a weak point unless it’s reinforced properly — and reinforcing it properly starts with a plug that comes back out again. Matching laminate to the surrounding skin The basic rule for reinforcing a penetration is straightforward: match the laminate going

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The Correct Way to Put a Hole in a Structural Bulkhead

Topic Overview: This post explains the structural engineering behind making penetrations in boat bulkheads. We’ll dissect why failures happen, using real-world examples, and detail a three-part reinforcement strategy to create a strong, reliable opening that maintains the integrity of the entire structure. Author: Shayne and Anna A bulkhead is not just a wall; it is a primary

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