Expedition Engineeringvideo

Custom Carbon Fiber LEGS on our Sailboat. (8)

23 June 2024 · 21 min · 94K views · Spain

What this video covers

Brett and Jade fabricate and install custom carbon fiber and fiberglass dodger legs for their sailboat to support a new hardtop, solar array, and dinghy davit system. The project involves removing the existing Bimini and stainless steel stern rails to accommodate the new structure.1:39 During the installation, the crew discovers the original Bimini frame was asymmetrical and mounted off-center by several inches, complicating their measurements and alignment.16:44 They use a fish scale to weigh the removed stainless steel components, totaling approximately 70 pounds, to estimate the weight impact of the new composite arch.10:35 The installation requires drilling through the deck and inner liner, with the crew opting to tie the new legs into an existing bulkhead for structural integrity.12:48 They use fast-cure epoxy and chopped strand mat for fillets, though high ambient temperatures cause the resin to cure prematurely, necessitating on-the-fly repairs.8:39 The process includes creating access holes for internal fiberglassing, which they plan to cover later with speakers.14:29

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