RAN Sailing · video

What this video covers

Laminating the hull of a 50-foot custom sailboat requires specific tools and temperature management to minimise air bubbles in the fibreglass. The builders use a combination of finned rollers for rapid saturation on a table, washer rollers to apply high pressure on the hull, and bristle rollers to remove trapped air.1:56 To prevent air from expanding out of the cedar core during the lamination process, the crew maintains a high barn temperature initially, then lowers the thermostat by one degree for each fibreglass length applied.14:50 This cooling technique, combined with a final overnight cure at 11–12 degrees Celsius, significantly reduces air bubble formation.15:57 The team uses a 650-millimetre overlap past the keel pocket to achieve double laminate thickness on the bottom of the hull.8:35 Total heating costs for the winter lamination project, including diesel and electricity, are estimated at approximately 1,500 US dollars.17:45 The builders aim to complete the exterior hull lamination by the end of the year before turning the boat in early spring.6:56

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