RAN Sailing · video

What this video covers

To prepare for laminating the hull of a 50-foot boat, the crew constructed a climate-controlled enclosure within a barn using plastic sheeting to create an insulated air gap.1:30 They installed two 9-kilowatt electrical heaters and a diesel heater to maintain stable temperatures, monitoring conditions with sensors for humidity, temperature, and barometric pressure.3:12 To prevent moisture from the ground, they covered the floor with plastic.3:36 The team prepared the keel recess by cutting five layers of 600-gram fiberglass cloth, each with rounded corners to improve structural integrity.14:10 They also cut vacuum-bagging materials and added unidirectional 1200-gram fiberglass reinforcement for the chain plate areas.11:21 Before the main lamination, they applied a primer coat of epoxy to the wood to prevent off-gassing and ensure the wood does not wick resin away from the fiberglass, which could result in a starved joint.14:54 The crew plans to apply the fiberglass in smaller sections to manage the epoxy's working time and avoid exothermic reactions.16:16

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