UPDATED 2019 09 07 Sailboat for the Austral Seas 2013 - 2020(?) 2019 09 07 End of work for 2019. The
work started in february, and the weather was exceptionally warm. Later, not so good: unstable weather, then extreme heat periods... anyway. Work done: portlights and hatches installed, deck gear built and installed: organizers, blockers, cleats, lifelines stanchions, etc. deck and cabin painted (coating = pigmented epoxy resin) hull painted (pigmented epoxy resin, dark grey to capture heat) rudders installed (2 lateral rudders, 1 central only for engine) etc. In july we removed the tent under which the boat was built since may 2015. 4 years under a f. tent, leaking from everywhere, with a swamp at the entry, and absolutely no space. Finally in the open air! 2018 11 12 End of work for 2018. The work period was shortened because of weather (March and April too cold, heat waves in July and August), and the work was slowed down by material shortages (from factory). Anyway, decent progress (portlights, rudders, deck accessories, coating...). One more year, o so we hope. Here are a few photos, this site will be completed later. 2018 10 14 - Rudder boxes ... blades (2 lateral+central) 2018 03 12
Start of work for 2018. Work estimate: 5800 hours done, 1500 hours to 2250 hours to do. 1 1/2 to 2 years work if the budget is OK. GREAT NEWS! The shipyard will fix the "swamp problem", dirty waters gathering in front of the tent because of a clogged drain. After 3 years... 2017 11 30 End of work for this year. Visible progress (deck, cabins, pilot house, cockpit..) but slowed down by budget limitations Estimated end of work: 1 1/2 year from now. 2017 03 07. Starting again after a sailing season near and around Cape Horn. Planning for this year: finishing interior work, roof, pilot house and cockpit. 2016 11 20 End of work for this year. Uneasy conditions, but some progress, see above. Too cold in March and April (bad for resin), too hot from July to September (bad for resin). No space. Under a 15m tent, no space to move around the boat, no space to stratify large panels. Muddy and wet. Leaks and a swamp when it rains. Lousy tent (cheap) and lousy drainage (none). The Socoa Shipyard has a clear policy: zero money for infrastructures and equipment. 2015 07 01. Work is suspended until next year: currently preparing our RM 1050 Sonabia to return to Tierra de Fuego. Leaving in October.
2015 05 05.The keel and the engine are in place. The boat was pulled out of the building and left under a tent for the rest of the work. February 2015: The last 2 months, the work has been slowed down by chilly temperatures ( 3 days to harden vs. 1 day in normal conditions). Nonetheless the work went on, thanks to the tolerance of Resoltech resin (1020-1026): we could made epoxy joints and bonding in temperatures of 4.5oC, and glass epoxy laminates in temperatures of 7.5oC. 2014 05 06: turning up the hull.
In a travelift, loops of rope passing through holes in the hull. The
hull was lighter than calculated (2160kg vs. 2350kg expected).
Explanation: good ratio resin-glass: less than 45% resin instead of
50%- 50%. The ideaThe idea came during Matxitxako Horn (2012 2013). Our sailboat Sonabia is not fit for heavy weather in the screaming fifties, nor for sailing in ice: Plywood does not stand impacts. In Puerto Williams and Ushuaia, discussions with sailors about the perfect boat that does not exist. The most informative part: explaining to others the defaults of one's own boat. Why not get mad?Let's start from scratch.
Find an architect, a shipyard where to build it and spend your last cent in the project. OverviewCode name: S4S 46. Architect: David Reard Shipyard: Chantier Naval Socoa. Dimensions: ~14m x 4.50m (46 fts), Draft ~2.80m-1.50m, Displacement ~ 9.5 to 10.5 tons empty, 15.5 tons full load. Hull composite sandwich, fiberglass epoxy-PVC foam-plywood. Thickness 45mm up to 55mm. Deck composite sandwich, fiberglass epoxy - PVC foam. Thickness 33.5 up to 36mm
Keel: liftable wing keel (dagger) 3.4 tons, Rudders: 3 external swinging rudders. Engine: 85 HP. Nanni. 2013 09 04 2013 10 30 first draft shipyard Hull frame2013 10 31 2013 11 22 frame - not assembled frame - assembled Experiments - hull material2013 12 20 - hull material proposed by the architect. Improved after crash tests 2014 01 10 - crash tests (impact bending tests): repeated impacts with increasing energy). 3-points bench, length 80cm, 20cm above ground. Free extremities. Weight 5 to 20kg falling from 1m, 2m, 3m. impact sequence, hull material. here: 20kg falling from 3m. ![]() ![]() ![]() impact sequence, external layer alone (fiberglass epoxy). Here: 20kg falling from 3m, repeatedly. ![]() ![]() ![]() Results. new hull sampling lighter and ~ 2 times more resistant than 12mm thick aluminium 5083. Safe in case of crash: damage is limited to the interface between the foam and the external skin. The hull remains watertight and damage is easy to repair.
Hull
2014 04 11 -hull - external shell. fiberglass-epoxy, thickness: 3mm to 6mm (below waterline). reinforced bow. 2014 05 06 -building frame (chipboard) removed - below waterline: primer + antifouling - internal structure. 2014 05 06 - turning up the hull. weight: 2260kg 2014 09 07 - 2014 10 24: internal laminates of glass epoxy. hull: 1mm thick above waterline, 2mm below bulkheads: 0.6 to 1mm laminate below waterline, joints: epoxy putty + 2 to 4 layers of glass fabric. 2015 02 19 lateral fender (30mm) 2015 02 19 bow crash box (90mm) 2015 03 15 platform (rudder protection) GirdersThey
transform the hull into a beam that stands the weight and the buoyancy.
Huge safety factor in order to handle the worst case: in a wave, bow
and stern below water and central section out of the water, the load
becomes dynamical (fall and impact). Main
girders: multi-layers plywood + fiberglass epoxy, external cover and
internal sheets half way from the neutral plane, to stand impact bending
without breaking the plywood.
2014 11 01 - central section girders In addition to the girders, this structure contributes to the stiffness of the boat and strengthens the hull against crushing. 2014 11 25 - bow and aft bulkheads, secondary girders and brackets (side strengtheners). plywood+ glass-epoxy. Aft girders and brackets + deck lockers 2014 11 25 2015 03 07 Low girders in rear bunker. - Stands the efforts of the propeller bracket (enclosed in a box) - Strengthens the hull to stand heavy payload (the rear hull is almost flat, i.e., the shines add no stiffness). 2015 04 30 2015 05 24 Dagger keel3.4 tons. draft 2.85m to 1.40m. To use in 2 situations: - shallow ports & moorings - maintenance, to ground the boat along a dock or a pier 2014 06 25 2014 07 22 2014 09 06 steel core, 3.3 t. steel planks + PVC foam+ glass epoxy (2mm to 10mm). The critical issue for a dagger keel glass epoxy, 25mm to 100mm thick, embedded in girders 3014 09 06. 2015 09 08 2014 09 15 2014 11 25 ... 2014 12 12 keel supports 2015 04 05 integrated to girders 2015 03 22 below hull ... completed by a wooden frame (stratified plywood) to support the roof 2017_04_25 2017_11_26 ... lids, table ... mast base ... from deck. EngineNanni 85 HP, shaft AISI316 40mm, fixed propeller 3 blades, 20", step 17".
2015 04 05 2015 05 02 2015 05 05 2015 05 24 2015 05 24 2015 06 04 2015 06 22 - skeg 2015 06 29 fin-fiberglass epoxy 2017 03 29 - foam sandwich Details. mechanical fuse - support 1:bronze bracket, enlarged by a composite sleeve 15mm thick, in a composite box (epoxy filling)+girders. - support 2: composite tube, wall 12mm thick, supported by a U (foam+10mm thick glass epoxy) - protection skeg below the tube completed with a foam sandwich shape (mechanical fuse) Below cockpit, removable floor to remove engine. Front compartment: under pilot house. Separation bulkhead 1m high between engine compartment and technical compartment to prevent flooding. Access to engine: Top: from cockpit, top hatch Lateral: 4 hatches in rear cabins, sitting on elevated floors (see floors) Front: sitting in front compartment Rear: from inside (access through rear lateral hatches) 2016 11 19 lateral 2016 11 19 from cockpit 2017 11 26 TanksIntegrated to the structure, with large access lids for repairs (bonded and screwed) and inspection hatchesFuel 2 main tanks (center of cabin, 4 compartments each, capacity 2 x 700L.). Moldered directly in the bottom of the hull between girders. Lighter than separate tanks, low center of mass. 1 buffer tank (80L) to feed the engine and the stove by gravity. Fresh water 2 tanks (side of cabin + toilets, 5 compartments each, capacity 2 x 380L). Moldered directly in the bottom of the hull between girders. Food compatible epoxy coating. Lighter than separate tanks, low center of mass. 2016 05 10 compartments 1-4... compartment 5. Tank lids (freshwater and fuel) 20mm sandwich (plywood-foam), contain inspection hatch (16cm diameter) The tank internal wall is part of the lid (easier maintenance). 2016 09 03 Black water 2 tanks, one for each toilet, capacity 70L each Made of a 10mm sandwich (glass epoxy, PVC foam), integrated to the structure. Lighter than separate tanks 2016 05 03 Grey water 2 tanks, one for each toilet for washbasin and shower. Capacity 30L each. 1 tank in the kitchen, below the sinks. Capacity 70L Made of a 10mm sandwich (glass epoxy, PVC foam), integrated to the structure. Lighter than separate tanks. 2016 11 19 Floors20mm sandwich, with stiffeners.5mm plywood outside, 10mm PVC foam inside, Reinforced with 22mm x 50mm plywood profiles. Epoxy coating. Lighter and more rigid than the 15mm plywood proposed by the architect. Cabins: elevated floors above storage compartments (also support the bed frames) Main room: floors = tank lids + intermediate plywood planks (also used to anchor the furniture) Pilot house: removable floors Below pilot house. Contains batteries and electric equipment Access: normal: under stairs (removable) full access: from above, removing the floor 2017 11 26 - normal access 2016 11 19 full access from above For sails, anchor and chain (during oceanic navigation), etc. Access: deck hatch + door in front cabin (opening above waterline) For jerrycans, deck gear, payload... Access: roof hatch + door in rear cabin (opening above waterline) 2 lateral trunks accessible from outside. 2015 05 04 30 2015 04 30 2015 05 24. Propeller bracket 2016 05 03. Lateral storage Foam sandwich 34mm thick Core: 30mm pvc foam, skins: fiberglass epoxy, 1000g+600g standard, 1000+1000 on pathways (for abrasion). Construction: panel by panel, stratified junctions (no space to build the complete deck) roof - walls junction:roof panels laying on horizontal plates (10cm wide; epoxy glass + thin plywood), bonding inside, stratification outside. 2016 05 03 pathways 2016 11 19 roof - side walls Roof :panels laying on horizontal plates (10cm wide; epoxy glass + thin plywood), bonded inside, stratified outside Double bunker: Upper bunker (below deck): to keep dirty chain and anchor. Lower bunker (bottom of front bunker): for clean chain, for a lower center of mass (anchor remains in upper bunker) Chain transfer: through a tube between bunkers, using windlass or manually. 2016 11 19 chain bunkers. both bunkers together 2017 11 26 - transfer tube right: upper bunker, before closing the bulkhead left lower bunker Rotating bow support On elevated plane Easier anchor handling (no need to bend) Nothing protrudes when folded Composite anchor roller 110mmPEHD tube 10mm thick, glass epoxy core 2016 11 19 rotating bow support 2017 11 26 - folding... blocked Construction: light foam panels, inverted front shields, divided into small windows (for robustness) 2017 08 31 construction 2017 11 26 outside Individual berths, can be joined to form 3 double beds each berth can be folded (or removed) to free the access to the front and rear bunkers. Capacity: 10 persons 2 persons in each cabin = 8 passengers 2 crew members in the pilot house. Transformable cabins: can be used as sleeping rooms or load bunkers. Front cabins 2017 11 26 - front cabins Rear cabins 2017 11 26 port starboard door to rear bunker hatch to rear bunker 2 toilets accessible from saloon and rear cabins WC + wash basin + shower independent air circuit (2 air vents ) 2017 11 26 view from rear cabin 3 functions: kitchen + dining room + living room |