Fantail Launch
A launch for owner finishing.
The resurgence of interest in traditional style launches has been slowed by the very few examples left that are suitable for restoration. Consequently potential owners are searching out new paths to find a boat they want, but is not available in the show rooms of the boat dealers.
This will be a stitch-and-glue fan-tailed launch that we have developed with our CNC cutting system in mind, it will be assembled and internally glassed in two weeks, and will be finished glassed externally to be ready to hand over to the owner very soon for finishing.
Designed around a two-cylinder 15hp Yanmar diesel engine it is specifically intend for inland water cruising. Designed to live on trailer, it will be a low-maintenance boat with very small fuel consumption. I am not sure where the drinks fridge will be, but I am sure it will be there.
First Day
One of the big changes that computers and modern materials has brought to boatbuilding is the sharp reductions in time it takes to complete a project.
With the Fantail Launch, it was also a luxury to develop the boat on the computer, manipulating the proportions and size to meet the client's needs.
Once the image was accepted, however, work quickly takes place. Cutting the panels on the CNC machine took just a day, gluing the sheets together was also easily accomplished with the finger joint system, and stitching the panels together followed on with ease.
Almost. There are usually some parts that need persuading, however. In this case, the radical twist in the forefoot was not keen to oblige. The use of threaded rod with large backing blocks, hot water and a little patience got the required result, however.
Then, in usual stitch-and-glue procedure, the panels are loosely held in a cradle while the whole structure is braced and trued. The panels are held together with electrical cable ties. These are quite strong enough for the job, and although we try to cut them all out, being plastic it does not matter if a few get glued into the final fillets.
With the panels are in position in the cradle the shape is, of course, correct. That is the beauty of stitch-and-glue from CNC cut panels. The joints are then tacked with well-thickened epoxy and when that is cured the ties are cut and the next stage takes place.
This is where you have the chance to make significant savings in time and to get a first class result at the same time. Once the filleting starts, work does not stop until all joints are neatly and cleanly filleted with accurately radiuses fillets, two layers of tape of different widths applied to all seams, four on the centre line, (tapes are hand-cut from rolls of bi-axial cloth) and the sheathing cloth (in this case bi-axial) on the bottom and sides is applied with generous overlaps at the seams and centre line. It takes organisation (all tapes cut to length, all panel cloth cut to shape and labeled), commitment from the crew to continue the whole job in a time frame that means that they are always working over wet epoxy.
No sanding between layers. perfect bonding. And a great feeling of satisfaction the next morning when a collection of loose panels resembles a boat.
Now deck beams and then to turn over to finish the outside.
You know, it seems like it was only last week we started.
First Day
Today was the start of the new Fantail Launch, here is the Progress after the first day. All panel had been cut on our cnc machine prior to starting.
Cradle frames set up
Stern section panels glued up.