Closing Voids – Buoyancy Compartments 2

The plans for our boat call for any void to be structurally sound, as one would expect with any design, that is all panels to be taped on all sides. This is especially emphasised with the notes on the voids that become buoyancy compartments. I note that there seems a complete absence of discussion on the web or is other documents about how this is achieved.

This is one of the methods I have devised to achieve an internal tape on the closing panel of a void.

The highlight was now that we are working full time, and it is school holidays, I had two assistants and a third taking photos etc.

Two tricky bits here are:

1. The closing panel forms the forward half base of the sail locker and therefore must drain to the rear and inboard in each hull.
2. Two people were needed to fit the ledges especially with glue on, and

I have also added notes on the procedure after the following photos.

Notes on this method:

1. These ledges were 13mm Duflex offcuts with one edge 180deg rounded over.
2. Each piece was tailored to size/shape as an interference fit (bend long ledges to fit) this must be enough to hold firmly in place even on angled panels as they will needed to stay put with glue applied.
3. The ledges were then glued and fitted, in this case to angle the closing panel as required and had be all closely on the same plane to facilitate the panel fit.
4. Once glued and cured in place they required some sanding prior to being filleted and taped on the underside and the rounded over face. All the taping was completed with hands and fingers, no tools.
5. When the resin had slightly cured, that is still tacky, the ledge was be smeared with glue mixture and the panel fitted.
6. The panel required good pressure applied in this case by the junior assistant at 55kg using his feet along the edges over the ledges. Each panel then was weighted with approximately 65kg (water) during the cure.