The support structure is mostly carbon/epoxy/foam core construction but the “flange” that will be bonded to the flybridge coaming is solid glass/epoxy. In the previous post you can see the planning and mock up of the design. This way Paul uses the boat…
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Hard Top Project, Part 5
The guys are waiting on some material to finish up the mold so they start on the support structure. Spent a whole day building a mock up, measuring and making patterns.Above: Cutting out patterns.Below: “OK it will go like this, right?” Discussing deta…
Happiness is a new Exhaust Elbow
Ten years, 4540 hours and four exhaust elbows, the genny is just fine! Northern Lights has changed the design a bit, new part number. Still a casting so not sure if they have improved the life expectancy. I use a mirror and flashlight and inspect…
Hard Top Project, Part 4
Things are moving along nicely, I knew molds take time to build but I had no idea how much time. The sanding, faring, sealing is endless. Now we are in the late stages, Paul and his team are applying Teflon® release tape to the mold, almost ready to do the layup!
Above: Sand, fair, sand, fair, apply sealant, sand and fair, on and on, big job building a mold.
Below: The brown material you see is a very cool Teflon® release tape. It is called “tape” but actually comes in a large roll. Paul tells me “nothing sticks to it”. I am very impressed with Paul Ammon and his team, Caribbean Carbon Works Ltd. Paul understands what we want, appreciates nice lines and understands functionality. So fun to work with someone who is passionate about their art.
Hardtop Project Part 3
So for most of the week Paul and his guys have been working full days building the mold for the bottom side of the hardtop, the side you will see. I think it is almost done. The mold is made up of multiple layers of 1/2″ MFD. Very labour intensive. It …
Hardtop Project Part 2
The lamination begins! Starting with a release layer wetted out with epoxy, then a layer of woven bidirectional carbon also wetted out, topped with 1/2 foam coring. On top of the foam coring both bidirectional and unidirectional carbon all wetted out w…
Hardtop Project, Part 1
I am back at Peake Yacht Services in Trinidad and Tobago. Sylvianne stayed behind while I am doing boat work and watching our hard top come together. I had previously mentioned the project to Greg Downes, the service manager at Peake and he said, “I ha…
Yes, We Actually Did Some Cruising!
We had a really good cruising season, Carriacou, The Grenadines and a 6 week Circumnavigation of Martinique. If you like adventure the East coast of Martinique is wonderful.Petite St. Vincent  …
Stabilizer Rebuild
The rod end bearings were getting sloppy, I decide to do the work myself. It made good sense as we were replacing the washer dryer and that made it easier to cut a nice big hole for access under where the washer dryer would normally be. Since we …
Solar is the Way
Well just to update you on the Solar on Sylken Sea, we anchor out or take moorings whenever possible, we boat mostly “off grid”. After 10 seasons we have 4800 hrs on the Generator, so before solar we put 400-500 hrs a season on the Genny. By converting…
