Mould Construction
A mould is highly recommended to ensure that the boat will measure when complete. A simple bottom mould can be made from 2 sheets of 20mm particle
board (chipboard) for about US$20 and it is reusable. This bottom mould will
define the curve of the bottom of the boat and hold the bottom shape while
laminating the bottom and attaching the sides and transoms.
To construct
this mould using particle board you will need:
- two "profile guides" running the full length of the boat.
Take one sheet of the particle board and cut it into two 620 x 2440mm pieces. Using the official plans Sheet 03/10 mark the actual profile
of the boats bottom on one of the sheets. Now scribe a line equal to the
thickness of the mould material below this line and cut both sheets the
same.
-
a mould top panel cut roughly to the shape of the
bottom using the dimensions shown in the Expanded Bottom Panel Drawing in Appendix 1b but cut about 25mm narrower than the bottom of the boat.
Glue and screw the top panel onto
the two profile guides about 150mm either side of the centre line. Fit a couple of transverse
supports so that the bottom mould is quite rigid. If you make them so that
they slot over the 2 profile guides you can disassemble
the mould for storage.
A photo of the simple mould is shown.
Straight edge being used to check the mould
Double check
all of the dimensions on the mould since all boats that are made from it
will be exactly the same shape as this mould.