Posted by JimM on March 19, 2003 at 06:54:38:
In Reply to: Re: keel 1"x14"x30' posted by Kjetil on March 18, 2003 at 23:30:48:
Agreed. I would set up a jig with vertical members spaced 1" apart (I presume you're shooting for 1.0" thick vice 3/4"?). These would "contain" the laminations as you lay them in, and would be wax coated to keep from sticking. The base would be whatever scrap lumber you can shape to the desired keel profile. The laminations can be random lengths, but use a 6 or 8:1 scarf to join them. It should be a relaxing job, as you can lay in only as many lams as you feel you can handle before the epoxy kicks. Your first session might only be two lams, then do more at a time as the learning curve kicks in. Use lots of clamps, with load-distributing blocks. If this includes the stem, where the curve is extreme you might have to make curved blocks to distribute clamping loads. Distributing clamping loads is important, or you might get distortions which will make subsequent lams harder to mate accurately.
Since you're building a big boat, you probably have lots of clamps. But if you're short, you could use rope with "spanish windlasses" as clamps, and use dozens of them along the length. Be sure to do a test dry-lamination before you mix epoxy, so you know how to use the clamps.
Another benefit: This keel will never rot, with so much epoxy on and in it. I would even use CPES or simiilar thinned epoxy on each piece before laminating.
Fun project! Enjoy!