L3 hull
New R Class hull designed by Dan Leech. Featuring narrow lines, full length chine, carbon wings and split mould construction.
- L3 3D hull renderings
- Renderings of the new hull design from Dan Leech
- Mould Construction - framing, planking and fairing
- The framing has been CNC cut from the 3D computer model. To make the construction process easier and less error prone we're building the shell in two halves.
- Mould Construction - glassed sanded and together
- Mould has been glassed and sanded prior to painting. Humans included for scale.
- Mould Construction - painted and sanded
- Mould has been painted and sanded. Some final finishing needed before waxing.
- Mould Construction - buffed and waxed
- Mould has been buffed and waxed. Its now ready to build a hull.
- Carbon outer skin
- Lay length of carbon on mould, cut to shape. Then wet out, work out bubbles and voids. Apply peelply.
- Cutting Foam and Vacuum Bagging
- The hull is built up of a layer of foam between two carbon skins, commonly known as foam sandwich. The layers are glued together and allowed to cure under vacuum to ensure good adhesion.
- Carbon inner skin and wing
- The inner carbon skin is applied to the foam, then a layer of peelply and vacuum applied.
- Hull joined together
- Both halves of the hull need to be joined before framing and tanks can be added.
- Rear tank and X frame
- The rear tank is taking shape and the x frame and kingstrut are now in place.
- Foredeck and rear tank all together
- Almost ready to take out of the mould.
- Out of mould, hull with wings
- Almost finished. The hull has been popped out of the mould and just needs the tank seams finished, centrecase sides, some tidying up and painting.
- Undercoat, prod and self tacker
- The hull's been undercoated, centrecase is in, self tacker mounting ready and lots of fitting mounting points are ready.
- Painted hull with foil moulds
- The hull has been topcoated and and the foil moulds have finally arrived from the CNC shop.
- Launch
- L3 Launched in ideal conditions on Wednesday 2 November 2005.
