Tuesday 1 December 2015

Stern tube ,is this where we launch torpedo's ?

Have made the final changes to the fiberglass Prop shaft tubes , have added a bit more beef to the end with the cutlass bearing  , better to be over strong than have a weakpoint .


The basic tube is 10mm thick fiberglass , but the end  has additional material to bring it up to 16mm


Made an initial thin tube by rolling wetted out fiberglass cloth over a steel pipe  , removed when set by slitting it off  , had to be a tight fit as the cutlass bearing is supposed to be a tight fit . Rejoined the tube ( while ensuring straightness and sizing )  and added more layers of cloth to bring it up to the 10mm thickness . Finally added the extra cloth to the cutlass bearing end ( just last weekend ) .
Cutlass bearing is a tight press fit and its as straight as a dye , must remember process as i need to make another one as well ( darn catamaran ) .

Have fitted the tube into a piece of the Keel structure , this will then be laminated into the main Keel.