Category: building

  • Towing tank resistance test

    Towing tank resistance test

    By the end of last week, we managed to take the finished hull to the towing tank facilities at TU Berlin to conduct our experiments on the resistance vs. speed. The aXatlantic made her very first contact with water and also did a very good job as the test results and the below pictures and videos…

  • CNC milled parts!

    CNC milled parts!

    Thanks to the chair infAR planing systems of the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar we are able to use their CNC machine for making the engine parts! Thank you so much for providing us with the machine!

  • Finishing the hull

    Finishing the hull

    During the last weeks, we managed to finish the hull to a stage where we could take it to the towing tank for the resistance test. First step was to remove the laminated hull from the mould which was quite a challenge – resulting in the near destruction of the mold an a lot of brutal…

  • Vacuum laminating the hull

    Vacuum laminating the hull

    Here comes the exciting part of the building process: After laying four dry layers of carbon fabric on the mold, we started the timer and the mixing of epoxy resin.   All layers are throughly wet out and the wet laminate is covered in perforated film and absorber material before closing the vacuum film.   We…

  • Finishing the mold

    Finishing the mold

    After a lot of sanding and filling, the mold was ready to receive paint. More putty was used after the first paint job, to get rid of the ribs structure and the finished mold is covered in wax to make sure the hull does not stick to the surface.      

  • Back to work!

    Back to work!

    After a longer break we are back at the shop – working hard to get the hull done within the next two weeks. Sanding and smoothing is almost done!

  • Smoothing the inner Deck

    Smoothing the inner Deck

    The first steps of the smoothing were done today including the trimming of the edges and a first light sanding of the surface.    

  • Planking the Inner Deck

    Planking the Inner Deck

    Another day of patience and a lot of precise work using a block plane and a thin Japanese saw.

  • Smoothing the Hull

    Smoothing the Hull

    First step in the process was to trim of the excess wood at the edges using a Japanese saw and planing them flush using a small block plane.  

  • Inserting the Keel

    Inserting the Keel

    The keel was CNC milled in 3D and therefore just needs to be inserted into the planked hull. An opening was cut and the remaining gaps will be taken care of during the upcoming smoothing of the hull.