R42 BUILD PROJECT GALLERY

R42 is a high performance trimaran currently under construction at Australian Custom Multihull Yachts at the Boatworks on the Queensland Gold Coast.

See the R42 design page here

See the R42 Design Page here

R42 Construction. Float Shells and Beam Fairings — Float Shells and Beam Fairings

Forward beam fairings for the R42 trimaran — Forward beam fairings out of the mould

Upper beam fairing. The fairings and the structural beam elements are symmetric athwartships and identical in shape fore and aft

Aft beam bottom cap with flange - preparation for vacuum.

Aft beam bottom cap being laminated. Fwd cap on floor at left.

BEAM MOULDS

The beams are symmetrical about the athwartships axis and so one set of female tools can be used to build all of the beams. These are the fairings and they are non structural so the laminates are quite light. The primary beam is a box structure that sits inside the fairings.

Above; Consolidated laminate in the cabin top for the dagger case.

Hull fairing and vac laminating the internal deck laminate

In these images below; the laying up and vacuum laminating of the forward beam bulkhead and reinforcing material in the hull. The bulkhead laminates are critical to carrying the loads around the door opening. The laminates have been clearly marked on the laminating table for fibre type, stack numbers and orientation.

In the top photos the beam fairings for the forward beam. The top fairing shell is just 12kg

Main hull deck ready for internal laminate

Main hull deck being turned. Placement for winches and sail controls clearly marked.

Right: Consolidated Laminate in the cabin top for winches and sail controls.

CABIN TOP VACUUM LAMINATING

Hand laminating the external laminate R42 trimaran

Hand laminating the external laminate over the carbon planks on the cabin top

MAIN HULL DECK PLANKING

Main hull bottom lamination and vacuum.

MAIN HULL BOTTOM PLANKING

The planking material is made up of Divinycell PVC Core with uni carbon laminates on each face manufactured under pressure by ATL Composites to ensure a consistent laminate with a high fibre ratio.

The laminate is supplied in 1.2m x 2.4m panels with a Z join at each end.

They are bondedwith epoxy using ATL's Z press which applies pressure and heat to the join allowing it to cure in just a few minutes.

The panels are progressively moved along until a panel the full length of the hull is created.

The full length panels are then ripped into strips that you can see being planked in the photos. Finally an external laminate is applied.

Mould frames and strongbacks are made from 16mm mdf CNC machined by ATL Composites. The cutting files provide slots for fast assembly and the building forms are stabilised by locking the joints with epoxy fillets.