It just so happens I glued my 16 a few weeks ago!
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<br>On measurements: Before I started work, the diagonals (I measured front pylon to the bow bolt for the bridal wire) were 4cm different. ie the boat was not square! After putting the boat back together after gluing, the difference was still 4cm, so I used the main blocks to pull the boat together diagonally between pylons across the greater length. I pulled until I had gone 0.5cm beyond square - this was to allow for spring back. It worked, as when I detensioned the blocks after a few days curing. she was perfectly square.
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<br>On materials: I used International's "Epiglue". This was very workable and stayed soft for at least an hour while I worked.
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<br>Climate: Dry, 20-25 degrees centigrade.
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<br>On technique: I didn't undo the whole tramp frame - just removed the 4 corner castings from the pylons all together. I also loosened off the tramp. I turned the tramp frame upside down & filled the 4 castings with epoxy. Then I put the pylons in upside down - they slid in easily. After doing up the bolts and spreading some extra epoxy into the gap between casting and pylon, I turned the boat back the right way up and placed it on two beams that I had laid out roughly horizontal. This eliminated some of the uncertainty about aligning the boat properly. After pulling the boat square with the blocks, I checked the difference between a measurement taken across the rudder gudgeon centrelines and a measurement taken across the bow bolt hole centrelines. It should be "4 inches less at the bow - 3 inches is OK". (I got these measurements from an Aussie who I trust!). Mine measured 3.5 inches, so I guess that's OK! Finally I cast my eye along the hulls to see it they were vertical. They seemed to be, so I left it at that! Finally I laced the tramp back up so as to hold everything together a bit more.
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<br>Results: I raced the boat the following weekend in a 5 hour race off shore. I also did a delivery trip the day before. Winds varied from light to 20 knots and the sea state from flat to 8 foot swells. The boat is much stiffer, although I took no measrements to quantify this. In flat water upwind a puff translates to acceleration straight away, rather than there being a hull wobble before she gets going. Performance in the rough is better too, although there were one or two loud cracking noises while I drove her hard over some swells with two on the wire. I think this is either the epoxy that is in tension breaking down, or a trapped air pocket imploding. The result is that the diagonals are now 2cm out! Still this is better than before and the boat still feels stiff! In any case the castings can no longer lift up 1/2 inch at the rear pylon. Perhaps I should have used more epoxy...
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<br>Good luck on your project!
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<br>PeterD
<br>Hong Kong Fleet 179
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