Building a DIY plywood & epoxy Catamaran

[@davidantill6949]

Fantastic Kev.Wouldnt it be great if the community continued to make things like your catamaran after you had finished. They could auction it off to pay for a new kit to start on. What an inspiration you are. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@saltlightdix4704]

Hi David, we will see what the future is for the boathouse when we get the cat finished......maybe something a bit smaller :) Kev

[@mckenziekeith7434]

This is a pretty cool cultural snapshot in addition to being an interesting build video.

[@saltlightdix4704]

Yeah, I always had wanted to open it up to other guys, But I didn't think the response would be so wide spread. We have had guys from all over Japan come to visit, a lot of media coverage as well as some overseas visitors. Its great to be able to connect with guys like yourself via YT, one day I hope to be able to setup a system where we all can connect live or via video. Kev

[@holisticaustralia]

Good on ya Kev, I decided to skip ahead and work my way backwards, my name is Juddy by the way, I think you deserve a cuppa on me, well done mate 🙏 Thanks for your kindness in sharing your efforts, its not easy to film and work at the same time, it is very much appreciated 😊👍

[@saltlightdix4704]

Thanks for the coffee! You must be getting close to the end of the videos. Heres a link to the hull turning video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/e366qYSPe7xroqc

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

Love the whole men and women with sheds Concept.. The biggest shed is usually Shed central 😂🇬🇧🧙🏻‍♂️ usually with the old sofas as chairs..

[@saltlightdix4704]

Hey Clive, I have old sofa's and an old stereo unit too! Kev

[@normanboyes4983]

It is brilliant following this project Kevin, thanks for sharing.😀⛵️👍

[@saltlightdix4704]

Thanks Norman, glad you are enjoying it. Kev

[@Tumbling_Dice]

Hi Kev! Long time no commenting 🙂 I always wondered about the approach in regards to the deck panels in front of the two front windows. When installing the deck stringers in front of the main beam they are installed across the entire width of the boat in an arched fashion governed by the stiffness in the stringer itself as well as the longitudinal bulkheads involved and assume the same arch as the main beam top has. Now, when you install stringers for the section in question like you illustrate at 5:50 in the video, they are laid down with the center section "missing" if you like. This would be in the cockpit where you are standing. So I am thinking that they will not have the same curve as the ones in front of the main beam and that you would end up with a "flat" deck in those sections on the sides of the cockpit. Now, this could be by design maybe or just for practical reasons. I guess if you wanted the same curvature as the rest of the deck you would have to install stringers across the entire boat in that section (curved) and then when the epoxy has set up proceed to cut out the sections across the Cockpit. This would be between the top (crown) section of each hull to be exact and picky. Looking at the study plans that I purchased for the DH550, presuming it is the same for the 470, the slope of the deck crown (or highest point) when looking at the boat from the side is sloping downwards towards the rear of the boat. This means that water in this section would puddle against the window where the navigational station normally goes and then proceed to flow towards the side of the boat given the arched curvature of the decks. I guess this is the reason for the limber hole in the side of the window arch base (that you have yet to cut in this video) so that water could find its way out on the deck over the hull. Any comment on this or will it remain a mystery to me in my Dix Dreams 🙂

[@saltlightdix4704]

Hey Dan, yeah longtime! Those stringers in front of the windows follow the curve as they extend into the hull, it is probably a little less but not much. The outside is definitely lower than the centre so any water would run off to the side. Hope that make sense. Kev

[@zanebrimson7777]

Kev, I’m calling dibs on the shed for my build next! 😂❤

[@saltlightdix4704]

hahahahaha ......no problems.......just move to Japan ......learn a new language .......easy!

[@Lifesgood427]

Thoroughly enjoying the build Kev, thanks for sharing your progress, I would be there in the blink of an eye, if I was local, alas the Uk is a tad too far :-) good luck with winter approaching, look forward to the future progress!

[@saltlightdix4704]

Im sure you would enjoy being part of it, the guys really do enjoy the work, friendship and coffee.....and have a good laugh at my terrible japanese :) Kev

[@lanerothsailing2293]

thanks so much for making these videos. I love the boat and the build.

[@saltlightdix4704]

Thanks, Im happy you're enjoying it. Looking forward to the day we splash her! Kev

[@c.a.mcneil7599]

Thanks for sharing

[@claverton]

That was good, nice to see the old boys enjoying themselves. I liked the crash helmet. Do you speak Japanese?

[@saltlightdix4704]

Yeah its great to see the guys enjoying themselves, and helping with the build makes them feel like they are still useful. I can speak a little bit of Japanese, still studying when I have time.......which is not often Kev

[@morychok11]

Хорошая работа!!! Почему не поставить стандартные люки в эти отсеки? Удачи!!!

[@saltlightdix4704]

Thanks for watching. Above both of these compartments will be 2 steps leading to the roof, more on those soon, so a hatch won't fit in there. Kev

[@andrewkadogo]

Kev, perhaps Thursdays could be Mothers' Union days (tongue in cheek). BTW your challenge with finding an affordable hybrid solution was well felt - some of the prices being asked of punters are indeed eye-watering. I today stumbled upon Lynch motors (UK) which are an OEM that are long established (30 years) and seem to have much more reasonable prices - making a hybrid solution just about workable.

[@saltlightdix4704]

Hi Andrew, thanks for that, I will check them out......the hybrid idea is still ticking away in the back of my mind, though I will still face certification problems...... Kev

[@saltlightdix4704]

Yeah the certifying process in Japan is restrictive.

[@carlf8291]

Nice job love the videos just wondering if you are going to cover the outside of the hull with fiberglass.

[@seanwalsh999]

He says just getting three coats of epoxy resin, no glass.

[@zanebrimson7777]

Long tradition of no fiberglass! The Gougeon Brothers, creators of West Systems Epoxy are the pioneers. Dudley Dix, the designer of this Cat is an early adopter of this method.

[@saltlightdix4704]

Thanks for watching! yeah the guys are right, it will just be getting 3 coat of epoxy. Kev

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

I may have mentioned it before but Sailing Sea of Japan has a large 55 or 60ft Wharram Islander Catameran that hes rebuilt over the past couple of years as a cruising home.. he might be a good guy to chat to all being well.

[@saltlightdix4704]

Hi Clive, no I haven't heard about it, if he is close by I would be keen to chat to. Do you have any details? Kev

[@Lifesgood427]

Kev just tried you buy me a coffee link and it does not work, any ideas?

[@saltlightdix4704]

Thanks, seems it as very late last night when I put the link in, its been updated now.

[@jimmydaniel8752]

Wounder how bad this boat will creek while sailing I have witnessed a lot of wooden boat creek really bad while on sail and anchor and it is very unpleasant that's one of the main things about a cat when I picked mine out is it's a very quiet boat minimal noise.cause the noises can drive u insane literally

[@saltlightdix4704]

Hi Jimmy, thanks for watching. Interestingly, when we rolled the hulls over they were hanging by only 2 straps, as we rolled them there was not a single creak to be heard. The strength of the hulls would only have increased after installing all the foam insulation and inner linings. I have not heard of any creaking complaints from other Dix cat owners. What cat did you go with in the end? Kev