DIY Full CARBON Bowsprit Project, Vacuum Resin Infusion, Pattern-Mold-Infusion in 6 Minutes.

As we did not found suitable bow sprit for our Hurricane - Beneteau First Class 8, we decided to build one our selves.
The bow sprit consists of full carbon and was built with vacuum resin infusion technology using epoxy resin.
The project took quite a long time as it was extremely complex from pattern making until mold lamination and final resin infusion.
We made also a new entrance hatch and tiller all in full carbon.
If you are interested, let me know down in the comments and we will also show how we made these items.
If you like our handcraft works please like, share and subscribe.
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Towards The Horizon by Alexander Nakarada | www.serpentsou...
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[@dietereichinger]

Gratulation - great innovation

[@Wandersailing]

Great project man!

[@alexandergstettner9820]

thank you so much kind regards Alex

[@Wandersailing]

@@alexandergstettner9820 I was interested of doing a similar project. Do you have photos or videos of the underside?

[@alexandergstettner9820]

@@Wandersailing Hi I am sorry not yet it is not really special down below it is hollow and open I have not closed it and also have not put any stringer into it, very simple construction kind regards Alex

[@alexandergstettner9820]

Hi I used multiaxial fabrics and 1mm soric intermediate layer. the fabric was 500gsm so half a mm in the ready part the thickness of the part is about 4,5mm all in all I have used about 7 layers and some extra reenforment layers...

[@runedigebrandrup3680]

It has been two years, it looks good, and I am interested. How is it holding up? can you step on the tip of the bow sprit? - and can it sustain the sideways forces of the code 0? How big is your Have you put any support underneath the bow sprit?

[@alexandergstettner9820]

Hi it is still great and excellent stability! No it is for sure not a good idea to step on the tip of the bow sprit. The sprit itself can stand it for sure but not the water stag where it is supported from underneath. you can see it on my other videos! this summer we will go to Croatia for two weeks sailing at the see it will be good fun! kind regards Alex

[@runedigebrandrup3680]

@@alexandergstettner9820 Thanks, I have been thinking about making something similar, so it is good to hear that it has been holding up.

[@viktorbrejcha948]

Hi, may I ask you how many layers and which fabrics did you use? Thanks!

[@paulhudson4481]

Hi Alexander what are the dimensions ? I am thinking of building one for my 6 mtr trimaran

[@alexandergstettner9820]

Hi Paul! Happy new year to you!! thanks for your kind question. The overall length is about 126cm and about 80cm from the tip of the bow to the end of the bow sprit. it is a good compromise because it is mounted fix on the boat it shall not be too long but for sailing maximal length is wanted... I wish you great success for your project if you need anything let me know.

[@rolfnilsen6385]

It came out really great. Looks very very good. Could I ask about what heating blanket you used to post-cure? It looks like heating blanket, but have not seen one going up to 90degC before :-) You sure have put a lot of work and research into your projects, if you dont work in the composite industry.

[@alexandergstettner9820]

Hi Rolf, thanks for your question, I am not working directly in composite business but I work in company which is producing material for this industry, we also have a laboratory in the company where I have learned a lot about the whole process, a good starting point which saved me a lot of time. The rest I have figured out by try and error :) The heating blanket is used as a barrel heater! They are quite cost effective together with the programmable temperature stearing unit, which is really cheap, it is a perfect set up, which worked excellent.

[@ThisGuyRates]

As a curious question, how many layers of carbon did you use? Looks like 2 weave, plus 6 uni of say 180gsm?

[@alexandergstettner9820]

Hi Tito! thanks for your question, the carbon material I was using, apart of the chess pattern carbon fabric, was a multi axial carbon fabric in 45/45/0 angle. I cut the layers out in 0 and 90° formation in order to cover the whole spectrum of fiber strength in any direction. Additionally I introduced a special non wovens fabric which gives a bit higher volume with low weight (the white layer). in the edges and on some critical parts of the pattern, I have added more layers of multi axial carbon cloth. The base-structure of the bow sprit has about 4mm thickness. Please subscribe my channel if you are interested I have planned more exiting projects during long winter nights :) kind regards Alex