Extending the Bow Strongback - Catamaran Modification Ep302

To change the shape of a Catamaran Hull is no small undertaking, to do it own your own, piece by piece, is a whole different exercise. This week begins the epic task of adding sufficient buoyancy to our Catamaran Hull by Extending the Bow Strongback without detracting from the performance, a balancing act to say the least, here begins he biggest part of the build so far.
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#catamarans #boatbuilding #fibreglass #gelcoat #performancecatamaran #diyfibreglassing #cruisingcatamaran #bulkhead #yacht #sailing

[@k1los]

G'day Rosco! Just pumping the KZbin algorithm for you. Let's build that sailing kitty. I've enjoyed following your build, great to see you getting so close!

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks mate , thanks for the comment, appreciate you taking the time to watch.Rossco

[@latitudeash]

Those doors look great. Very good Job Ross.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks Ash, we love them.

[@plumbc7409]

Being old is a mindset, And you’re not in that mindset! Stop complaining! Great work.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Totally agree, just some days are brutal.Cheers Rossco

[@gillyb333]

❤Roscoe go have a beer after this cutting up of the mold wow what a job! ❤ happy new year to you Janet and your kids. ❤xxx

[@slimdavey100]

The hulls are no more I remember the first episodes where you brought the hulls cut them joined them back together polished them with so much sweat and swearing and maybe a bit of love and now they have been cut up for the last time but they gave birth to what is going to be a beautiful catamaran only a mad Australian would have done what you have take my hat off to you and Janet been watching since day one will be still watching even if it’s day one thousand and one 🍻🍺❤😊😊

[@lets_go_see_]

My prayers go ou for all of you for 2024 and i hope you could send one or two my way....... i will need them. Jim

[@Thealder07]

Hope you have a good new year break, come back and smash the boat and get it in the water.

[@eppot1]

killa a mould like eating a elefant... in small pieces. u getting there... Happy new year .. !!!

[@vogs72]

Chainsaw trousers are full of glass fibre to protect you, so not surprised you’ve buggered your saw on the mould 😊

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Wrecked the blade in a matter of seconds.

[@donaldwright6613]

I think your bow extensions are a great idea Ross. A lot less pitching and diving. You might lose half a knot, but as a cruiser who cares. But that looked like a lot of hard work getting the prep work done. Well done with the mould. All the best to you and the family for 2024. Keep up the great work.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

The bows have come up well.Will be a lifesaver I reckon.Mould removal was a blessing , one less piece of mind traffic.Rossco

[@DaveHines1]

That’s one hell of a game of Tetris 🤣😃🍻🍻

[@DWAJarrett]

Just what the ocean needs....more cats with lots of knobs on them. Epic Rossco and Janet...not too much of the elephant left👊👍👍

[@DraughtHorseMan]

Great video Ross. Love your work!

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks mate happy new year.

[@colinhill5771]

What a bastard ! I understand your pain, but on the bright side you are the wifey are doing such a great job. The boat is looking so good It will be a tribute to your hard work

[@PN_48]

Oh man, 10kts+ is starting to get loud and uncomfortable on a cruising boat and unless you’re in flat seas, just not fun. Looking great Rossco - looking forward to see her floating in ‘24!

[@terrystarr3012]

Wow ,wow.happy new year regards.

[@trondwell13]

Reducing yaw with your new shape will increase speed not least keeping your sails more upright is more efficient

[@jaymarlin3565]

Perfect..!

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks mate

[@gunnarfernqvist4896]

Merry christmas and a Happy new year to you and the family all the way from Sweden!

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Merry Christmas and happy new year to you also.Thanks for watching.Stay warm.Rossco

[@lets_go_see_]

i like what yur T-shirt says hopefully not oo many tears!!

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Haha, not yet, plenty of swearing though Jim.

[@gavinferguson]

So much work im asronished my level of expertise might be a wharram if im lucky

[@mp6756]

It's official you have the very last of this hull design. It did look like a backbreaking effort from the two of you. The bulbous bow was a good choice, and I'm looking forward to seeing the results once the boat is launched.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks so much for your comment.Mould had to go, and the bow mods were sadly essential.All came out looking good and solid as a rock.Rossco

[@MVSheKon]

Amazing amount of work Rosco. Great mod though. Happy New Year to you and Janet and the kids. Cheers mate!

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Happy new year! My friend, straight back to work for this fella.Rossco

[@kev.fwestofireland334]

Happy new year and all the best for 2024

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Happy New Year to you Kev.Have a pint for us as we are not resting now it's done.Rossco

[@aserta]

Not easy disposing of a big thing like that. Big ups for sticking to it until the end.

[@normanboyes4983]

It’s been amazing following your journey with the build of your catamaran and your industry, tenacity and sheer bloody mindedness has been of epic proportions - great teamwork of course with Janet’s considerable input. The mould has been the most heartbreaking, in terms of the waste, cost and considerable effort to dispose of and what is (was) an utter distraction from the main effort. Well done to both of you, compliments of the season and hopefully 2024 is a little bit easier on her old bones.😉👍😀⛵️

[@lets_go_see_]

As i have said before Rossco, this tearing apart was definitely Heart wrenching but now, out of the dust and broken pieces comes a vessel that will take you , Janet , family and friends on new exciting adventures. It did not die in vain.

[@Capfka]

Shit of a job, Ross. Just as well Janet was prepared to help! Ah well, nothing in 2024 will seem as tough! Happy New Year to you both.

[@rolandtb3]

Tough 3 days. Just the thought of how much went into getting the molds, transporting them, setting them up, cleaning them, polishing them, forming the sections, delaminating tbe hull and deck sections. Now to chop everything up and throw away. Massive physical and mental effort to fit in the skip. Almost done. Soon just a memory. Once again, Janet at your side persevering and silently encouraging to inevitably finish the monumentous task. It's over, done and dusted.

[@billmeldrum2509]

Huge props Ross… jeezus… you’re going to enjoy the hell out of that craft! 🇨🇦

[@tobiaslindblom2187]

Cutting up the mould has something quite poetic over it. A bit like doing the cleaning after a really good party... Or digging a grave by hand. Not necessarily fun, but... important... fulfilling.

[@tarantulapalp4295]

Use a silicon carbine grinding disc - 24 grit . you could have bond prepped that gelcoat on the hull in an hour and a half with maybe 2-3 discs . Just be methodical . Idk what you used but I was blown away when you said how long it took. I’m prepping 20’x6’ sections in 2 hours. (Specific applications ) . But yeah, those discs are the shit for gelcoat.🎉🎉🎉

[@tarantulapalp4295]

Belt sander with 24 or 80 for those edges and corners

[@graemerichardson4825]

Awesome effort mate. You knocked the bugger off!

[@markcrofton3757]

Next level Ross.Big job, didn't look that big to begin with but 15 ton of cutting then you loaded it into a skip. If anyone can do Ross you can.

[@Lucky_Red_Fish]

The boat is looking awesome, so pleased you took us on this journey with you, thanks for all the videos and the time you spent explaining every aspect of the build.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks for that comment, I hope there is some value in the videos.Rossco

[@whitneylake2107]

When you said,"Six years of big days", that is an amazing amount of human effort ! Happy holidays from Montana !

[@Nena84734]

Wow, what a massive job that was, I can’t believe you did it and whole thing is finally over, I hope you took at least a few days off after that! Super nice work on the bow extensions!

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

All good, straight back into the boatbuild after that was done, everything is easy after that effort.Pardon my expletives on that video.Happy new year.Rosso

[@Nena84734]

@@LifeOnTheHulls hey Ross, that’s fine, I speak very fluent expletives!!!

[@timdwyer4229]

I cut up the plug for a much smaller boat and the first piece I cut off came around and mashed my hand. Kept on working. Laminators are a tough lot.😮

[@bluedogozwoofer6737]

job well done

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks mate, happy new year.

[@GPSJayDog22]

It's a shame you couldn't find a market for the old molds 😞 Great work. Looking good. Love the doors. Cheers 🙂

[@belledetector]

A bit of a workout to spontaneous disassemble that mould 😅

[@matthewboulden7215]

Rossco, I actually reckon that mod to the hulls is an elegant solution to the buoyancy issue. The bulbous bow should create a low pressure wave off the front and decrease the resistance.

[@johnhewett2525]

I reckon with a little bit of work in your spare time you could have made a cool houseboat out of that mold. LOL

[@christophermitchell8986]

Good job, its your boat so build it your way. Have you done the math for the displacement of the hulls to establish the waterline? Id like to know how much the weight savings using the faom vs pure glass will effect it?

[@gregworkshop5713]

All the best to you and the family for 2024. Keep up the great work.👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😄

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks Greg , happy new year.

[@marktanska6331]

And some dreamers are talking about recycling turbine blades.

[@fonhollohan2908]

a lot of work getting rid of that old mold too bad it had to be chopped up and discarded that's how the ball roll sometimes the bulbous bow looks good so far. cheers.

[@robf1627]

Great project, great videos, shame about the audio levels. Continuously turning the volume up & down to hear what's said kinda distracts from what is otherwise a great project.

[@mkllove]

Ross & Janet, Happy New Year and I think you're already covered for any 2024 resolutions by getting rid of old hull mould... What a PITA that was, literally ! Hope you take a day off sometime soon for a physical/mental break that's overdue I'm sure !

[@martinneubert4068]

Nice work as always Ross. The bow, i am sure it will end up looking greate, no doubt. The door and windows, wow awesome. Quite som work in cutting up that mould, greate that its done now. Take care. All the best, and a happy new year

[@matswilliams1058]

Happy Holidays Janet, Rosco and the rest of the team. The boat starts to look amazing!!

[@geraldtribbe6363]

Like the shape for forward flotation. I would have just added some forward rudders for parallel parking, lol. Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

[@timothydunn5889]

Mate, I'm exhausted from sitting on the couch watching you. Think I'll have to go back to bed. I sincerely hope you have enough left in the tank to see it through.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

All good mate, I run on old man anger.

[@icelandviking1961]

Wow, an amazing pile of work completed.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Literally Kevin,all in the skip now.

[@icelandviking1961]

@@LifeOnTheHullssad there is no economical way to recycle used fiberglass. Hate to see all the boats and molds that end up buried in the landfills.

[@stephenj9563]

Good episode Ross That was bloody hard just to watch. Better you than me. Those doors look fantastic. Happy new year to you and Janet

[@anthonyrondolino8148]

Monumental work

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Cheers mate.

[@rushd45]

What a shame to destroy the hull mold... but it had to be done. Did you consider using some of the flat panels in your new build?

[@bishopkinlyside8477]

Hi Rossco and Janet, I just want to wish you a happy New Year. Hope you had a wonderful Christmas. I’m looking forward to 2024. Hopefully you’ll get the boat on the water this year sometime and also hopefully in 2024. I will get back up walking again after being in a wheelchair for five years keep up the good work. Love your Videos Cliff from Logan City Queensland, Australia 🇦🇺👨🏻‍🦽

[@JamesBond-xq3tw]

Were you ever in the movie lost in space ???

[@nickcooper14]

Glutton for punishment mate, but as you say it’s got to be done. Then you can create the boat and get the F out of dodge🤣🤣🤣 Happy New Year guys🎉🎉🍷🍷 go sink a few and relax🇦🇺

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

It was a seriously brutal time, thankfully long gone now.Cheers Nick Happy new year.

[@philiphemphill4980]

Well done Rossco and Janet hope you both had a great Christmas and looking forward to the new year as I am Happy new year cheers guys love your work

[@22Mikeref]

Those 10 to 12 hour days over the past six years will be worth it when you set sail on her.

[@medickaisu]

It is a sad but true fact that there is only one person in Australia (possibly the world) mad enough to build from that mould. It is a shame but there it is. On the positive side, you are going to have a corker of a cat. All the best to you and your beautiful family.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks Kaisu.It will turn out nice and so great to hear from you.Merry Christmas and happy new year.

[@wadeshore]

I hope the new year brings you less hard labor. Your cat is looking great 👍🏻

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks mate, happy new year.

[@fukkyoutube]

i know they are used on ships and all the way down to trawlers to help with speed and efficiency but im curious where the idea to use them on a catamaran came from or are they common on cats? and also this going to be a sailboat or motor yatch?

[@piercet]

For what its worth with most of my aerospace engineering degree, your bow shape shouldn't negatively affect your performance at all, you basically have a standard bulbous bow profile, just slightly short at the very tip there, it may actually slightly increase your speed and fuel economy compared to doing nothing because A. the bow won't be digging in like a plow due to the buoyancy issue, and B. the flow over the bulb will displace water more gently than a sharp wedge and will have a very minor hydrofoil flow effect which will likely not really add much in the way of speed, but certainly won't hurt it. But I work in IT these days, not boat or airplane design, so take that for what its worth.

[@gregoryh4601]

Ross and Wife have a Great Holiday and Enjoy the New Year. Ross with the New Design Hull will you Move your Sonar up Front? Also would Kevlar/ Carbon Fiber material be Better than Fiberglass and its weight? I like the New Hull design

[@svdeguello2884]

You just can’t have enough buoyancy forward, my guess is you will wish you had more than you are creating. My cat has very long bows and I can assure you in short steep sea conditions you wish they were longer/more buoyant.

[@CJ-ok7rk]

Forgive my English sense of humour. But did you say you were trying to avoid a big knob at the front of the boat.🤣

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Just wait till I start boasting at the local boat ramp about my two huge knobs.Rossco

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

I am married to a Brit so no excuses needed from you mate, very accustomed to it and love it.

[@CJ-ok7rk]

@@LifeOnTheHullsThought you would get it. Love the channel by the way. How far behind are we.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Currently about 4months behind mate.​Happy New Year.

[@user-yx5ox5vg4d]

Why couldn't you sell the moulds or even give then away?

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Mate we tried for over 3 years to sell and offered them to a guy that actually paid a deposit to us, no avaial and the rent on storage was killing us.Over 12000 dollars waisted in storage alone.All has been explained on many previous videos.Cheers Ross

[@brendanruddis1565]

so that mod your doing is to keep the bow from dipping to much into the water

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Yes mate t is a buoyancy solution as boat was designed with inadequate buoyancy in the bow.This was discovered after initial boat was produced and then retro fitted buoyant bows.Rossco

[@jimloy3467]

Couldn’t get a buyer for the mold….what’s the story here..

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Long story short, up for sake for 2 years, many time wasters, actually sold it, took a deposit, fell through, deposit paid for scrapping, the story is all there in the videos mate, Cheers.Rossco

[@mrghm]

So Australian filling skip to max so truck can’t lift it. To job

[@marktanska6331]

To destroy that mold is a huge waste, I understand why you had to, I cannot understand no one wanted to to what you have done? If I was 50 years old. Yes I already built 52f mono hull. Launched 2005 , still using it

[@jimb348]

Rosco, you tease! I can't believe you didn't let us see the fully loaded skip. Cruel.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

I actually don't think I had a photo of it mate as I was a seriously broken man by the end of that week.Lucky to get any thing.I will take a look.Rossco

[@jimb348]

😄No worries. I'm the same age as you, so I really understand. @@LifeOnTheHulls

[@cappywa]

Been supporting / watching your vids for years from the start. The last of the mold cutting, binning and trucking to the tip was was 4 vids or more ago. Why are you showing this again Ross. ??? What are you milking it for mate ???

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

That wasn't the last of it mate, that was the deck mould many weeks ago.I had only made a start on the hull mould being stored across the road.There is still another 12 tonnes of module moulds to go to be paid to tip.Cannot get rid of them all at once.Sorry if I have bored you.Milking it,hardly.It is all in the ridiculous logistics we have been through to complete this boat.

[@latitudeash]

Well at least the old mould is gone…almost. Shame… I bet the bits get reused. That amount of fibreglass will turn up in tables and all sorts of things. I bet the scrapyard will reuse some of the larger bits. Anycase that part of your life is in the past. Get that cat in the water next… 🎉

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

Thanks Ash, aiming for a launch this year some time.

[@LupusMechanicus]

LOL I love how you never cursed when starting this thing and now we are at the point we don't care anymore. Even christ cursed the fig tree. Better to swear than quit.

[@LifeOnTheHulls]

I have always held the belief that it's better out than in when you need to express yourself.Apologies but wow, this boy has been tested on that job.Rossco