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Brent,
Paint...
One of the big problems with Freya and Kraka is our
reliance regarding corrotion control - especially on Freya. The visible hull was
never a big problem but inside the trim and main ballast tanks the volumes are
so cramped that paint work is close to impossible. This spring Kraka was cut in
pieces to get in and fix this in all critical spaces - but its very difficult
and expensive in hours.
UC3 is different. All tanks, seawater, freshwater,
fuel - all have man holes. All can be painted. All parts of the pressurehull are
accessible on both sides. The whole deck on the casing is
mounted with stainless bolts - and can be removed for inspection. Even the sail
can be un mounted in this way. This means she can be easily maintained over the
years.
We use a special epoxy paint. It comes with no
reactive solvents - so no gas masks are needed - and the tools can be cleaned
with white spirit or even warm soap water. It is applied with a brush, and
each layer gives about 400 my. Depending on the use we add different pigments -
e.g. inside the boat the white paint is the epoxy with 30 % titanium dioxide -
the best covering white paint I have ever used. Other places we use the paint with other pigments - depending on the
environment.
The finish is not like a car - the best name for
the product would be "tank primer heavy" - but its is having very good adhesion
- even on non sandblasted surfaces - and is exceptionally watertight. And in our
business - that's what paint are fore.
As for welding...
- UC3 is almost entirely made form high
tensile carbon steal - a type known as
EN S355J2G3 -
roughly similar to DIN 17100 St 52. The fact that it is indeed high tensile
steal is felt when we bend it - it feels about as stubborn as stainless steal.
Its is welded with a high power MIG welding machine with a thread that is 1.5 mm
diam and is hollow - it contains some material that protects the meltbath. It
gives an exceptionally productive welder - we can make a meter of 15 mm
seam in about 15 minutes. The intence heat from the process melts down plastic
glasses on our welding masks - so we use mineral glass helmets
only. Its also makes for very smooth and good looking welding. In other words - I am not tired of anything but waiting to
launch this boat.
To make a project - big or small - is about
dedication. What I have enjoyed during this process is that I have never
felt it was boring or to much or felt that I lacked motivation. To me as an
individual - its like going to the moon - its like the Apollo project was to
the United States as a nation - so I frankly love doing
it.
I would wish for all on this list - that
if you haven't already build one - then start tomorrow - because creating a
ship, submarine or homemade spacecraft of any kind is simply
wonderful.
Regards,
Peter
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