Building the Privilège Signature 580 | Part 2 - Privilege Catamarans America

Building the Privilège Signature 580 | Part 2

June 19, 2020

Bulkhead and component installation. Most components such as fuel and holding tanks are installed along with much of the furniture before the deck is connected to the hull.

Bulkhead & Component Installation

Secondary bulkheads are fixed in place using a tabbing process. This is achieved by using strips of fiberglass soaked in polyester resin to connect the bulkheads to each other and the hull. The result is a fully integrated structure. A well-constructed catamaran should behave like a tree in a storm. Some parts need to be absolutely solid while other parts of the tree need to move and bend. A boat that is a series of parts glued and screwed together will not last.

Polyester resins used in fiberglass boat construction don’t bond well to wood, which is the main reason we build our FRP bulkheads using closed-cell foam coring.

Engine installation is a major milestone in the construction of all vessels and you can see the engine bearers ready to receive the 110hp Yanmar engines. This will be a shaft drive system that is better than a saildrive for the long distant sailor.

Most components such as fuel and holding tanks are installed along with much of the furniture before the deck is connected to the hull. Once the deck is installed access is greatly limited.