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10.8 metre Racer Cruiser

Design Concept

After many years of design, construction and sailing dinghies, and after venturing into keelboat racing and cruising, Hobart yachtsman Tony Harman sought to build a racer / cruiser with harbour and offshore capability.   Tony discussed concepts with John Morgan from Auckland, New Zealand.   The brief was for a medium displacement craft that had good racing potential.  Stability for short handed cruising, and accommodation for 6 people was also required.

The result was a hull with a racy profile and good form stability.   The cabin volume is generous, but at the same time has maintained good sleek proportions.   The keel is a fully integral fin with a swept back bulb, providing good efficiency, while keeping the draft within reasonable limits for cruising.  

Construction

Tony undertook the construction in his backyard, in Hobart. Additional hands were provided by family and friends on larger tasks.   The hull was strip planked Western Red Cedar over a male mould of temporary frames. The planks were edge glued using WEST SYSTEM  R105 resin/ hardener modified with 411 Microsphere Blend low density filler.  

In general, all high strength gluing, such as scarffing of the cedar planks, was performed using WEST SYSTEM R105 epoxy with 403 Microfibre Blend.     

The hull shell was sheathed with 2 layers of 600g double bias E- fibreglass, and peel ply was applied over the wet layup.    After peel ply removal, the hull exterior was faired with WEST SYSTEM resin/hardener modified with 410 Microlight.   Two coats of epoxy were applied to the faired surface to seal it  and provide additional moisture resistance, followed by several coats of 2 pack epoxy undercoat.

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