A Photo & Discussion Forum for Wharram Design Enthusiasts

beams made of GRP or aluminium

Has anyone expierence in bulding beams with GRP or aluminium?

I think about beams made of balsawood or foam coverd with epoxy.

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Éric Bouvéron on April 28, 2015 at 7:28pm

Sailorjoy, ]

You may watch this discussion:

http://wharrambuilders.ning.com/forum/topics/tiki-21-aluminium-cros...

It concerns only aluminium, but it may be a good start.

Hope that may help,

Éric

Permalink Reply by sailorjoy on May 4, 2015 at 2:20pm

Has anyone aluminum beams?

Permalink Reply by boatsmith on May 18, 2015 at 6:50pm

Roger in CA has aluminum beams. We have built glass beams with foam cores and hollow glass beams with inserts for fasteners. We have a female mold for the hollow beams. They were expensive to build. For a one man op I would recommend foam beams with external glass fibers as more efficient time /money wise. Molds are expensive!!

Permalink Reply by sailorjoy on May 19, 2015 at 12:04pm

Thank you for the hint. I think I try to build them with foam and glass.On your pictures ist looks easy. Have you also experience in building mast with carbonfibre?

boatsmith said:

Roger in CA has aluminum beams. We have built glass beams with foam cores and hollow glass beams with inserts for fasteners. We have a female mold for the hollow beams. They were expensive to build. For a one man op I would recommend foam beams with external glass fibers as more efficient time /money wise. Molds are expensive!!