Starboard fuel tank Progress

I have been pondering how to build the side of the fuel tanks with access ports so that the tanks can be cleaned and inspected....With there being 2 tanks,and each tank having 2 chambers(due to the baffle) that meant having 4 access covers. The access covers for the water tanks worked out all right, but were a lot of work. The problem is in attaching the studs to the fiberglass well enough that they do not come loose when you are taking the covers off. For the water tanks, I made aluminum bars that I threaded the studs into with locktite and then embedded the bars in the fiberglass. It turned out to be a very slow process. For the fuel tanks I decided the mount the studs in the covers and then have the covers bolt into the tank from the inside rather than the outside. Then the liquid pressure will be pushing the cover onto the tank wall rather than off.

 I also decided to make the the covers using 1/4" thick aluminum rather than fiberglass. That way I can just thread bolts into the aluminum with locktite and then seal the back of the cover with what ever I coat the inside of the tanks with...
I have not come to a decision on that yet.





After drawing the side out I realized that there was not much side left after you cut the access holes out. I usually make these parts using 1/2 Power ply as a core, but there would be so much waste it did not make sense. Then I realized that there really were not any large unsupported areas and a core was not necessary.

Rather than lay-up the whole side and then cut the access holes I made a simple mold for the side. I will line the mold with wax paper so the resin will not stick to it. I cut all the strips of 24oz  combo mat and 4 mm core mat to fit in the spaces that represent the wall. There will be 5 layers total, 2 layers of 24 oz. Combo mat followed by the core mat then 2 more layers of 24 oz. Combo mat. I lapped the joints in each consecutive layer. The total finish laminate should be 7/16" thick, more than enough. Between the center dividing wall and the two baffles the side will have plenty of support.







Tomorrow we are off to the Trawler Fest here in Palm Beach Gardens to see what inspiration we can find.