Carbon fantastic

Steve Neal proves he can get even more carbon into a Merlin Rocket than you ever thought possible

You may note that the boat lacks the toilet seat or spinnaker chute. It's going to have side bags. This was Richard Estaugh's idea to cut the weight out of the bow - allowing all the weight to be positioned in the middle of the boat.

At present they estimate this boat will need 30 kgs of lead. Also without the chute hole, you can then have three positions for the jib tack, letting you adjust the shape of the jib, having say, a longer slot, shorter foot and having a longer aspect ratio, in theory producing lift and thus higher pointing.

The boat doesn't have a gunnel running forward and this allows the deck to be raised. The reasons for this are aerodynamics, increased buoyancy, and because Steve thinks it will simply look very sexy. The deck will be painted but you can see that the carbon layout allows for pressure points: three points for the mast step, three points for the strut and three points for the jib's variable positions. Also inside the boat, in-line with the mast are points for the lowers.

This allows the crew more room to work the spinnaker. The pictures should illustrate the same techniques used below deck level. Control lines will lead from the thwart. The thwart seems quite large, offering a lot of stiffness but not much weight.

The stern of the boat has been made slightly wider. The deck plan at the back has a two layers of biaxial carbon running through it. The gunnels will have unidirectional fibres running through, allowing loads to be transmitted from the shroud points, through to the transom - hence the reason that the transom is so large. To top this lot off a layer of biaxial has been used to coat the whole back end. The stern decks tank are wide and angled with slopped rear decks to prevent the helm from being locked in, allowing easy movement.

Every part of the carbon structure in the boat has I-beams (two pieces of foam with a section of carbon through the middle). For example the piece running across the top of the transom contains five I-beams running though it, wrapped with biaxial carbon once it was positioned on the boat, proving to be a very strong and light solution.

Throughout the boat the carbon is layered and carefully orientated to handle the loads being applied, allowing stiffness and power to be transmitted.

The actual project is now further along than the photos show and is ready for final sheathing and painting. Steve has also secured his Patent, so if you would like to discuss with him details of the construction and where the project is headed now give him a call on 07976 243287.