Try it, you’ll like it ! - photo courtesy of my wife Cynthia
A beautiful beach of the past Kings on the Kona coast on the big island of Hawaii is shown
here just to get you in the mood for a cruise, swim or snorkel with the friendly fish and the
giant sea-turtles or just a great, great place to get away. Sea kayaking is a great sport here.
These photographs have nothing to do with a
sea going kayak but are presented here for
the visual presentation of yet another
multi-hull sailboat under construction (the
Kiwi-18) which represents the latest in
simplest cold molded construction
techniques with epoxy and mahogany strip
veneer composite construction. This
technique lends itself very well to
wooden
aircraft
construction and is extremely easy
and forgiving to the beginner who wants to
build a light, very stiff and strong craft.  
Epoxy used is the West System. Refer to the
Links tool bar in the left window.     
Notice the compound curves that can be achieved from
using flat veneer strips. The two photos shown here
are that of a modern ocean going 18 foot multi- hull
outrigger sail boat that is designed as a prototype to
exactly duplicate the weight of a production version to
be manufactured from all fiberglass and polyester or
vinyl composite resins. The total skin thickness is only
0.25 inches (6 mm) and is far stiffer than those made
from fiberglass and polyester.   No screws or nails
have been used in the construction.
As shown to the left, torture
bending at its worst. The saying is
generally "what ever works with
what you have". The strength of the
epoxy is very much evident. Notice
the prepared deck scarf joints
ready for the fore deck attachment.
The aft deck has been
installed and the water tight
lazarette can be seen for
access to the spade rudder
bearing, rudder removal
shaft pin and storage area.
This craft is totally epoxy
bonded and has an outside
color finish coating on top of
the epoxy with extremely
hard linear polyurethane.
The spade rudder can just
be seen below the hull.
SeaKayak - 20/2
Line drawings for the SeaKayak - 20/2, a 20 foot long 2- place
To the trained eye, the performance can be observed.  
To those who need a specifications data chart, one is
presented from the drawing as shown to the right.

The construction method is not to be found in kayaks that
are offered from kit manufacturers.  It is not the flat panel
Strip-built (SB) and Stitch & Glue (S&G) method.
Construction is closer to the Strip-built method but
layered in a different manner that provides contoured
stiffness. Thin plywood veneer or fine clear grain cedar
strips may be used. For abrasion resistance, fiberglass
may be added to the outside but is generally not needed
as the resin does add weight.

These are truly fun craft to occupy and propel yourself
and a friend through the water. It is a very gratifying form
of accomplishment when one completes the construction
and does the water ventures.  The dolphins really do
come up to your kayak to see you if you remain very still.  
My wife and I witnessed this when we kayaked across
Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island of
Hawaii where the
famous English explorer Captain James Cook, R.N. was
killed by the natives. A white colored monolithic
monument was constructed there in 1874 to honor the
man for his fabulous explorations and discoveries. There
is a bronze plaque just at water level (below at high tide)
marking the exact spot where he met his unfortunate
fate. Don't forget to wear rubber snorkel or boating foot
wear as the sharp coral will cut your feet.
To the right is a proof of lines concept model for an 21
foot ( l.o.a.), ocean sailing, 2- place wood and fiberglass
trimaran day sailor with forward cutty for one person to
get out of bad weather.  
A very comfortable area for beach camping as well.
Photos to the right.

The model has stringers only for viewing the shape. The
real construction would have none, like the Kiwi 18 shown
above. Floats (amas) would fold down for trailering and
the mast is self rotating. Safety netting would be between
the main hull seating and each ama. Forward netting can
be optional as this has turned out very beneficial in
previous trimarans.

The interesting thing about trimarans, besides being very
fast and stable, is the main hull volume increases to the
cube power (cubic feet of inside space) for every foot in
length. This provides lots of comfort because of the rapid
increase in space for occupants and amenities.
Proof of lines concept
Before Richard learned about strip contouring, he did
it by the old plywood flat panel method.
A modified 25 ft. Piver Mariner Trimaran at
"The Hoist - King Harbor Marina, Redondo Beach,
California. October 1969"
The old FOX theater and Redondo Beach Chamber of
Commerce in the background
On the Way to a First Launch.
In order to get it to the water , it had to be
raised to go over a fence.
The Shape of Things o Come Have
Been Here for Some Time
The Marine Division section shows the similarity
between aircraft and boat construction. Also, check out
the Gougeon Brothers, Inc.
"West System" in the Links
section. Their book on boat construction is the best on
the market and an absolute must for wood aircraft
builders. Much more usable than what the EAA sells.
For a large bound book, the price is very easy on your
pocket at $39.95

The Gougeon Brothers on Boat Construction
Hardcover-406 pages.

Decades of experience building with wood and epoxy are
compiled in this 5th edition, completed in 2005. New and
updated material is combined with proven technology in
a revised layout for navigation. Extensive chapters on
hardware bonding, construction methods, safety and
tools are described with the aid of hundreds of detailed
illustrations and photographs. Used as a textbook in
boatbuilding schools. Over 100,000 copies in print.
Copyright © 2000- 2014 by Richard W. Fraser  All Rights Reserved
Click on picture above to enlarge and again click on
the enlargement to sharpen with some viewers.
Ray_Stits_Aircraft
Marine Division
Including Arthur Piver's Original
Modern Sailboats Catalog of Designs
Page 1
Click the Picture to go to Piver's
Trimarans on page 2
The 3KSES Surface Effect Ship shown above actually had an estimated capable
speed of 100 knots in high sea states. She was lengthened during the design
3000 ton weight listed is assumed to be in ship design long tons (2,240 pounds),
which would make it weigh 6,720,000 pounds.  Robert Sherman was one very
fine artist who painted these pictures. This copy doesn't do Robert's paintings
justice.

The 100A Surface Effect Ship shown is an actual photo of the test craft that was
used to prove out the 3KSES hard side walls and skirt design.  During the
design of the 3KSES, the model 100A successfully launched a vertical missile
tethered to the top deck while traveling nearly 100 knots. The 3KSES had
vertical launch missile capability in it's design which would have been launched
from below deck.
Rohr Industries, Inc, Marine Division US Navy
Surface Effect Ship Past Developments
Scale flow model of starboard side for testing
anti-icing of the  engine(s) plenum inlet.
Testing was done at the Lockheed Rye
Canyon Facility North of Los Angeles,
California. Note the vertical hot gas supply
pipe. The model was turned sideways to allow
the wind generated by a 100 mph blow-down
supply to flow past the inlet. Richard's a little
younger in this photo.
Above are drawings of a scale flow and internal Visualization (with motion picture
cameras) model proposed for testing in the NASA Ames 40 ft. x 80 ft. Wind tunnel.
The lower photograph is that of a scale lift engine flow bell-mouth to check smooth air
flow and pressure drop into the bell-mouth at various velocities so as not to stall the
turbine engine.
3KSES Surface Effect
Ship at bottom of page
The waiting game. Frank Sasine....where is
my mast and rigging?
"The Hoist - King
Harbor Marina, Redondo Beach, California.  
October 1969."
Look at the lack of boats
back then.
King Harbor Marina Hoist (center and to the right), Redondo
Beach, California. October 1969.
Richard's Piver 25' Mariner just launched
Maiden voyage. Launch site is the King Harbor Marina Hoist
(center and to the right), Redondo Beach, California.
October 1969.
My, how this area has changed.
Bob "Bergie" Bergstrom at
the tiller
"The Hoist Fuel Dock - King Harbor Marina,
Redondo Beach, California.
October 1969"
Kiwi-18 above - compound curves can be
accomplished
Kiwi 18 Sail Plan

FRASER AERO TECHNOLOGY COMPANY