Building a Balance 482 Catamaran III: Hull and deck plug construction

This is the third video in the Building a Balance 482 Catamaran series. Here you will follow the build of the first Balance 482 Catamaran from tooling to launch and sea trials of hull #1.
This video shows production progress on the hull and the deck plug as well as fuel and water tank construction, and daggerboard and rudder construction.
For those who have not watched the earlier videos in the series, it is worth explaining that the hull mold is constructed using thousands of CNC-cut shutter ply frames and meranti stringers. This framework is then cladded with weather-proof ply and faired until smooth. The same process is then applied to the deck plug, from which the deck mold is manufactured using E-Glass and resins with structural reinforcement behind it. The Balance 482 hull is laminated in one piece without the need for additional joining laminates and tabbing, which helps to save weight. The structural PVC foam core material is thermo formed and vacuum bagged to assist with further weight savings and to provide structural integrity to this performance sailing catamaran. Furthermore, all bulkheads are properly tabbed in and we use carbon fibre in high-load areas for extra stiffness and strength.
Read more about the Balance 482 on our website at balancecatamarans.com/our-mod...
#balancecatamarans #catamaran #sailingcatamaran #catamaransailing #boatbuilding #catamaranconstruction #dutoityachtdesign

[@schnelma605]

Thank you for showing such detailed videos!

[@johanmarais9950]

Your transparency is fantastic - really simply the best!

[@ShaneLawler]

They are taking shape quickly and I can only imagine how excited the owners must be. Hopefully I will be one of them soon. Thanks for sharing.

[@balancecatamarans]

We can't wait for you to become a Balance owner. Indeed, the first owners are very excited and booking their tickets to Cape Town soon !

[@brunooliveira4918]

Cant wait for the new 482.

[@stormtrooper9404]

Very nice collage of a building process! Thank you.
Still I have a question? At 2:14 should'nt be the water tank build by something other than the fiberglass and resin? Maybe food graded PVC?!
The fuel tank also?
(Am not an expert by any means, just curious tho)

[@LoanwordEggcorn]

I wonder if they use bladders inside the tanks. If not, might be a good option.

[@balancecatamarans]

Hi! They are built with vinyl and epoxy resins and have water and diesel grade internal paint applied to the respective tanks.

[@stormtrooper9404]

@@balancecatamarans Thanks for the answer.
Do you have information/statistics from previous boats(i.e.526) how often the tanks should be cleaned? Do they easily catch algae? And do the paint is chemicaly stable on UV-C light?

[@youjib]

GTFO project must be watching ;)