A carefully thought-out geometry
The result of Matt's reflections several months earlier on the transformation of Duracell's cockpit for cruising use, the geometry of the coamings has been fixed to meet different needs. A slope at the stern will accommodate the autopilot display and possibly a bow thruster, visible from the helm station. A recess in the coaming will house the larger, aft-most winch, while the forward-most secondary winch and blocker battery will be located on top of the coaming. Part of the interior space will be used to store the crew's minor equipment: telephones, cranks, sun cream...
A structural challenge
Winches and blockers are subjected to considerable stress under sail, transmitted by halyards and sheets. The new coamings need to be sufficiently rigid. Matt therefore uses a sandwich with a core of coosa board, a reinforced foam he has already used in this restoration.
The main winch, partially recessed in the coaming, is bolted directly to the deck through an angled wedge to align with the blockers. The second winch and blockers are reinforced with unidirectional carbon at the base.
Tools and assembly
To complete the project, Matt pays particular attention to the order in which the parts are assembled, in order to keep them aligned. He also makes tooling, such as a circular cutting jig to the size of the winch base.
With its coamings, Duracell gets closer to the definitive back line.
