Duracell project: Production of a standby bed in recycled composite material


Matt makes the supports for the watch bunk on his Duracell sailboat. A project he undertakes using parts salvaged from previous work.

Recycled composite angle irons

In a previous episode, Matt introduced us to his project for standby cabins under the Duracell doghouse benches. He now moves on to building the frames for the 4 future benches. To do this, he fabricated 4 composite angle brackets on a mannequin, using parts salvaged from previous projects. Glued together with cyanolite glue, they are then laminated.

Pieces fitted to the hull planking are then added to create a hull-side shelf, a reminder of how to take the templates, using shims and very thin wooden panels.

A removable banquette

So that the crew member in the lower bunk can make the most of the space if he's alone, Matt has taken advantage of comments from Internet users to devise a removable system for the frame of the upper bunk. This can be stowed away, along with the slats.

The top angle, which carries more weight, needs to be reinforced. Beyond the sandwich thickness, an additional plate is added. It incorporates handles for support. Its manufacture proves more delicate, with deformation when vacuum-packed. This is an opportunity for Matt to emphasize the need to take his time during manufacture. He should have laminated the edges of the holes before vacuum bagging.

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