Craig Simon's Custard Truck

These shots of the interior of an Australian Boat show some interesting differences in building practice. This is a predominantly glass boat (which is much better for photos!). Built mid 1990s.

Shell with Interior bulkheads. You can also spot the characteristic Australian Rigging cradle (don't know what they're really called). These have never been seen over in the UK, but they're a really neat idea. AIUI the boat lives in the cradle all the time off the water. If you look closely you can see how its shaped so that the boat can readily be rolled over on its side for rigging in the cradle with the gunwhales and bottom skin protected from even the most vicious of beaches.

Most British boats take the central spine right up to the bow. Note the extra reinforcement before the front bulkhead. This area takes a real hammering and was a notorious spot for trouble in the days of wood boats.

Montage of various interior details. Note how the gantry is inset from the transom. The ramped down false floor is a nice detail. This brings the transom bulkhead further in to support the false floor and reduces weight in the end slightly.

Front bulkhead and side tank bulkheads. There seems to be less framing at deck height than most British boats. The false floor has a layer of kevlar in the layup. Ths was intended (successfully) to give plenty of impact resistance for the abuse that the floor inevitably takes.

General view aft. Note the appreciable gunwhale overhang. This is a rule difference really as the Australian rules prohibit the reverse chine topside flare seen in the UK, but in both cases the aim is to have the topsides as vertical as possible to promote clean flow separation at the chines when planing.

Bow area. Unidirectional carbon where the rig loads will come.

Foredeck on. The mastgate looks designed to take substantial loads from the rig, and I suspect the foredeck is much more of a load bearing structure than in UK practice, where its more common to see more substantial internal space frame.

Building the side tanks. Nice radiused tank tops for comfort. The technique used was to cut strips of foam, tack them onto the frames with pins and glue them together in position. They were then pulled off and glassed on the inside, then glued in place and glassed on the outside.

Aft view showing the slots in the side deck foam clearly. Temporary brackets locate the deck while it cures. "Long and tedious but well worth it for the comfort factor!" says Craig!

Complete tanks. Carbon reinforcement where various fittings will be located.

All complete, painted, and waiting for all those expensive fittings...

All complete, ready to go sailing. Nice straightforward clean interior layout - but then that's pretty typical of all Cherubs anywhere.

And here it is. This shot is actually a few years on from brand new, and the extended rudder gantry is among the additions. The advantages of the rigging cradle in protecting the boat are obvious.

All photos (c) Craig Simons

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		Shell with Interior bulkheads. You can also spot the characteristic Australian Rigging cradle (don't know what they're really called). These have never been seen over in the UK, but they're a really neat idea. AIUI the boat lives in the cradle all the time off the water. If you look closely you can see how its shaped so that the boat can readily be rolled over on its side for rigging in the cradle with the gunwhales and bottom skin protected from even the most vicious of beaches.
		Most British boats take the central spine right up to the bow. Note the extra reinforcement before the front bulkhead. This area takes a real hammering and was a notorious spot for trouble in the days of wood boats.
		Montage of various interior details. Note how the gantry is inset from the transom. The ramped down false floor is a nice detail. This brings the transom bulkhead further in to support the false floor and reduces weight in the end slightly.
		Front bulkhead and side tank bulkheads. There seems to be less framing at deck height than most British boats. The false floor has a layer of kevlar in the layup. Ths was intended (successfully) to give plenty of impact resistance for the abuse that the floor inevitably takes.
		General view aft. Note the appreciable gunwhale overhang. This is a rule difference really as the Australian rules prohibit the reverse chine topside flare seen in the UK, but in both cases the aim is to have the topsides as vertical as possible to promote clean flow separation at the chines when planing.
		Bow area. Unidirectional carbon where the rig loads will come.
		Foredeck on. The mastgate looks designed to take substantial loads from the rig, and I suspect the foredeck is much more of a load bearing structure than in UK practice, where its more common to see more substantial internal space frame.
		Building the side tanks. Nice radiused tank tops for comfort. The technique used was to cut strips of foam, tack them onto the frames with pins and glue them together in position. They were then pulled off and glassed on the inside, then glued in place and glassed on the outside.
		Aft view showing the slots in the side deck foam clearly. Temporary brackets locate the deck while it cures. "Long and tedious but well worth it for the comfort factor!" says Craig!
		Complete tanks. Carbon reinforcement where various fittings will be located.
		All complete, painted, and waiting for all those expensive fittings...
		All complete, ready to go sailing. Nice straightforward clean interior layout - but then that's pretty typical of all Cherubs anywhere.
		And here it is. This shot is actually a few years on from brand new, and the extended rudder gantry is among the additions. The advantages of the rigging cradle in protecting the boat are obvious.