Accessories
Much time is spent by strip builders in making accessories. We will investigate whether it is practical and affordable to make the parts using 3D printing.
Hatches
One advantage of strip building is the possibilities of making flush hatches, which gives the kayak an elegant feel. In comparison, the hatces on commercial kayaks will feel invasive to the aesthetics of the kayak.
We will print the hatch lip with a groove. The hatch covers are of course the part of the deck you (carefully) saw out for the hatch, and the gasket matching the groove wil be printed and glued to the cover. If the machining can be made accurate enough, this should ensure a watertight hatch. The gasket can be printed in a rather soft material. The hatch cover could be secured by straps, but we will also experiment with magnets.
The deck will usually be curved, and we can make the hatch part fit the deck accurately.
This approach to making hatches will be tested when we finish Turøy before the summer 2017. Some experimenting with printing material must also be done. The picture below shows the model of hatch lip of the forward hatch of the optimized Sibir Expedition, ready to be sent to the 3D printer. A round form may not be the best idea, though, since the hatch then must be fitted before the deck is assembled to the hull.
You may rotate and magnify the hatch lip here.
