Didi 40cr2 Kit at Exocetus Marine

 A few months ago I posted about the comprehensive kit being developed for the Didi 40cr2 by Exocetus Marine in UK. They are building a boat at the same time as developing the kit, to check everything for proper fit and assembly. Since my previous post the build has progressed to hull turn-over stage.

See captions under photos for explanations.

Side panel glued to hull framing.

First layer of pre-formed radius skin panels being installed.

This is how the radius skin panels are supplied in the kit, pre-formed in the Exocetus workshop.

Inside view of the radiused portion of the hull.

Second layer of radius fitted. A jigsaw joint on the side panel can also be seen.

Hardwood keel shoe, also cut by CNC. This forms a tough and flat surface onto which the keel root is bolted, removing compressive loads from the softer okoume plywood skin.

The gloss epoxy in this photo shows the fairness of the radius chine plywood hull. In the background is a Dix 470 catamaran that is also available as a kit, being built in the workshop.

High-build epoxy primer.

Outside, ready for hull-turning.

A novel way to turn a hull. I've not seen it done this way before.

The keel shoe is visible in this photo.

Steel frame on which the stern was supported during turn-over.

Turn-over completed.

The kit that Exocetus Marine is developing includes all plywood components plus all solid timber structure, pre-shaped and ready for installation. Their instruction manual is also very detailed, with interactive PDF 3D drawings that allow the builder to view in various formats and to zoom in to see finer detail.

To see our full design range, go to our main website or our mobile website.

Didi 40cr2 Builder Sheri Bamboat

Sheri Bamboat is the owner of XS-Marines, boatbuilder in Mumbai, India. They built the plywood Didi 40cr2 "Stargazer" for a customer and took moulds off that boat for future production building of the Didi 38/40 design range in sandwich GRP. Today an article appeared in Indian newspapers about Sheri Bamboat, telling the story of his involvement in sailing and boatbuilding in India. Read Sheri's story in the Mumbai Mirror.

Didi 40cr2 |Stargazer".

To  see our range of designs, go to our main website or our mobile website.

Launching Didi 40cr2 Stargazer

I wrote last year about the Didi 38/40 projects being built by XS Marines in India. The posts are at Didi 26 and 40 Projects in India and Update on Wide Stern Versions of Didi 40 and Didi 40cr .

They built the new wide-stern version of the Didi 40cr, now named the Didi 40cr2, from plywood for a customer. (Sorry, we don't yet have a web page for the new version, that will come soon.) During the build, they took moulds off the hull so that they can build this series of designs in sandwich GRP. They will be able to build the Didi 38, Didi 40 and Didi 40cr from those moulds.

Last week they launched the first boat, named "Stargazer". She is the second Didi 40cr2 to be launched, after "Passion X" in Sydney, Australia.

"Stargazer" being built from wood and plywood.

"Stargazer" covered with the GRP mould.

Didi 40cr2 "Stargazer" about to get wet.

She was launched on Friday, sailed on Saturday and raced (not seriously though) on Sunday. She had no spinnaker, which was to be added to her wardrobe this week.

"Stargazer" under sail.

After their first sail, builder Sheri Bamboat reported on her sailing qualities. "We sailed Stargazer from the Moorings near my yard to Mumbai on 23 March .  It really was a great moment. I need to thank and congratulate you on one of the most well balanced boats that I have sailed."

We wish Sheri Bamboat and XS Marines every success with building these boats for the Asian market. We also wish the owner of "Stargazer" happy sailing and successful cruising and racing on her.

To see our full range of designs, go to our main website or our mobile website.