The main hull marks the second major phase in the construction of Fram, an Ian Farrier F-39 trimaran. Building on the experience gained during the float construction, this phase documents the step up in scale, complexity, and ambition.

Main Hull – Build Log

This chapter marks the start of the second major phase in the construction of Fram, an Ian Farrier designed F-39 trimaran. Phase one — the construction of the two floats — proved invaluable. Those projects provided extensive hands-on experience with composite materials and, more importantly, with controlled vacuum infusion. The floats were ideal learning platforms to fully master the technique.

Armed with that experience, motivation is high and confidence well-founded as work begins on the main hull. That said, the main hull represents a clear step up in both scale and complexity compared to the floats.

The original workshop was our adapted garage at home. Modest in size, but just sufficient for building all three hulls individually. Final assembly of the trimaran — joining the two floats to the main hull using the crossbeams — was always expected to require a larger space. Intermediate components such as the floats and the starboard half of the main hull were therefore stored off-site when needed.

Then, just after completing the starboard half of the main hull and while preparing to set up the port side half, circumstances changed rather dramatically.

Quite unexpectedly, and very much on the spur of the moment, we bought a new house. One of those once-in-a-lifetime opportunities: a water villa with a jetty large enough to eventually moor the F-39 trimaran. A long-standing second dream — living directly on the water — became reality.

The move, however, meant giving up the home workshop and selling the property. As a result, the boatbuilding project had to be relocated. With the cooperation of my employer at the time, a dedicated corner was made available in the spacious commercial workshop of my employer where the build could continue.

Below is an overview of the chapters documenting the complete construction of the main hull.