Last year (2002), I have endeavoured to construct a small 12 feet by 6 feet proa, with material in part salvaged from my workplace.
The main hull is in a Nomex/fiber-glass sandwich, epoxied under vacuum, with carbon reinforcements. The float is in 3 millimeters multiply, epoxied. The whole weight 41 kilogrammes (about 82 pounds), so is a small displacement.
The shapes are flat, with a hard chine.
I first prepared, on the floor, a shape in multiply representing the curve of the planking, then I stratified under vacuum the first pannel.
After removing from the mould, I prepared the second shape representing the curve of the bottom of the hull, that I stratified.
After cutting the pannels, I assembled the pirogue with the help of conformators, and stratified the chines.
The next step has been the laying of the bulkheads and the central boot, which gives me a real unsinkability, with the laying of benches at the extremities.
Building of the external rudder well and of the rudder's ironworks.
Last step, fastening of the beams (pieces of windsurfer masts).
Then, sanding, coating, and painting