Buy a sheet of window glass about 1m square. Set it up on saw horses so it is level and you can crawl underneath. Buy some of the core, cloth and resin you will be using, consumables (bag, peel ply, tacky tape, distribution medium, hoses, etc) and a pump. Set up a 300 x 300 laminate stack, leave it under vacuum overnight and if it is sound, infuse. Watch the resin flow on both sides of the laminate.
Do this as many times as necessary to understand the process. Then try it with as many variables ( different/cheaper consumables, varied perforation sizes and spacing, many layers of cloth, single layer of cloth, no cloth, no core, slits in the foam instead of dist medium,corner shape and sharpness, controlling/blocking the flow, multiple inlets, demoulding times, bending times, different temperatures) and possible causes of stuff ups (holes in the bag, poorly routed feed and vac lines, lost vacuum half way through, bridges in the cloth, dry spots), as you can think of.
Then try it on 3d shapes such as a hatch cover. Then chose the simplest, smallest shape on the boat and infuse that, then progress up to the big jobs.
Never infuse new materials or situations that you haven't tried first on the glass. This particularly applies to thick laminates of carbon, which a lot of people have trouble infusing due to the fine filaments and lack of off axis material to distribute the resin.
As Nick and Peter noted, a KSS workshop is not just about the infusion process. There are a lot of low cost options Derek has arrived at through experience, and the post infusion part of KSS is also interesting, although possibly not applicable to a harry. Derek is an incredibly experienced sailor, designer and builder, and an excellent raconteur. You will also meet other interesting people.
read this blog if you haven't already. Henny is a harry sailor (Blind Date) and knows a lot about infusion.
The harry build method is evolving. For narrow hulls with flat bottoms (like Rick's), beams, rudder stocks and mast spars I currently think it is easier to build two half hulls in cheap mdf moulds, with all fittings, joins and the landings for all the interior items included in the infusion. Joining the two halves and completing the hull then only involves gluing it all together. Apart from the small foam bumper on the end, there is no secondary laminating. A 10m.33' camper is being built like this, starting in about a month.
For round bilge hulls and wing masts, a flat panel (with rebates/joins to make small panels into big ones) is quicker, with no glass on the wide (>400mm/16" diameter) foam bits that are to be bent. These then require glassing after they have been bent. See the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=j5idbIo19jA
rob
On Mon, May 14, 2012 at 10:11 AM, Dennis
<spidennis@gmail.com> wrote:
I'm trying to do my homework on the KSS build system, I got the DVD and CD but they are a bit less than a total information system. I need more ....... been going thru my 20 year old Multihull mags and such but that's not much help but has been a great entertainment value! What else do I need to look at, read, etc? I thought about going to the TN workshop but think I'd rather invest in tools and doing more homework instead. Suggestions on a vacuum system? And how does the HarryProa system compare to the KSS?
--- In harryproa@yahoogroups.com.au, Rob Denney <harryproa@...> wrote:
>
> Got this from Derek. May be of interest for anyone who wants to learn
> about infusion. No idea what the "traditional proa" is.
>
> rob
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: Karen <karen@...>
> Date: Fri, Apr 27, 2012 at 10:25 AM
> Subject: KSS Workshops: San Francisco in August; and Tennessee - September
> 2012
> To: karen@...
>
>
> Hi all
>
> We now have two KSS workshops arranged in the USA.
>
> Registration of interest would be appreciated. (Please note
> prompt payment discount dates on both workshops.)
>
> *August 15- 18th. is in San Francisco, Ca*. This based on a traditional
> proa design.
>
> *Sept 27 - 30th. is in Lenoir City, Tennessee*. A KSS 42ma is near
> completion and a second will start.
>
> We will, as usual, cover all aspects of KSS building, as well as our
> current interest in the Kelsall Catamaran Rig - stayed twin wing masts
> which reduce rig and boat loadings by 2/3rds. Build your own rig using
> KSS knowhow.
>
> *Sanctuary Cove Boat Show, Australia is coming up. 24-27th. May - you can
> find us
> there in the Super-yacht pavilion: Stand 302.*
>
> Happy Boating,
>
> Derek Kelsall
> Kelsall Catamarans Limited
> New Zealand
>
>
> Please let us know if we have sent this email in error; or if you are not
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>